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Reid apologizes for 'no Negro dialect' comment

Redress said:
Thank you for the clarification. To be clear, I think Reid's statement was unintentionally racist, I don't think he intended them that way. There is no uniform black dialect. However, I think stating that a dark skinned black man who spoke in a way that mainstream America found as different would be unelectable is not racist, which was his intent.
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So in your view, Reid is not racist, he just thinks that the American voter is racist?

- that they discount a politician based simply on the degree of "blackness" in the skin and level to which the speech pattern can be associated with blacks?

I'll remind ppl that the dialect people criticize the most in this country are the various versions of the Southern dialect -- and yet we've elected MANY Presidents who clearly speak "southern" and not just when they want to(Carter, Clinton, Bush had a bit of a twang, almost Gore, etc. etc.)
 
Taylor said:
So in your view, Reid is not racist, he just thinks that the American voter is racist?

- that they discount a politician based simply on the degree of "blackness" in the skin and level to which the speech pattern can be associated with blacks?

I'll remind ppl that the dialect people criticize the most in this country are the various versions of the Southern dialect -- and yet we've elected MANY Presidents who clearly speak "southern" and not just when they want to(Carter, Clinton, Bush had a bit of a twang, almost Gore, etc. etc.)
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I am not sure, depends on details we will never know, which is what he was thinking when he said it. Think of it this way though...is it racist to say that an American of Arabic descent would have a hard time getting elected to president if they looked very Arabic? Is it true?
 
Tucker Case said:
Aside from the presence of the word "negro", his statement was more racist against whites when you really think about it.
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It was racist against decent human beings of all color - the guy is nothing but a little racist turd who needs to be flushed.

The most interesting part is watching all the Blacks, to include Obama, throw on their Uncle Tom suits for the asshole - dumb is as dumb does.
 
Taylor said:
So in your view, Reid is not racist, he just thinks that the American voter is racist?

- that they discount a politician based simply on the degree of "blackness" in the skin and level to which the speech pattern can be associated with blacks?

I'll remind ppl that the dialect people criticize the most in this country are the various versions of the Southern dialect -- and yet we've elected MANY Presidents who clearly speak "southern" and not just when they want to(Carter, Clinton, Bush had a bit of a twang, almost Gore, etc. etc.)
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I don't think the idea behind his statement is racist, I think the way he phrased it gave us a look into the prejudices and biases that he holds, consciously or not.

It's a pretty indisputable fact that if Obama were as black as midnight and talked like a Southern Baptist Preacher, he would not have been elected. Saying that is not racist.

However, referring to his manner of speaking as not being a "negro dialect" indicates that Sen. Reid thinks in those terms. I don't think that necessarily means he's a racist, but it means that he thinks differently than most progressive people would like to admit and in a way that many might find offensive.
 
Tom Jones said:
It was racist against decent human beings of all color - the guy is nothing but a little racist turd who needs to be flushed.

The most interesting part is watching all the Blacks, to include Obama, throw on their Uncle Tom suits for the asshole - dumb is as dumb does.
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You condemn Reid for using an outdated racial term without animus and then turn around and condemn Obama using another racial term.

Awesome.
 
RightinNYC said:
I don't think the idea behind his statement is racist, I think the way he phrased it gave us a look into the prejudices and biases that he holds, consciously or not.

It's a pretty indisputable fact that if Obama were as black as midnight and talked like a Southern Baptist Preacher, he would not have been elected. Saying that is not racist.

However, referring to his manner of speaking as not being a "negro dialect" indicates that Sen. Reid thinks in those terms. I don't think that necessarily means he's a racist, but it means that he thinks differently than most progressive people would like to admit and in a way that many might find offensive.
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Thank you for explaining what I was saying, but better and more clearly.
 
RightinNYC said:
I don't think the idea behind his statement is racist, I think the way he phrased it gave us a look into the prejudices and biases that he holds, consciously or not.

However, referring to his manner of speaking as not being a "negro dialect" indicates that Sen. Reid thinks in those terms. I don't think that necessarily means he's a racist, but it means that he thinks differently than most progressive people would like to admit and in a way that many might find offensive.
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So glad to see that you finally agree! (see post 118) ;)
 
Redress said:
I am not sure, depends on details we will never know, which is what he was thinking when he said it. Think of it this way though...is it racist to say that an American of Arabic descent would have a hard time getting elected to president if they looked very Arabic? Is it true?
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I'm not sure it's a meaningful comparison because it doesn't play into a stereotype - I'm not even sure what "very Arabic" means, are you referring to clothing?
 
Taylor said:
I'm not sure it's a meaningful comparison because it doesn't play into a stereotype - I'm not even sure what "very Arabic" means, are you referring to clothing?
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Dress, grooming, features.
 
Redress said:
Dress, grooming, features.
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Well then a more appropriate comparison would be saying candidate has a shot at the presidency because he's "well groomed" and doesn't dress like an Arab unless he needs to.
 
Taylor said:
Well then a more appropriate comparison would be saying candidate has a shot at the presidency because he's "well groomed" and doesn't dress like an Arab unless he needs to.
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Being groomed in the Arab fashion isn't the same as not being well-groomed.
 
RightinNYC said:
It's a pretty indisputable fact that if Obama were as black as midnight and talked like a Southern Baptist Preacher, he would not have been elected.
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Indisputable fact?? Really?

