To Err Is Human, to Forgive Divine

I will say it’s always been interesting to me our first black president is one with a direct African lineage and not one with American Slavery ancestry. I’ve wondered if this has somehow made a difference with some people? I think Harry Reid was cynical sounding, not so much racist. What he said was not necessarily wrong, just terrible to read. Baby steps America, we’ll learn in maybe 3 generations to quit caring about color of skin. Then gender next, right?

“To forgive is divine”
If the “harsh words” are uttered by a Democrat.

I will say it’s always been interesting to me our first black president is one with a direct African lineage and not one with American Slavery ancestry. I’ve wondered if this has somehow made a difference with some people? I think Harry Reid was cynical sounding, not so much racist. What he said was not necessarily wrong, just terrible to read. Baby steps America, we’ll learn in maybe 3 generations to quit caring about color of skin. Then gender next, right?
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Excellent.

The problem with the statement that he has no American Slave ancestry is that it is blatantly untrue.His mother’s ancestors OWNED SLAVES.I’d be willing to bet his father’s muslim ancestors owned slaves in Africa.None of this excuses Reid’s stupid comment.How did he think it would be interpreted? Of course,Biden made an even more insensitive comment about a “clean” black man-look how that ended his career!

Whitney..I think it may also be a generational thing..which makes me a fan of term limits even more. Lets face it, the bulk of these reps are old as salt..(Byrd is like 143, right?)Reid looks down on Obama mostly because he was a FRESHMAN senator just last year..I’m sure he never stooped so low as to say “hi” to him in the hallway. Reid and Pelosi were looking for an acceptable, electable, pliable fuller brush man to sell the progressive agenda. What you heard him ( and Biden)articulate was OBAMA’S suitablility for the job of head salesman..clean, a light color, no negro slang. Terribly condescending and revealing.

ya know, now that I think about it, the part where Reid says “OBAMA doesn’t have a negro dialect unless he wants to have one”..that really peels the scab off the truth about what our representatives think of us Americans. We are just a basket of dumb muffins to them..and they’ll begrudgingly do what they have to, including fake accents, to get us to vote for them. Well, my blueberry, sugar topped muffin self is gonna go great with a nice hot cup-o-tea party this year!

Obama once again is being hypocritical, what a shocker. Actually seems par for the course. This idiot doesn’t give a damn about being fair on race. Look at the incident with the Harvard professor. Before he knew anything it was that the white guy must have done something stupid. Trent Lott tries to pay a complement to a 100 year old senator (decades after the presidential run), who had changed his ways but of course he has to be run out.
Then of course you have Obama’s own racist comments. How many times during the campaign did he say “Why know what our opponent will do. he’ll say I have a fun ny name and dont look like the others”. Did McCain come close to such remarks? Of course not. Did McCain have such a history? No. So why would McCain make such comments? Tnhe fact McCain is white I’m sure had nothing at all to do with why Obama would make such accusations.

I used to support President Barack Obama, I really did,
Obamacrat for Palin | Jan 9, 2010 7:24:04 PM
I always get a chuckle when I read that.

The ignorant Senator Reid actually thought he was complimenting Obama by saying he was a “light-skinned African American” that “didn’t use a Negro dialect unless he wanted to”. So, why the apology to Obama? Isn’t this apology missplaced? He didn’t offend Obama, he offended the rest of the citizens (of all colors and political ideologies) of this country on many levels.

The ignorant Senator Reid actually thought he was complimenting Obama by saying he was a “light-skinned African American” that “didn’t use a Negro dialect unless he wanted to”. So, why the apology to Obama? Isn’t this apology missplaced? He didn’t offend Obama, he offended the rest of the citizens (of all colors and political ideologies) of this country on many levels
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Gotta love the self-righteous indignation from the right wing . . . cute.

Interesting insight . . . sounds about right. Reid was born in 1939, and was an adult when overt racism against Afro-Americans was still commonly practised.
Posted by: tierra | Jan 9, 2010 11:55:45 PM
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Why does Reid think “light skin African Americans” are preferable to voters vs. dark skin African Americans?

Why does Reid think “light skin African Americans” are preferable to voters vs. dark skin African Americans?
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Because he’s a politician? You think he’s right or wrong?

Why does Reid think “light skin African Americans” are preferable to voters vs. dark skin African Americans?
I think he’s wrong
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You think a dark-skinned African American who speaks in a heavy dialect – perhaps like Lil’ Wayne would be more preferable to American voters.
Interesting you would think that.
You might be right, you might be wrong.

