Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faces scrutiny for racist remarks

myp · Jan 10, 2010

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is currently under a lot of fire from various groups as racist remarks that he made during the 2008 election period have recently surfaced. Reid is quoted as saying that the country was ready for a "light-skinned" African-American president with "no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

Reid has apologized since the comments came out, but certain groups are still very unhappy with him, with some calling for his resignation as Senate Majority Leader.

Thoughts?

ref: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126316391149723551.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories

deanhills · Jan 11, 2010

myp said:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is currently under a lot of fire from various groups as racist remarks that he made during the 2008 election period have recently surfaced. Reid is quoted as saying that the country was ready for a "light-skinned" African-American president with "no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

Reid has apologized since the comments came out, but certain groups are still very unhappy with him, with some calling for his resignation as Senate Majority Leader.

Thoughts?

ref: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126316391149723551.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories

Well Obama seemed to have accepted his apology, and if Obama can then probably the Republicans should too. Although perhaps the Republicans do have a point:

In a refrain echoed by other Republicans, party chairman Michael Steele said Mr. Reid should be held to the same standard as former Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. Mr. Lott was forced to resign his leadership post in 2002 after suggesting the nation would have been better off had it embraced the segregationist policies of presidential candidate Strom Thurmond more than a half century ago.

Perhaps if Obama had been from a different party, he would have been less forgiving than being of the same Party as Reid? The one hand washing the other? So probably in summary, Mr. Reid should be asked to resign? But since he seems to have been someone Obama relied upon much more than the equivalent with Lott, Obama will try the best to get him to stay?

DodgeFB · Jan 11, 2010

deanhills said:
Well Obama seemed to have accepted his apology, and if Obama can then probably the Republicans should too. Although perhaps the Republicans do have a point:

Perhaps if Obama had been from a different party, he would have been less forgiving than being of the same Party as Reid? The one hand washing the other? So probably in summary, Mr. Reid should be asked to resign? But since he seems to have been someone Obama relied upon much more than the equivalent with Lott, Obama will try the best to get him to stay?

You can bet if it was a republican they would all be calling for them to resign and leave the building. The democrats don't get as bent out of shape looking to be "offended" when it is another democrat. Same goes for republicans about other republicans. If you really watch you can see who talks out of both sides of their mouth. And who has real integrity. Sorry to say I think the integrity is very thin in the senate.

deanhills · Jan 12, 2010

DodgeFB said:
Sorry to say I think the integrity is very thin in the senate.

Totally agreed. That Nebraskan deal for me is a good example. Have to ask however, where would one find lots of integrity in the Federal Government? Integrity seems to feature in isolated election campaigns, but when the elected people get to Government, all of their integrity seems to evaporate in their attempt to survive the political system?

Dirk · Jan 13, 2010

He should resign and a by-election be called - do you call it a by-election over there?

I'm sorry, you do something and you bear the consequences. The moron should take responsibility. People should be making more of a fuss over this.

DodgeFB · Jan 13, 2010

Dirk said:
He should resign and a by-election be called - do you call it a by-election over there?

I'm sorry, you do something and you bear the consequences. The moron should take responsibility. People should be making more of a fuss over this.

If he was a Republican there would be a terrible fuss. He would be called "racist" and all that crap.

David · Jan 13, 2010

Dirk said:
He should resign and a by-election be called - do you call it a by-election over there?

I'm sorry, you do something and you bear the consequences. The moron should take responsibility. People should be making more of a fuss over this.

Election? :giggle: Did you see an election after Sen. Kennedy died?

Dirk · Jan 14, 2010

DodgeFB said:
If he was a Republican there would be a terrible fuss. He would be called "racist" and all that crap.

It's ironic, too. I mean, it was the democrats that enacted the damned Jim Crow laws.

It is a bit racist. Completely stupid, too - black people don't have a seperate dialect. I think it'd be difficult to say there was even a single African-American dialect. I mean, black inner city residents don't generally sound the same as Southerners - or indeed Suburban rich black people.

