On this morning's segment of Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, RNC Chairman Michael Steele and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine were guests.
The program was extremely interesting (as always) however if you missed it never fear, I have it embedded below for your viewing pleasure.
Chris asked both Party Chairmen about Sen. Harry Reid's recent apology stemming from his Racist "No Negro Dialect" comments uttered during the 2008 Presidential race.
No one asked why Harry Reid waited an entire year (an election year) to apologize but that's another blog post.
Tim Kaine tried to brush it off as if Reid's comments were acceptable just because Pres. Obama stated on Saturday "the book is closed".
Well of course Michael Steele jumped right on Kaine's response by stating the Democrats seem to have a Double Standard when it comes to how inappropriate remarks are handled.
Steele mentioned how harshly Trent Lott was handled.
Trent Lott should have most certainly been punished but wait a minute!
How about the way Rep. Joe Wilson was treated?
Last Fall Joe Wilson was formally rebuked by the entire U.S. House 240-179 for his rallying "You Lie!" shout during Pres. Obama's Joint Session Of Congress Address On Health Care Legislation.
Even after Wilson apologized (somewhat) he was still formally rebuked.
Yet Harry Reid's comments are overlooked with a simple apology??
So because Harry Reid pushed forth the Dems' Health Care Reform agenda (without a much needed Public Option) and because Pres. Obama still doesn't want to have a conversation about Racial Discrimination (again), the entire Black Race is supposed to ignore Reid's disturbing comments?
Something is wrong with this picture and I don't think so!!
For Tim Kaine to think that what Harry Reid said wasn't that bad suggests he too believes Lighter-Skinned Black people are Superior to Darker-Skinned Black People.
Let me take it deeper, does Harry Reid and Pres. Obama also believe Lighter-Skinned Black people are Superior to Darker-Skinned Black People??
That type of Stereotypical Mentality was taught to slaves by a Slave Owner centuries ago by the name of Willie Lynch and kept the Black Race divided until this day.
My Mother is extremely Light-Skinned, with Brown eyes and hair that isn't kinky but wavy because her great, great father was Caucasian. (Yes it was a forced sexual experience probably akin to deceased SC U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond's situation)
My Father who is now deceased as of 2003, was part Native American Indian and Black.
Due to my Father's Indian heritage his hair was almost as straight as Caucasian hair but....he was Dark-Skinned.
This "hodge podge" of Genes, Races and Cultures caused me to be born with a Medium-Brown complexion, Wavy, Curly Hair (NOT Kinky) which requires NO Chemicals, Nor a Straightening Comb to smooth it out and light-brown colored eyes.
Do these physical features make me "Superior" to Black people who are very Dark-Skinned, have Black eyes or Kinky hair?
I am now the Mother of two handsome sons.
My eldest son is Brown-Skinned, has Black eyes and almost Kinky hair.
My youngest son is Light Brown-Skinned, with Brown eyes and Straight hair.
Does that make my youngest "Superior" to my eldest son?
In addition I was born in Brooklyn, New York but now reside in Charlotte, NC
Does this mean I'm "Superior" to Blacks who were born in the South?
NO of course NOT!!
Yet this type of "Superior" Racially Divisive thinking is what Willie Lynch taught Slaves to believe.
Such Ignorance has created barriers within the Black race to this day and has caused some Blacks to be treated more so favorable by White America.
You know like how favorable Pres. Barack Obama has been treated by White America and the press.
Let's be real if Barack Obama were Darker-Skinned (like Michelle) and wasn't half-White, he would NOT have been nominated or elected whether anyone else in the Democratic Party wishes to be real on this matter or not.
Sometimes the truth hurts but it will set you Free!
When Harry Reid made those Racist comments, he made them NOT just to President Obama but his comments were made against an entire Ethnic group whether any Democrat Congressional member wishes to admit it or not.
On the flip side while I don't believe Senator Harry Reid is a Racist at heart and should not resign, he STILL made those comments.
This serious issue is NOT and should NOT be about Partisan politics.