I totally disagree. Obama's charisma and attraction does not come from his light skin and monotone voice. In fact, his most memorable speeches are those in which HE DOES shift to a more "preacherly" tone.
 
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RightinNYC said:
You condemn Reid for using an outdated racial term without animus and then turn around and condemn Obama using another racial term.

Awesome.
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It was the Dems who called Powell and Rice Uncle Toms - I am merely pointing that out - and pointing out that they are the pot calling the kettle Black (pun intended).
 
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Redress said:
I am not sure, depends on details we will never know, which is what he was thinking when he said it.
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Really? Do Demos give repubs that kind of leeway when they have a "slip of the tongue"???


Hmmm....Let's see....


Senator Mary Landrieu

"...it's up to Senate Republicans to decide whether Lott should give up his leadership job. 'I can tell you if a Democratic leader said such a thing, they would not be allowed to keep their position...."


Senator Barbara Boxer

"His apology does not take away the sting of his divisive words, nor the pain inflicted on millions of African Americans under segregation...."


Senator Hillary Clinton

"Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, said the GOP must decide whether Lott 'represents the views of the majority of Republicans in the Senate and in our country."


Senator Dianne Feinstein


"When connected to past comments and votes, this statement casts a dark shadow over Sen. Lott's ability to be a credible party leader..."


That is just a few as seen here, Reflections on Dem statements about Lott when Trent Lott made his statement and demo's jumped with both feet to get him thrown out of the leadership.

Should repubs start saying such things? Should we be questioning whether or not Reid's statement, and as of yesterday his declaration that was all he was going to say on the matter, does that reflect the sentiments of the demo senate as a whole? Doesn't Reid now cast a "dark shadow" over the ability of him to be a credible leader? Or is it just one giant double standard.

Stephen A. Smith said yesterday:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvrduao7gn8&feature=player_embedded#"]YouTube- Anthony A Smith calls for Harry Reid to Resign[/ame]

I think repubs should take a page out of the liberal playbook and hang this around their necks in neon!

is it racist to say that an American of Arabic descent would have a hard time getting elected to president if they looked very Arabic? Is it true?
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That would depend on who is saying such things? Obviously as we saw with Joe Biden:

"In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking."

Read more: Sen. Joe Biden Commits Racial Slur, Where's the Outrage? | NewsBusters.org


But if it were say Cheney that had said that, My goodness, the earth shattering whale would have been heard around the world......

Give us a break.


j-mac
 
What Reid said is a racist statement clearly.........If a Republican made the same statement the press would crucify him............
 
J-Mac, I express my own personal opinions, not the opinions of any one else. Further, those are different situations with different comments. Feel free to ask me about those and I will give you my opinion.
 
Taylor said:
I'm not following your point... expand?
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Well, you said:

Well then a more appropriate comparison would be saying candidate has a shot at the presidency because he's "well groomed" and doesn't dress like an Arab unless he needs to.
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The implication there, whether intended or not, is that the Arab style of grooming is not "well groomed".

You are comparing "well groomed" to the "light skinned" portion of Reid's quote, but it's more appropriately compared to the "Negro dialect" portion.

The most appropriate comparison would be "candidate has a shot at the presidency because he dresses like a westerner and is fairly 'well-groomed' unless he needs to look more Arab."

That's basically what I was trying to say, but I did so in a poor fashion.
 
Taylor said:
Well then a more appropriate comparison would be saying candidate has a shot at the presidency because he's "well groomed" and doesn't dress like an Arab unless he needs to.
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You are saying here that Arabs are not well groomed, which could be considered racist, since many arabs are in fact well groomed for their culture.
 
Tucker Case said:
Well, you said:



The implication there, whether intended or not, is that the Arab style of grooming is not "well groomed".

You are comparing "well groomed" to the "light skinned" portion of Reid's quote, but it's more appropriately compared to the "Negro dialect" portion.

The most appropriate comparison would be "candidate has a shot at the presidency because he dresses like a westerner and is fairly 'well-groomed' unless he needs to look more Arab."

That's basically what I was trying to say, but I did so in a poor fashion.
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Ah, yes. I should have made myself clear, I too had been thinking the "well groomed" was more analogous to "Negro dialect" - both comparisons, actually. What I wrote doesn't work well as a 1-to-1 with Reid's statement, it was more to illustrate that there's more to it than simply "stating facts" - as you said, such statements can imply other things.
 
Redress said:
You are saying here that Arabs are not well groomed, which could be considered racist, since many arabs are in fact well groomed for their culture.
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I was trying to use the examples you provided as to what makes someone appear "very Arab".

  1. Does being well groomed make you appear "very Arab" (and therefore unlikely to be elected)?
  2. Or, is it that "not well groomed" makes you appear "very Arab" (and therefore unlikely to be elected)?
 
Taylor said:
I was trying to use the examples you provided as to what makes someone appear "very Arab".

  1. Does being well groomed make you appear "very Arab" (and therefore unlikely to be elected)?
  2. Or, is it that "not well groomed" makes you appear "very Arab" (and therefore unlikely to be elected)?
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Well groomed has nothing to do with it. Grooming would refer to choice of hair and facial hair styles. The fact that you went with "well groomed" shows a bias within you, which could be deemed racist. See how tricky it can be to pick your words?
 
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