RNC Chair, Michael Steele and other prominent Republican leaders have called upon Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV), to resign for remarks he made during the 2008 Presidential Election in which he stated that the country was ready to embrace the candidacy of Barack Obama because he was “light skinned” and had “no negro dialect unless he wants one.”  Senator Reid expressed regret for his “poor choice of words” and issued an apology for his “improper comments.” President Obama accepted his apology and considers the matter closed.

Republicans, however, say that Reid should follow the example of former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, who resigned in 2002 over controversial remarks he made at a birthday party for then Senator Strom Thurmond. Lott stated that the US. would have avoided “all these problems” if Thurmond had been elected President in 1948.  Thurmond ran on a segregationist platform.
 
What do you say?

Comments (10)

Laura said:

This is such a generational thing...most of the younger generation wouldn't have much trouble with this at all. In fact, I would be quite happy to sit in a room the Obama and say the same thing. Duh, it's a political assessment by a professional politician. The difference between an assessment of racial politics and racism is pretty clear. Lott made racist comments and Reid made a political assessment of race issues.

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January 12, 2010
Votes: +1

Phil A. said:

I do not believe it's appropriate to relate Sen. Reid's comments with Trent Lott's comments (for which he resigned). Reid's comments were made in a positive context while Lott's paid homage to a racial segregationist, the likes of which was a plague upon our society. Republican railing on this topic demonstrates their desperation to achieve some level of national relevance. It's very sad to see as I used to be a Republican.

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January 12, 2010
Votes: -2

Mallie said:

I conpletely disagree Phil. The remarks can be compared, because they were both of similar context. Lott was praising a respected member of Congress at his birthday party. Reid made what he intended to be complementary remarks about President Obama. In both cases, the standard should be the same. If we call for the resignation of one, we should call for the resignation of the other. I personally believe that it should be left to the constituents of Nevada to decide if Harry Reid should continue to represent them. The President has obviously forgiven Reid, now it's the people's turn to decide if he should be punished.

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January 21, 2010
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tiffanny said:

I feel that the comments were unessasary and completely and to an extent upsettingly racist, but if the president forgave him then we should too. If the people of his state call for his resignation then so be it, but i think that like laura before me said, its racial politics. Even though it was wrong for him to say, I dont feel that he should be punished for bringing a voice to something that many people believe. Isnt it our bill of rights that says that we have the freedom of speech, I feel that he should have the same right to say what he wants when he wants as long as it is in a respectful mannor and as long as his opinion doesnt get in the way of the good of the people.

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February 20, 2010
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francis henn said:

	I am going to keep this short. He should not be forced to resign for a couple of reasons. !: although those were poor word choices and racist stereotypes, he is defended by "freedom of speech". 2: he made a public apology that was also accepted by President Obama. I completely disagree with Harry Reid's statement but it would not be fair to force him to resign.
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February 22, 2010
Votes: +1

Jack said:

Tiffanny: Correct me if I'm wrong, Laura, but I believe when she referred to racial politics she meant that the comment was made as an analysis of the roles race and ethnicity play in politics, regardless of whether or not someone is racist. The comments made by Senator Reid were not racist: they were pointing out obvious facts that would make President Obama a more "acceptable" candidate to Americans who still have lingering racial biases. While the need to state these facts is regrettable, it does not make the comments racist. It's almost one of those "don't kill the messenger" cases.

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March 24, 2010
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Jack said:

	In case the beginning of my above statement is unclear, what I meant to indicate is that I am responding to Tiffanny's post, which refers to Laura's initial response to the prompt.
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March 24, 2010
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Luke said:

Whats said has been said whats done has been done. Mr. Reid has made some rude comments, but that should bot effect his term. It was his right to make those comments, we are the land of the free we are allowed to make fun of our leaders. I did not see this issue come up when George Bush was in office. There were pleanty of political leaders that ridaculed and trash talked former president bush, no one resigned then no one should resign now. Did Mr. Reid make some nasty comments , sure but thats whats politics is all about!

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March 26, 2010
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Tim said:

	Personally I think we have better things to fire politicians for than for some crude racist remark or some minor sexual peccadillo. We're dealing with some foolish fellow who said something regrettable and the media ate it up, it's not like this fellow's another Strom Thurmond.
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April 16, 2010
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Daniel Hong said:

	As compared to the racially charged attacks from the radical left wing, Harry Reid's statement could not be anymore insignificant. Reid's devotion to Obama's agenda, especially regarding Health Care Reform, has been indescribable. He could have spent the remainder of his term campaigning in his own state for the upcoming elections, but no- he was in D.C. fighting for social justice.
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May 13, 2010
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