Reid's negative, Racist comments largely affected an entire Ethnic group (Black People) who are STILL being largely Oppressed in a Free Country!
Even Pres. Obama himself recently admitted during an interview with April Ryan of American Urban Radio Network, that "Blacks are usually the last hired and first fired".
In fact if Harry Reid were NOT a member of Congress but instead were just a regular employee on a regular job and made such Racist comments, he would have been fired or sued by the EEOC!
How was Reid able to make those comments and remain in his role as Senate Majority Leader while Trent Lott and Joe Wilson were harshly disciplined?
I believe that Trent Lott, Joe Wilson and Harry Reid should ALL have been harshly reprimanded!
This unresolved situation is all Pres. Obama's fault.
How so?
1) When U.S. A.G. Eric Holder said Americans are "Cowards" when it comes to conversations about Racism, Pres. Obama publicly denounced Holder's statements and brushed Racism under the rug.
2) When Harvard Professor Henry "Skip" Gates was arrested last year (due to Racial Profiling), it was the perfect time for Pres. Obama to address Racial Discrimination in America and for U.S. A.G. Eric Holder's Office to re-examine Equality laws.
Instead Pres. Obama chose to once again brush everything under the rug and have a "Beer Summit".
Furthermore I don't think any White Voters would have practiced "White Flight" if his administration decided to really enforce Equality laws or address Racial Profiling.
What happened?
Because Pres. Obama as a Leader has never handled the issue of Racism correctly, it once again reared its ugly head.
This time in the form of Sen. Reid apologizing a year later for his Racist comments.
So there you have it.
Michael Steele was correct when he said that Democrats have a Double Standard when it comes to handling Racist Remarks.
When GOP Lawmakers practice Racism they are crucified.
When Democrat Lawmakers do it they receive a slap on the wrist.
Democrats need to do better. Much better!
However here's the $64M remaining question I'm posing...
Why does Pres. Barack Obama appear to be afraid to address the destructive issue of Racial Discrimination in America?
If Obama is afraid of losing his White Voters, too late!
Most of Obama's White Voters are already jumping ship because during his first year in Office he focused on pleasing Wall Street instead of creating Job Growth for Middle Class, Less Educated and Lower Income Voters.
You know the "Common Folk" who went to the Polls for him back in November 2008.
The Democrats are now preparing to address Illegal Immigration.
How can Democrats enact effective Illegal Immigration Reform legislation if Pres. Obama is afraid to tackle Racial Discrimination?
Looks like Pres. Obama needs to stop listening to Mayor Richard Daley, Valerie Jarrett, David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, Larry Summers and Tim Geithner for advice and follow his own heart if....
He wants the Democrats to remain in control
That's right I said Stop listening to Mayor Richard Daley, Valerie Jarrett, David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, Larry Summers and Tim Geithner!
Their footprints are all over Obama's first year Administration decisions, from catering to Wall Street, his Stimulus Package, the "Beer Summit", his 2016 Olympics Bid, handling Foreclosures, Health Care Reform, Education, "Green Jobs", etc.,
Three Million Americans lost their jobs in 2009 and the best Obama's Administration can come up with is a "Green Jobs" program that ONLY creates about 17,000 Jobs!
Please!
What about creating Jobs for Huge Infrastructure projects too?
Like re-building old, rotten Bridges, etc.,
Check out Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace interview: Michael Steele and Tim Kaine.
Joe Wilson's rallying "You Lie!" shout.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Steele Calls On Reid To Resign As Senate Leader After Obama "Negro" Comment
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Sunday called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for describing Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign as "light-skinned" with "no Negro dialect" unless he wants to have one.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Sunday called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for describing Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign as "light-skinned" with "no Negro dialect" unless he wants to have one.
Steele also accused Democrats of hypocrisy on the matter.
"There is this standard where Democrats feel that they can say these things and they can apologize when it comes from the mouths of their own. But if it comes from anyone else, it is racism," Steele told "Fox News Sunday."
"If (Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell had said those very words that this chairman and this president would be calling for his head, and they would be labeling every Republican in the country as a racist for saying exactly what this chairman has just said," Steele continued.