What's more, the entire idea of defining what's "black", and what isn't, is ridiculous - not to mention pointless. I have a good few mixed race and black friends - so how do i tell if they're black? Consult the bloody dulux colour chart?

David said:
Election? :giggle: Did you see an election after Sen. Kennedy died?

Sorry, how naive of me to expect a democratic response.

David · Jan 14, 2010

Dirk said:
It is a bit racist. Completely stupid, too - black people don't have a seperate dialect. I think it'd be difficult to say there was even a single African-American dialect. I mean, black inner city residents don't generally sound the same as Southerners - or indeed Suburban rich black people.

What's more, the entire idea of defining what's "black", and what isn't, is ridiculous - not to mention pointless. I have a good few mixed race and black friends - so how do i tell if they're black? Consult the bloody dulux colour chart?

Sorry, how naive of me to expect a democratic response.

This is America. The place were you claim that a democracy exists even though it doesn't and get shouted down if you dare demand actual democracy.

Dirk · Jan 14, 2010

Do you think his constituents are still comfortable with him as senator?

deanhills · Jan 15, 2010

Dirk said:
Do you think his constituents are still comfortable with him as senator?

Even if they were not (along the lines of Nemo's definition of compromises) they would never admit to it now viz a viz the Republicans. They would fight tooth and nail for Reid, and then perhaps nail him at another opportunity when he is more disposable, politician style

Dirk · Jan 17, 2010

deanhills said:
Even if they were not (along the lines of Nemo's definition of compromises) they would never admit to it now viz a viz the Republicans.

I suppose that's one curse of such confrontational politics.

deanhills · Jan 17, 2010

Dirk said:
I suppose that's one curse of such confrontational politics.

Aren't politics always confrontational though? Especially the Republicans vs the Democrats, and the other way round?

Dirk · Jan 19, 2010

deanhills said:
Aren't politics always confrontational though? Especially the Republicans vs the Democrats, and the other way round?

Try and find a video of the Bundestag interior in session. There should be plenty, i was watching some a few days ago. Then compare it with the Senate or the British House of Commons. You'll see what i mean.

deanhills · Jan 20, 2010

Dirk said:
Try and find a video of the Bundestag interior in session. There should be plenty, i was watching some a few days ago. Then compare it with the Senate or the British House of Commons. You'll see what i mean.

Do you have some links to provide, or did you get those from YouTube?

Dirk · Jan 20, 2010

deanhills said:
Do you have some links to provide, or did you get those from YouTube?

Just from Youtube - though i see the House of Commons on television here and when visiting relatives, i see the Bundestag. So i notice the differences. There's quite a gulf.

Bundestag

House of Commons (UK)

David · Jan 20, 2010

And their is always C-SPAN.

deanhills · Jan 22, 2010

Dirk said:
Just from Youtube - though i see the House of Commons on television here and when visiting relatives, i see the Bundestag. So i notice the differences. There's quite a gulf.

Bundestag

House of Commons (UK)

Thanks for the links! Wow, who could think that "The Linke", a leftist party could be so BORING and "civilized"? And the House of Commons so lively. Almost like a live comedy show. Can't imagine anyone "napping" in the House of Commons, except when Her Majesty opens it once a year?

Dirk · Jan 22, 2010

deanhills said:
Thanks for the links! Wow, who could think that "The Linke", a leftist party could be so BORING and "civilized"?

Haha. But yes, it's measured, respectful and, as you say, civilised. People take turns to read well thought-out consistent arguments and are politely applauded at the end. In the house of commons, it is insults, raucous jokes and anti-other-party rhetoric. Very little informative content.

deanhills · Jan 23, 2010

Dirk said:
Haha. But yes, it's measured, respectful and, as you say, civilised. People take turns to read well thought-out consistent arguments and are politely applauded at the end. In the house of commons, it is insults, raucous jokes and anti-other-party rhetoric. Very little informative content.

How would you compare this with discussions in Congress and the Senate in the United States?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faces scrutiny for racist remarks

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