Steele: Reid should step down from leadership role for 'Negro' remark

[bobbyw24]

Not sure what to think about this one--guess there ain't no free speech for Senators--even liberal Dems

By Eric Zimmermann - 01/10/10 09:42 AM ET

The chairman of the Republican National Committee called Sunday for Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to step down as Majority Leader in the wake of revelations that he used the term "Negro" when discussing President Barack Obama's 2008 candidacy.

"I think he should, if the standard is the one set by [Trent Lott]," Steele said on "Fox News Sunday" when asked if Reid should resign his post.

Trent Lott resigned his post as Majority Leader in 2002 after praising Strom Thurmond's 1948 presidential candidacy during a birthday celebration for the 100-year-old South Carolinian.

Mark Halperin and John Heliemann report in their new book, "Game Change," that Reid said during the campaign he thought Obama could win because, while black, he was "light-skinned" and lacked a "Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

At the same time, Steele tried to deflect criticism about an alleged racial slur of his own.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/75067-steele-reid-should-step-down-from-leadership-role-for-negro-remark

[bobbyw24]

Poll: Reid hits new low in Nevada
By Eric Zimmermann - 01/09/10 11:40 AM ET

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has dropped to a new low in the most recent Las Vegas Journal-Review poll.

More than half of Nevadans--52%--have an unfavorable view of Reid. Just a third hold a favorable view.

The numbers represent a small but noticeable drop from early December, when 38% held a favorable view compared to 49% unfavorable.


Reid would also lose the election to any of the three possible GOP candidates if the election were held today.

Former Nevada GOP Chairwoman Sue Lowden beats Reid 50%-40%, compared to a 49%-41% margin for businessman Danny Tarkanian, and 45%-41% for Assemblywoman Sharron Angle.

[forsmant]

There is still free speech. He said it didn't he? What you think there will be no consequences for offending someone?

[bobbyw24]

http://www.politico.com/arena/

[TheBlackPeterSchiff]

Where is Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the NAACP, the CBC all the other groups that would be marching on DC if this was a conservative or libertarian, or anyone other than a Democrat?! Where is the outrage?

[bobbyw24]

Where is Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the NAACP, the CBC all the other groups that would be marching on DC if this was a conservative or libertarian, or anyone other than a Democrat?! Where is the outrage?

Precisely why I say Tolerance is often a one-way street

[speciallyblend]

steele should step down along with 60-70% of the failed gop leadership. steele has 0 credibility....... steele and reid are different sides of the same coin....

[speciallyblend]

Poll: Reid hits new low in Nevada
By Eric Zimmermann - 01/09/10 11:40 AM ET

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has dropped to a new low in the most recent Las Vegas Journal-Review poll.

More than half of Nevadans--52%--have an unfavorable view of Reid. Just a third hold a favorable view.

The numbers represent a small but noticeable drop from early December, when 38% held a favorable view compared to 49% unfavorable.


Reid would also lose the election to any of the three possible GOP candidates if the election were held today.

Former Nevada GOP Chairwoman Sue Lowden beats Reid 50%-40%, compared to a 49%-41% margin for businessman Danny Tarkanian, and 45%-41% for Assemblywoman Sharron Angle.

notice the fail to mention the only republican worth voting for. typical media bs...

[SelfTaught]

notice the fail to mention the only republican worth voting for. typical media bs...

Who's that?

[catdd]

steele should step down along with 60-70% of the failed gop leadership. steele has 0 credibility....... steele and reid are different sides of the same coin....

Republicrats - Fiddling while Rome burns.

[squarepusher]

http://www.capmag.com/images2y346y/people/walter_williams.jpg
Race Talk for "African-Americans"
by Walter Williams (May 13, 2009)

What to call black people has to be confusing to white people.

Having been around for 73 years, I have been through a number of names.

