CHUD.com Community › Forums › POLITICS & RELIGION › Political Discourse › Harry Reid: Obama a light skinned person without a "Negro dialect" (seriously)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Harry Reid: Obama a light skinned person without a "Negro dialect" (seriously)

post #1 of 36
1/9/10 at 7:04pm
Thread Starter 
Well I've disliked Reid for years. Not just because he's a Mormon, not even because he's a spineless wimp. No, because he's incompetent.

But now I can definitely add racist to that list.

Jesus Christ. As if we needed any more reason to dump this guy (News flash, we should have dumped him in June of 2007 after he caved to Bush in every possible way on the Iraq budget)
Reply
post #2 of 36
1/9/10 at 7:08pm
Wow ... just wow. Reid is already extremely unimpressive but this just elevates his idiot status exponentially.

Also, make sure everybody reads the rest of the article, sounds like that Game Changer book is worth a look.
Reply
post #3 of 36
1/9/10 at 7:15pm
Thread Starter 
The only defense I can offer (and I'd say he should resign now, except I think he should do it quietly a month from now) is that unlike one Huffposters comment, what Trent Lott said was worse.
Reply
post #4 of 36
1/9/10 at 9:47pm
A racist? Really? I'm of mixed feelings about Reid in general but this typical statement from someone of his generation is clearly more of an analysis of his chances than a personal judgment or racist sentiment.
Reply
post #5 of 36
1/9/10 at 9:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by yt View Post
A racist? Really? I'm of mixed feelings about Reid in general but this typical statement from someone of his generation is clearly more of an analysis of his chances than a personal judgment or racist sentiment.
At best, he's a national embarrassment, a fool who is using the word "negro" to talk about the first black president of this country.


Better to be a fool or a racist? A fool I guess
Reply
post #6 of 36
1/9/10 at 9:57pm
I am much more offended by genuine racists (of which there's no shortage in today's world) than old timers who use antiquated language that, yeah, is racist by today's standards but typical of his generation.
Reply
post #7 of 36
1/9/10 at 10:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by yt View Post
I am much more offended by genuine racists (of which there's no shortage in today's world) than old timers who use antiquated language that, yeah, is racist by today's standards but typical of his generation.
If he were any old timer, I'd say "no biggie", I mean, dumb statement, but whatever. But he's the senate majority leader. Serving under the first black president. And anyway you slice it, the remarks are an embarrassment for the democrats, for Obama, and for the nation.

It's a big deal because of his position. My dad has said "negroes", and called Obama a negro. But my dad is 85, and can't be expected to be 100% on top of that.

If Harry Reid does not have the sense to shut up on the subject of Obama's skin tone and not to use words like "negro", it's a bigger deal because of his position of responsibility. If he can't remember not to say it, he shouldn't be in that job.

I'd think that any black American would be aghast at the idea that the leader of the senate (that's supposed to represent them) is talking about someone not speaking in a "negro dialect". I think that sounds even worse than "Ebonics"
Reply
post #8 of 36
1/9/10 at 10:03pm
Wtf? Antiquated language? You mean saying Negro or the fact that he's saying he's a well spoken one? Sounds pretty idiotic either way, I'm 100% sure u wouldn't give him a pass if he had a big R next to his title.
Reply
post #9 of 36
1/9/10 at 10:11pm
Yeah, my step-granddad's like 82 and from podunk Central Texas, and still exchanged "colored" and "negro" for "black" and "African-American" a while back. Then again, he's always been surprisingly progressive for a Southern dude from his generation.

It's a dumb slip on Reid's part, yeah, but I'm not going to give him any more slack than I would a Republican politician on this, especially (like Kate said) given his less-than-stellar leadership in the past.
Reply
post #10 of 36
1/9/10 at 10:20pm
ElCap, maybe you didn't notice but I don't really chime in on things like this. I'm not making excuses for Reid but I think it's typical, and this wasn't something he said about the sitting president; he was clearly spitballing about his chances back in '08, not that it makes the sentiment go down any easier, I just don't see it as proof he's a racist. I think people who say things like "I just want my country back" or "I don't recognize my country" are making much more of a racist statement than using the words "negro accent." I think the continued iniquity of a disproportionate number of African Americans on death row, in prison, discriminated against at the workplace, in loan offices, walking on the street etc. plus the utter continuation of Jim Crow to be much more offensive than this, for instance. I just don't see this statement as analogous to, for example, the email forwards of demeaning caricatures of Obama since he's been president. That to me is the much more unspoken racism that's like a cancer in this country.
Reply
post #11 of 36
1/9/10 at 10:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake View Post
Yeah, my step-granddad's like 82 and from podunk Central Texas, and still exchanged "colored" and "negro" for "black" and "African-American" a while back. Then again, he's always been surprisingly progressive for a Southern dude from his generation.

