African-American members of Congress – and even President Obama – say it’s time to move past Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid’s ill-advised choice of words in describing Obama during the 2008 campaign. Everybody, that is, except the Republican Party.
In fact, say a number of leading Republicans, Reid should resign, despite apologizing for his remark that Obama being “light-skinned” and lacking a “Negro dialect” would prove to be advantageous for him in that election. The comment was made public in a book, titled "Game Change," which goes on sale Monday.
"Reid was convinced … that Obama's race would help him more than hurt him in a bid for the Democratic nomination," the authors write in the book.
But Black lawmakers, including the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that Reid’s support for initiatives benefiting African Americans far outweighed any politically incorrect slip of the lip.
"Over the years, I have had an opportunity to work with Majority Leader Reid," said Rep. Barbara Lee. "Senator Reid's record provides a stark contrast to actions of Republicans to block legislation that would benefit poor and minority communities."
In addition, the chairwoman said, "There are too many issues like the economy, job creation and energy for these regrettable comments to distract us from the work that must be done on behalf of the American people," she said.
Reid was quick to apologize for the gaffe, saying in a statement that "I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. … I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans, for my improper comments. I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama's legislative agenda."
A spokesman for the senator said that his boss made his apologetic rounds over the weekend, reaching out to several key African-American leaders, including Lee; House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.); the Rev. Al Sharpton; Democratic strategist Donna Brazile; NAACP Chairman Julian Bond; and Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.
That was plenty for the president, who heard from Reid on Saturday.
“As far as I’m concerned, the book is closed,” Obama said. "I accepted Harry's apology without question, because I've known him for years. I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice and I know what's in his heart."
But angry Republicans blamed the Democrats for practicing a double standard.
Appearing on NBC’s "Meet the Press" Sunday, Michael Steele, the first African-American leader of the Republican National Committee, said, "Racism and racist conversations have no place today in America."
He said that Reid should resign immediately. He pointed to Democratic reaction to comments made by Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) in 2002, when the former Senate Majority Leader was forced to resign after suggesting that the nation would have been better off if it had elected Strom Thurmond as president in 1948, when the Dixiecrat candidate ran as a segregationist from South Carolina.
"There is a big double standard here," Steele said. "When Democrats get caught saying racist things, you know, an apology is enough."
Ironically, Steele himself is under pressure from fellow Republicans to step down, partly for comments some Black Republicans say is offensive. For example, he was reminded in an interview with FOX News on Sunday about saying “Honest Injun” to describe the Constitution; he once said, too, that as chairman of the party he would bring the fried chicken and potato salad to gatherings to attract other African Americans. He has also come under fire for occasionally using urban slang when making a point. And just last week, he told his critics to “shut up” and “fire me” if they are displeased with his leadership.
But the controversial Steele isn’t the only Republican calling for Reid’s resignation. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas referred to the comments by the Nevada senator as "embarrassing and racially insensitive."
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