Seems like every administration sure has it’s problems – going back to the founding of the country. Issues are different but other than that, real hope and change seems to be just a dream…

If any Republican had used the exact same words as Mr. Reid with the exact same intent, the MSM would go nuts and tierra would not be defending him/her…
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I don’t see anybody defending Reid’s choice of words. I disagree with jennifert’s opinion on the American voters’ preference.
p.s. – the issue has not been ignored or covered up in any way; it’s being covered universally.

Considering that Democrats are the party of slavery, they should be held to a higher standard.
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Worthwhile catching up a bit in history, the Civil Rights Act was introduced by President John F Kennedy in his civil rights speech of June 11, 1963, in which he asked for legislation “giving all Americans the right to be served in facilities which are open to the public—hotels, restaurants, theaters, retail stores, and similar establishments,” as well as “greater protection for the right to vote.”
After Kennedy’s assassination, the bill was championed through by the Democratic Lyndon Johnson – both chambers having a Democratic majority.

disagree with your opinion on the American voters’ preference so what? You think America is ready for a jewish President with a thick Yiddish accent? I’m guessing probably not. So what?
Posted by: tierra | Jan 10, 2010 1:59:20 AM
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It wasn’t the American voters preference. It was was Reid thought it was.It’s embarrassing. No, the American voter preferend depends on that persons political policy. Are you even serious here? True colors being exposed, people. It’s on display. You’re not ashamed about what you just wrote? You’re not ashamed about your racist views? OMG!

There is one global human race just now learning how to communicate brain to brain, soul to soul.

People just want to believe that our public figures, like politicians or movie stars, are like the manufactured images they try to foist off on us. They are just like everyone else, in the case of politicians, just less honest. That’s why such ”revelations” receive so much attention – they destroy the ”image” we want to believe about public figures, that they are somehow smarter, tolerant, responsible, well-intentioned, fair, honest – all ”good” qualitites.
But, the truth is that they are no better than any random sampling of ordinary people – they have prejudices, vices, many are stupid & incompetent, they are self-serving, ambitious, greedy, & exceptionally, some are really nice people.
This is why politicians in particular must be held accountable, why we should never, ever, trust politicians, why the power of political leaders must be limited, why checks & balances in our political system must be maintained, why complete transparancy is so urgent.

Obama wanted Lott taken down and he wanted Imus fired.
“The Republican Party itself has to drive out Trent Lott. If they have to stand for something, they have to stand up and say this is not the person we want representing our party.”
Obama is a bloody hypocrite and Republicans should shove that right down his throat.

Just imagine if this had been a Republican?
The Investigations.
The 24/7 “Outrage”.
The calls for Impeachment.
What happens because it’s Liberal. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Oh the Hypocrisy.

Ahahaha, look at all the Republicans pretending they’re not the party of the racist South. Someone doth protest too much.

I would call it political gamesmanship and look for concessions extracted in the course of business as usual, but if you want to believe that Obama is open in spite of the invisible signing statements he has now endorsed, who am I to disagree with you.

This is more a reflection on Mr. Reid’s intellegence than anything else.Of course Mr. Obama spoke differently to black audiences than to others.That was noted in the campaign,if anybody bothered to look.All of Mr. Obama’s adult life has been spent trying to prove his blackness.From transferring to Columbia,to claiming a non-existant membership in the Columbia Black Student Association,to moving to Chicago where he had absolutely no ties,to being an agnostic but joining Rev. Wright’s Race Church because it would show him to be black-these things say more about Mr. Obama’s racial perceptions than Mr. Reid’s.And the true reflection of his American Slave past is the fact that the most influential figures in his formative years were not descendents of slaves,but of American slave owners.

Let me see if I understand this.. The same GOP who inserted a quote into Palin’s first official speech at the GOP national convention from Westbrook Pegler, the rabid racist who openly called for the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, now wants to go all PC on Reid for a tacky comment he made several years ago and demand his removal.
We are talking about the same GOP aren’t we?

Good one Harry.
Tops his “tourist stink” comments.
Wake up America!
Time for Harry to go.

Tear your party up Obama!
Not enough to bankrupt the country he’s destroyed his own party too.
It’s follow Obama off of a cliff to save his legacy and radically change America–or resign.

(African-American) Lt. Col. Alan West weighs in:
“The revelation of Senator Harry Reid’s comments referencing “negro talk” is just indicative of the true sentiment elitist liberals, and indeed the Democratic party, have toward black Americans. The history of the Democrat party is one of slavery, secession, segregation, and now socialism. It is this new aged socialism born from the Johnson Great Society programs that have castigated blacks as victims needing government dependency. One need only to look upon the city of Detroit to ascertain what liberal social welfare policies have produced for the inner city…the new plantation for black Americans.”
Well stated, Lt. Col., well stated. Best to you in your run to represent Florida’s 22nd district.

