Leave a Comment »
Now, come on — are we not all aware by now that President Obama has lighter skin than many African-Americans? And are we also not all aware that he speaks in a manner that doesn’t reflect ghetto slang, jive lingo or typical black expressions — except when he playfully tosses one out there, or puts it on for select audiences?
I think it goes without saying that Barack Obama, at some point in his life, made a conscious decision to refine his public speaking manner by practicing the finer points of grammar, clarity and enunciation. He wisely decided that it was in his best interests, especially in pursuit of a nationally prominent position like President of the United States, to exercise more widely used communications skills, rather than allow his speech to identify him exclusively with a specific ethnic group.
So let’s not put on airs or feign excessive outrage. We all see and know that Obama a) is a relatively light-skinned African-American and b) does not speak, as Senator Harry Reid (Dem-NV) put it so delicately, in a “Negro dialect, unless he [wants] to.” (Ed. note — Just how many other crusty old dinosaurs are left who are still stuck on the word “Negro”?)
“I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words,” Senator Reid intoned dramatically, pleading for absolution from his sin. “I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African-Americans for my improper comments.” Said Rep. Barbara Lee, Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, “Senator Reid… apologized for his unfortunate remarks concerning the President and he understands the gravity of such remarks.”
Why such heavy expressions of contrition? Why does Reid find it necessary to ‘sincerely apologize,’ when what he said is something we all know anyways? Why fall all over himself apologizing for stating the obvious?
Maybe the better question is – to whom is Harry Reid actually apologizing?
What is revealed by Reid’s remarks is that Democrats think of Americans solely by ethnicity or category, and that race is the obsession that permeates every aspect of their political thinking. While Republicans seek voters by appealing to them on an individual, non-discriminatory basis, Democrats seek to categorize people by lumping them into groups, all the while putting their own definition to the group:
You are either white (and therefore a racist), or a minority (and an eternal victim of racism); straight (and inherently homophobic), or gay (and heterophobic? not a chance); a liberal (educated, enlightened and totally cool), or a conservative (mentally crippled and physically repulsive); male (and therefore naturally a ruthless, greedy bastard), or female (and oppressed, used and abused in a man’s world)…
In short, you’re not an individual, you’re a subset of some category. Further, you’re expected to act like a clone of all others in that category. And — women and gays notwithstanding – the first choice for Democrats has always been to manipulate and exploit the limitless spring of political opportunity known as racial division.
What does this have to do with Reid’s statements, especially if they’re simply factual and accurate?
Reid’s apology was partially directed to African-Americans for offending them (though some claim they were not even offended.) But it was primarily a ‘damage-control apology’ to the liberal world — indeed, to the Democrat Party — for his having lowered the curtain yet again and revealing that African-Americans who are too dark-skinned and who speak with too pronounced a black dialect should know their place. Reid’s comments, if not apologized for immediately and profusely, could have tarnished the pretense of Democrat compassion for minorities and negatively impacted the Democrat Party’s claim to the black vote.
So the age-old Democrat message continues, cropping up every-so-often through the likes of Harry Reid, Joe Biden, Robert Byrd, Bill Clinton and others:
We want every last one of you Negroes to vote for us – just don’t you go thinking you can step up on no soapbox and ‘keep it real.’ Real black don’t sell in the U.S. of A., on account of there’s still too many of them low-down Republican-type tea-bagging white folks. What sells around here is light skin and un-Negro-like dialect. Oh, and did I forget to mention I’m asking for your vote, son? Bring me another cup of coffee, and be quick about it…
So, in the end, Harry Reid apologized. The sad part is that most people are assuming he’s sorry that he said something hurtful and wrong. What he’s really sorry for is that he shed some more light on that old skeleton-in-the-closet — the Democrat Party’s condescending, race-based view of the African-American community.
Oh, and Obama? Yeah, he accepted Reid’s apology post-haste, no questions asked. Protect the Party, gloss it over, divert attention elsewhere. Nothing to see here, people, move on.
Just be sure you keep voting Democrat, the Party that really cares about you.
– RBS
UPDATE: 1/12 – Bo Snerdley, the official Obama-criticizer on Rush Limbaugh’s daily radio show, reinforces my point in spades, when — in a rather passionate rant — he declares that what Harry Reid’s comment really does is send “darkies who speak in ebonics” back into second-class citizenry, relegating them to move-to-the-rear-of-the-bus-please status.
My point exactly. Limbaugh admitted he hadn’t thought of it that way. I love beating Rush to the punch on an insightful thought. – RBS
———————————————————————–
Related Posts:
Gateway Pundit: Congressional Black Caucus: We’re Cool With Reid Calling Obama a Light-Skinned Negro – Ann Coulter to Al Sharpton: “Did Harry Reid Ask You to Stop Using Your Negro Dialect Too?” (Video)
Hot Air: Video: Coulter, Sharpton square off over Reid remarks – Video: Steele calls for Reid’s resignation as Majority Leader – Bill Clinton 2008 on Obama: A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee – <a title="Permanent Link to Reid apologizes for questioning Obama’s racial authenticity; Update: Apology accepted, says Obama; Update: Sharpton backs Reid, of course; Update: Obama 2002: The GOP must drive Lott out” href=”http://hotair.com/archives/2010/01/09/reid-apologizes-for-questioning-obamas-racial-authenticity/” rel=”bookmark”>Reid apologizes for questioning Obama’s racial authenticity – James Clyburn: What’s wrong with the word “negro”? – Harry Reid: Hey, maybe I chose my words poorly – Inevitable: Nevada Senate race now rated “lean takeover” – PPP poll tomorrow: Reid’s all but finished
Michelle Malkin: Dem leader who compared Republicans to slavemasters referred to “light-skinned” Obama and “Negro dialect;” Obama accepts apology, praises Reid on “social justice” – Harry-Kiri! Pollster moves Nevada Senate race to “Lean Takeover”
Red State: Harry Reid Among The Race Hypocrites – Democrats To African Americans: Your Degree Of *Blackness* Determines Our Fortune
- Doug Wilder: Reid’s Apology Not Sufficient
The Other McCain: Allen West on Harry Reid: A Black Republican on ‘Negro Talk’ – Was Harry Reid Wrong?
Patterico’s Pontifications: Harry Reid’s History of Racial Posturing
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Hey, Reid, Blago, Clinton: Check Out Hilarious SNL ‘MacGruber’ Spoof on Racism (video)
Libertarian Republican: Harry Reid & Democrat ideals: A history of Slavery, Segregation, and now Socialism
Nice Deb: Congressional Black Caucus Defends Reid, Launches Counter-Attack
Sweetness & Light: Bill Clinton’s ‘Step And Fetchit’ Remark
Washington Examiner – Gregory Kane: Liberal Democrats can be (and frequently are) racist, too