It's a dumb slip on Reid's part, yeah, but I'm not going to give him any more slack than I would a Republican politician on this, especially (like Kate said) given his less-than-stellar leadership in the past.
Same for my Dad, Jake. No malice in it, I think just confusion from old age and the fact that the terminology has changed frequently in their lifetimes

But my Dad/your Step-Grand Dad are not leading the senate of the United States in this historic time.

That is the difference (plus your SGD and my Dad do not have a history of incompetence in leadership)

EDIT, and YT, with all the racism out there of the virulent and violent kind, the cancer as you put it, having the leader of the democrats in the senate saying stuff like this really does not help
Reply
post #12 of 36
1/9/10 at 11:18pm
More controversial than the "negro" word is the suggestion that Obama isn't really black.
Reply
post #13 of 36
1/9/10 at 11:18pm
Quote:
Obama quickly accepted, saying "As far as I am concerned, the book is closed."
Shouldn't that be the end of it?
Reply
post #14 of 36
1/9/10 at 11:38pm
no let's fucking kill the guy
Reply
post #15 of 36
1/10/10 at 1:03am
The antiquated language argument might be ok for someone's who may not be all the "well-traveled" in terms of culture and society, but this guy is the Senate Majority Leader.

You can't be a political leader, use that expression and expect no repercussions.

He needs to resign his leadership post.
Reply
post #16 of 36
1/10/10 at 1:07am
What antiquated language are you guys talking about, referring to an African American as a negro?
Reply
post #17 of 36
1/10/10 at 1:17am
His Mormon background and being from Nevada also kind of add to the case against him on this issue. He's old enough to have grown up in the religion when it was still openly racist towards blacks and Nevadans in particular are horribly, horribly racist. If you want to experience some Grade A racism, campaign for a black guy in Las Vegas.
Reply
post #18 of 36
1/10/10 at 2:02am
This is the least of the Democrats problems. Probably gets him some brownie points from many in the South.

I'm sure he'll be the fall guy when the Dems lose big in Midterm elections.
Reply
post #19 of 36
1/10/10 at 8:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
Shouldn't that be the end of it?
It would be for me if I thought that's what Obama felt. He isn't a monk. I'd imagine he's mighty angry at Reid right now. But because of politics, he has to "forgive him".

I doubt Reid is actually forgiven in Obama's heart. Having read Obama's books, it doesn't seem like that stuff just rolls off his back like water. As a black man, it must be deeply troubling.
Reply
post #20 of 36
1/10/10 at 8:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
As a black man, it must be deeply troubling.
You would know.
Reply
post #21 of 36
1/10/10 at 9:12pm
It was a comment Reid made over a year ago, and while poorly worded, it's not really all that off the mark. Obama was always the "safe" black candidate.
Reply
post #22 of 36
1/10/10 at 9:30pm
"He's OK, he doesn't talk in that foreign dialect, he can talk like one of us. And hey, his skin color could pass off as a tan, don't worry".

Yeah, nothing to see here people.
Reply
post #23 of 36
1/10/10 at 9:40pm
Harry Reid can eat a bag of dicks as far as I'm concerned, but I don't need to hear Michael "Honest Injun" Steele call him out for it.
Reply
post #24 of 36
1/10/10 at 11:42pm
"Obama's alright by me, he's not really a ni**er after all!"

The sad truth is that most politicians aren't out in the world very much. I hope people don't hear everything an American politician says and condemn the entire country, because they don't really represent the average American. It is very important to call out this racism, though, like here where a politician wouldn't dare fuck with our immigration policy or get tarred as a Nazi.
Reply
post #25 of 36
1/11/10 at 1:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post
"He's OK, he doesn't talk in that foreign dialect, he can talk like one of us. And hey, his skin color could pass off as a tan, don't worry".