Reid went into damage control over the weekend, mobilizing a raft of supportive statements both in Washington, D.C., and Nevada.
Reid spoke by phone to numerous senators and took part in the regular weekend call with Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island to go over the Sunday show talking points on his gaffe and other topics.
Reed and Reid were on the call with staff members for Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Joe Lieberman. The message: Reid did it, it was wrong, he apologized immediately, the president has accepted the apologize, time to move on.
"Harry Reid made a misstatement. He owned up to it. He apologized. I think he is mortified by the statement he's made," Reed said on "Fox News Sunday." "And I don't think he should step down. I think he's a valuable member of the Senate and someone who's going to continue to lead."
Reid also called prominent African Americans, including National Action Network head Al Sharpton, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Barbara Lee and Leadership Conference on Civil Rights chief Wade Henderson.
Reid was not going to speak publicly about the matter on Sunday. As of now, aides say he has no plans to cancel his appearance at a scheduled event on energy on Capitol Hill on Monday.
Reid is taking ownership of his comments, having made the remarks directly to one of the authors of "Game Change," the tell-all book on the 2008 presidential campaign being released Tuesday. Reid spoke straight to author Mark Halperin in context of what he believed was a positive statement about why he backed Obama as early as he did.
Reid and his staff did not expect this direct quote to appear in the book and he began apologizing shortly after the excerpts were reported on the Web site of The Atlantic magazine. According to several sources familiar with the senator's actions, Reid called Obama from his home in Searchlight, Nev. Obama took the call in the Oval Office.
"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," Reid said in a statement.
"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."
In a written statement Saturday, Obama said he accepted Reid'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."
"As far as I am concerned, the book is closed," he added.
A senior Democratic source with close contacts on Capitol Hill said Reid is not depending only on Obama for forgiveness.
"He's in the midst of an aggressive mea culpa tour that has thus far produced supportive statements from key African American leaders in the Congress and civil rights community. He's got a strong record on social justice and related issues and is doing the right thing by immediately taking responsibility for the comment. He knows it was a boneheaded thing to say and is showing appropriate remorse," the source said.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine also defended Reid. "I don't think this is an issue that is going affect his leadership at all. In fact, he's doing some very heavy lifting -- wonderful lifting right now to get this health care bill over the goal line," Kaine told "Fox News Sunday."
The Democratic source added that Reid will likely not lose his position, as Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott did after his 2002 tribute to the now-deceased Sen. Strom Thurmond on his 100th birthday.
"The only way he gets deposed is if the Democrats decide they have a political interest in seeing him go. Based on the reaction thus far, he'll endure a few bad days but will be fine in the long run and can focus his efforts on his campaign."
But Steele responded that if Lott is the standard, then Reid's comments fall into the same category for resignation.
"It's more than just an apology here. It's a reflection of an attitude. Now, remember, this is the same leader who, just a few weeks ago, you know, was talking about health care in the context of slavery. Clearly, he is out of touch not only with where America and his district are but where -- how African-Americans generally feel about these issues," he said.
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., agreed that if Lott should have resigned, then Reid should too.
"Harry Reid has said a lot of insensitive things for which he's had to apologize," he said. "My tendency is that when these people apologize, if you know what's in their heart, they shouldn't. But I'd like to see the same standard applied to both."
Reid's aides cite vast differences between him and Lott. They say Reid has backed civil rights legislation, has voted for pro-civil rights court nominees, has promoted diversity in hiring in the Nevada casino industry and has always had an open and productive relationship with the civil rights community in his home state and nationally.
With Reid's poll numbers tanking in his home state, the majority leader is persisting. With no challenges to his majority leader position, he also will not drop out of his re-election race.
But rank and file Democrats have been put in a difficult position. They don't want to sound like nothing happened, but are uncomfortable criticizing Reid in public.
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Sources: Fox News Sunday, MSNBC, Huffington Post, Politico, NY Times, ABC News, TPM Live Wire, American Urban Radio Network, Wikipedia, Youtube, Google Maps
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