Obama is half white. He is of “mixed” race. He and his administration simply use his blackness to play the race card. Enough already!

I just think it is funny that Reid noticed Obama’s tendency to use fake dialects.

George Will upbraiding Liz Cheney this morning on This Week about Reid being a racist and then going on to agree with him is another poignant foreshadowing of what’s in store for the Republican Party once all the media sensation over healthcare and such dies down.

Kind of makes you wonder what the Democrats really think of minorities.
They have become the party of the rich, elite, Wall Street types.
Are they really interested in the causes of minorities or just interested in keeping their votes?
The Democrats seem happy to keep them enslaved and dependent on government handouts. Who does that really serve?
The people or the Democrats.

Yup, thanks to the wise words of Reid, instead of being thrown under the bus, they are being sent to the back of the bus – again.
I hope there are enough seats.

George Will upbraiding Liz Cheney this morning on This Week about Reid being a racist and then going on to agree with him is another poignant foreshadowing of what’s in store for the Republican Party once all the media sensation over healthcare and such dies down.
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Will is a conservative, but doesn’t squawk along with the parroted talking points. He thinks for himself.

As usual, Obama and his media is making this all about him, again. No wonder he is not bothered by this, Reid meant it as a complement to Obama. What Reid did was actually a diss on everyone but Obama. I’m waiting for some Republican to say that Reid offended everybody.

They both did the noble and ethical thing. Apologize and forgive.

I don’t like the job Sen. Reid is doing.
The Pres. would be better off with a more persuasive majority leader. His comments were also tone deaf. But, maybe you Repubs should deal with your own RNC chair’s racial insensitivity regarding Native Americans, before you attack Dems.

Harry Reid could show up in a hood and Democrats would give him a pass.Look at Byrd-Democrats conveniently forget his position as an official in the W.Va. klan. Biden can make comments about “clean” black men and 7-11 Indians and end up V.P.-so is the way of the Democrat party.

Obama to three days to respond to a terrorist attack but a Democratic Racist like Harry Reid? Obama responds within an hour saying what a fine racist Dirty Harry is.

Trent Lott spoke in favor of Thurmond’s campaign policies put forward during the 1948 election.
Thurmond’s party ran under a platform that declared in part, “We stand for the segregation of the races and the racial integrity of each race.”
During the campaign, he said, “All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches.”
You get it now?

Politicians can get away with things that we can’t.
Cheat on taxes, bribery, payoffs, lies, coverups, racist comments.
Most people would lose their jobs if they said the same thing Reid said.
The Democrats manage to get away with so much because the MSM covers for them.
The media decides whether to let it go or blow it up.

Reid and Pelosi got obama elected. obama owes them so he accepts reid’s apology.

Poor Harry.
He’s just a “typical white person”.
Obama and Harry–two peas in a pod.

“ I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side… Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds. ”
— Robert C. Byrd, in a letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944
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Robert Byrd is still a Democrat Senator. No double standards? Please.

Bill Clinton’s comments were not racist. Bill Clinton was referring to the very thin resume of Obama. This entire thing is just a smokescreen to hide the fact that Obama has bungled everything up to now. He is clearly an empty suit who has no accomplishments beyond winning elections. He is the epitome of style over substance – congratulations for voting for a truly incompetent leader.

If Democrats are willing to accept this from Reid (including obama), then the rest of us don’t want to hear them calling anyone else racist.

Reid’s aides accuse the Republicans of going backwards for calling out his racial comments.
I guess using the term “Negroes” is proof that Harry is forward looking.
Someone tell Harry this isn’t 1950.
And tell his assistants that Harry may have intended to complimented Obama–but he degraded the AA that are not light-skinned.
Harry has been in DC too long.
Time for him to go.

So Harry is saying to African Americans—it’s the color of your skin that is important, not the content of your character.
And be careful where you use your fake dialect.
It’s time for Harry to go.
No surprise that Obama didn’t have the guts to defend those that Reid insulted.

Guess what? Most don’t believe your nonsense.
Posted by: tierra |
So why did your boy Harry apologize?