Yeah, nothing to see here people.
" Oh Mr President? I speak Jive"
Reply
post #26 of 36
1/11/10 at 1:23am
"Speaks so well" is something you say about retarded people that can talk!
Reply
post #27 of 36
1/11/10 at 10:06am
That's a pretty retarded way of saying "Obama has crossover appeal."

Although it was mildly amusing to watch Ifill and Ford defending him on NBC's morning show today.
Reply
post #28 of 36
1/11/10 at 1:22pm
If a Republican had said what Reid said we'd be all over him. You can't defend this; he needs to resign.
Reply
post #29 of 36
1/11/10 at 1:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan "Nordling" Cerny View Post
If a Republican had said what Reid said we'd be all over him. You can't defend this; he needs to resign.
Exactly. The Dems can't play this sort of thing both ways.
Reply
post #30 of 36
1/11/10 at 1:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
It would be for me if I thought that's what Obama felt. He isn't a monk. I'd imagine he's mighty angry at Reid right now. But because of politics, he has to "forgive him".
But no one gives a shit about what you imagine (no offense). Obama accepted the apology, that's all there is to it. Maybe he is furious deep down, but that hardly matters.

I refuse to cut Reid any slack, either, but I can't stand dumbshit Michael Steele comparing the incident to Trent Lott throwing down for Strum Thurmond eight years ago.
Reply
post #31 of 36
1/11/10 at 1:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by agracru View Post
But no one gives a shit about what you imagine (no offense). Obama accepted the apology, that's all there is to it. Maybe he is furious deep down, but that hardly matters.

I refuse to cut Reid any slack, either, but I can't stand dumbshit Michael Steele comparing the incident to Trent Lott throwing down for Strum Thurmond eight years ago.
I do not take my marching orders on forgiveness from the President.

He as a person may forgive Reid (I doubt it but whatever)

But as a citizen and a democrat, I do not have to be cool with what Reid said (if not racism, retardation on his part). It's a giant blunder and an embarrassment, and he's already one of my least favorite democrats

Whoever said that we'd jump on a Republican who did this was right. And Reid might as well be a Republican, for all the good he's done our party. I am not a hypocrite and public stupidity on this level (and that's being kind, given the Nevada/Mormon connection, flat out racism is possible IMHO) will not be ignored, speaking for only myself

And what Lott said was basically about saying we'd be better off as a segregated nation. A far far worse comment. The two cannot be compared
Reply
post #32 of 36
1/11/10 at 2:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
But as a citizen and a democrat, I do not have to be cool with what Reid said (if not racism, retardation on his part). It's a giant blunder and an embarrassment, and he's already one of my least favorite democrats
I'm not saying that you have to. I'm saying that you should feel outraged because what Reid said was shitty, and not because you suspect that Obama is secretly angry. If he was openly angry it wouldn't change how we, personally, react to Reid's comment.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
And what Lott said was basically about saying we'd be better off as a segregated nation. A far far worse comment. The two cannot be compared
You'll find no argument here.
Reply
post #33 of 36
1/11/10 at 2:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by agracru View Post
I'm not saying that you have to. I'm saying that you should feel outraged because what Reid said was shitty, and not because you suspect that Obama is secretly angry. If he was openly angry it wouldn't change how we, personally, react to Reid's comment.

.
We basically agree. I'm not angry because I think the President is mad. I'm mad for the reasons stated, I just happen to think that the President is also angry

BTW, how sad is it to see Steele out there acting as an appologist for Trent Lott? Or calling the tea partys a great American political movement, supported by "real Americans" ? I'm not going to say he's a you-know-what, but let's just say he could be a character in a Harriet Beecher Stowe novel
Reply
post #34 of 36
1/11/10 at 3:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake View Post
no let's fucking kill the guy
Reply
post #35 of 36
1/11/10 at 3:45pm
He should be forced to resign. What's good for the goose....

No, it doesn't matter of Trent Lott's statements were worse, or even than Barack Obama accepted his apology (of course he's going to accept the apology of one of the leading members of his political party). Either casual/unthinking racism is acceptable in our political leaders, or it isn't. Take your pick.
Reply
post #36 of 36
1/11/10 at 3:49pm
Man, these chud ads!

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Political Discourse
CHUD.com Community › Forums › POLITICS & RELIGION › Political Discourse › Harry Reid: Obama a light skinned person without a "Negro dialect" (seriously)