Using Race to Press Political Agenda
The recent hoopla over Reid’s remarks about Obama: “light-skinned… with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one” are being met with an interesting response from Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele, who is himself, African-American. The question is if there is a double-standard; why are Dems let off the hook relatively easily, when Republicans aren’t? I think the answer lies in track record, and in the case of Harry Reid I think his precedes him; Reid is no racist. And to me this drama stinks of political maneuvering; but still the question begs us: where do we draw the line over “political correctness”? Why are some crucified over racist remarks and others let-off relatively easy? Is political correctness the issue here?
Like
My issue is this: politics aside…what Reid said is beyond out of line. Referencing “negro” dialect is blatantly racist. Regardless of his track record this is not accidentally racist. One does not reference a “negro” dialect unless you think it exists. What exactly is a “negro” dialect? Did he mean urban? Certainly this is not unique to African-Americans. Basically he said Obama was a good fit because he wasn’t a dark skinned African-American and because he didn’t “talk” like an African-American.
Personally, I don’t believe the issue is Reid’s choice of words (what he apologized for) I think its what Reid really thinks about African-Americans. You can’t substitute any other words (that I can think of) to make it right.
That’s my two sense…
There is a double standard and Dems track record on race is lamentably, actually much much worse than Republicans, though that is not the currently received wisdom. Harry Reid said what he actually thinks, and which is in many ways, largely true. Fair skin and a “white” tone of voice goes a long way in making a Black person palatable to White America.
What is this terrible track record from the Democrats compared the Republicans that you speak of?
@Jared Both
Support for slavery, segregation, abortion rights (which has devastated Black communities and made a fortune for Planned Parenthood), massive disincentives for family integrity (via welfare policies that disincentivize marriage) and social and economic engineering that continues to penalize entrepreneurship are some areas.