So why did your boy Harry apologize?
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Talking about race is not racism. Using the old ‘negro’ word is out of step with the times and pretty stupid. Does it mean Reid is a racist? Perhaps. Probably not – Reid was born in 1939 and was an adult when segregation and racism were still common in the United States. I think he fought on the side of Civil Rights all his life. Probably more a sloppy mistake more than anything else. I’d say he apologized for that.

Talking about race is not racism….
Posted by: tierra |
So why did your boy Harry apologize?
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Talking about race is not racism. Using the old ‘negro’ word is out of step with the times and pretty stupid. Does it mean Reid is a racist? Perhaps. Probably not – Reid was born in 1939 and was an adult when segregation and racism were still common in the United States. I think he fought on the side of Civil Rights all his life. Probably more a sloppy mistake more than anything else. I’d say he apologized for that.

Probably more a sloppy mistake more than anything else. I’d say he apologized for that.
Posted by: tierra |
What was the “sloppy mistake”?

“Talking about race is not racism. Using the old ‘negro’ word is out of step with the times and pretty stupid. Does it mean Reid is a racist? Perhaps. Probably not – Reid was born in 1939 and was an adult when segregation and racism were still common in the United States. I think he fought on the side of Civil Rights all his life..”
Well then, I guess we can use that same excuse for Strom Thurmond then. I think he was born around the time Abe Lincoln was born or maybe just a tad bit later.
Fair is fair…

I guess we can use that same excuse for Strom Thurmond then.
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Strom Thurmond’s party (the breakaway Dixiecrat Party) ran under a platform that declared in part, “We stand for the segregation of the races and the racial integrity of each race.”
During the campaign, he said, “All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches.”
These are clearly racist segregationist statements. Strom was clearly an old southern racist.
You’re welcome to make up whatever excuses you want for him and his beliefs.

It was just after reading your remarks I thought that one lame excuse deserved another. :D
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You misinterpreted – it wasn’t an excuse at all – I was pointing out that Reid had lived through segregation and racism as an adult – and fought against it – and for civil rights.

No, none of us “misinterpreted” what you wrote in defense of Harry.
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Sure you did. I was pointing out that Reid had lived through segregation and racism as an adult – and fought against it – and for civil rights. A sloppy choice of words is far different from the overt racism in Thormond’s policies – you know that as well as I do.
You guys are begging to have any point to argue – there is Nothing there. Even the ultra-conservative George Will agrees – not a ‘scintilla of racism’ in Reid’s comments.

So Reid’s choice of words were “sloppy.”
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You don’t think Reid’s choice of words were sloppy? Wow, you’re really out there!
Yes, George Will said there was not a ‘scintilla of racism’ in Reid’s comments. Talking about race is not racism.

We are still waiting for you to fix Harry’s statement.
We know you can do it. We will wait. :D

You were the one that said Reid’s words were sloppy.
How were they sloppy?

You have read my post and all the others. So you know why we feel it is racist. We are just wondering why you feel that it is just sloppy wording.
You can explain that to us, can’t you?

You have read my post and all the others. So you know why we feel it is racist.
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No you didn’t explain how Reid’s statement was ‘racist’ – please do. You’re the ones making the accusations.

You didn’t explain how Reid’s statement was ‘racist’ – please do. You’re the ones making the accusations.

Conservative commentator George Will says Reid’s statement doesn’t contain a ‘scintilla of racism’. I’m fine with that until you show me how Reid’s statement is racist

Conservative commentator George Will says Reid’s statement doesn’t contain a ‘scintilla of racism’. I’m fine with that until you show me how Reid’s statement is racist – until then your accusations are cowardly and mute.
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No I mean ‘cowardly and mute’ in other words not even heard. How are Reid’s statement racist?
racism – the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races – discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race
Perhaps you could point out the racism for me in Reid’s statement.

Ciao . .. #_#

The President is over it and so is anyone with half a brain.
Case closed.

A lot of us are not “over it.” I am black and I and a lot of my friends and family are offended by Reid’s statement.
And as evidenced by these very blogs, so are people who are not black.
You nor obama gets to speak for the rest of us.

It’s hilarious to sort through the prejudices. Yes, he is light-skinned, and also half white. Our president is white. Our president is black. No, he’s dark skinned white. From a cosmic perspective, it’s all laughable. It’s the same old game that’s played for so many centuries. Perhaps this is the beginning of real change but if so, it’s going to take much more to wake up the remaining bigots.

Obama just threw the entire black community under the bus in the name of politics….Don’t care who said it…it was a disrespectful thing to say and I don’t feel we should be supporting these types of personalities in PUBLIC office…AND expect race relations to improve….

I wonder if anything is easy for you…