Among the polite ones are: colored, Negro, Afro-American, black, and now African-American. Among those names, African-American is probably the most unintelligent. (http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=5523)

[catdd]

Same with Native Americans. Some still prefer American Indian.

[Pepsi]

ObamaCare Opponent Removed From Sen. Reid's Town Hall Meeting, Media Mum

The opponent of pending healthcare reform legislation was removed from Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) town hall meeting in Las Vegas Thursday.

After Reid astonishingly told the invitation-only audience that "no state will benefit more than the state of Nevada" if ObamaCare is passed, Michael Steger stood up to voice his displeasure.

Shortly after the mostly Reid-supporting crowd chanted, "Sit down, sit down," Steger was physically removed from the facility

As the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Friday, Reid and Company did everything within their power to stage this meeting in order to prevent any dissent:

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/01/09/obamacare-opponent-removed-harry-reid-town-hall-media-mum#ixzz0cEn9OXg1



NEJM accepts Baucus claim of no financial interests?


The following letter to the editor by Dr. Howard Green of Florida was sent to the New England Journal of Medicine in early November. It had not yet been published as of the Dec. 10 issue.

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has had a decades-old policy of financial disclosure by authors of editorials in order to “prevent financial interests from infringing on the editorial content of the Journal.”

This policy was grossly violated when the editors of the NEJM recently chose to publish an opinion piece by Senator Max Baucus titled “Doctors, Patients, and the Need for Health Care Reform” (Vol. 361:1817-1819, Nov. 5, 2009, No. 19) that included a statement by the author that he had no financial interests to disclose.

In the past year alone, Sen. Baucus has received payments from drug and health insurance companies many times in excess of the $10,000 limit which the Journal recognizes as significant to alter an author’s credibility. By failing to disclose those contributions to Journal readers, Sen. Baucus and the editors of the NEJM have violated their own code of ethics and disclosure meant to support the veracity of opinions and data presented in their journal.

Disclosure of the senator’s directly or indirectly received payments from health insurance and pharmaceutical companies would help readers understand why Sen. Baucus continues to support a government-subsidized, high-overhead, low-outcome private insurance industry operating parallel to and within Medicare insurance.

Disclosure of the senator’s receipt of such “contributions” from the health care sector might demonstrate why he supports a private health insurance industry that siphons away, via administrative overhead, hundreds of billions of dollars annually from physician subscribers to the NEJM, patients, clinics, therapists, and pharmacies.

In addition to failing to disclose in the NEJM the monies he has received from pharmaceutical and health insurance companies, Sen. Baucus failed to inform readers of his personal and his Senate Finance Committee’s continued support for (or acquiescence to) the following policies:

* A federal exemption for private health insurance companies from antitrust regulations.

* A prohibition on Medicare insurance establishing a drug formulary through competitive bidding.

* No federal grants to develop a single EMR and billing system for physicians, hospitals and therapists which would reveal clinical, preventative and surgical outcomes. Outcome revelations would crush the health insurance companies, and allow for free-market competition among doctors and hospitals based on quality and efficiency.

* Protection of private health insurance companies from medical malpractice lawsuits via federal ERISA laws.

* Part D taxpayer subsidies to health insurance and drug corporations.

* Medicare Advantage taxpayer subsidies to health insurance companies.

* Reckless and negligent medical rationing by private health insurance companies via their non-physician employees.

* A government ban on collective bargaining by physicians.

* An inability of Medicare to enlarge its limited risk pool beyond that of the oldest, sickest and most physically disabled citizens of our nation.

* Personal bankruptcies due to a medical illness.

* No real change in malpractice reform. Real malpractice reform would allow internists and family practitioners to fulfill their role as primary care physicians efficiently and productively, tackling dynamic illnesses without prematurely referring their sicker patients to expensive specialists without medical benefit.

By allowing Sen. Baucus to express his opinion without a comprehensive disclosure of the large sums he has received from health insurance and pharmaceutical companies or of his continued support of current health care policies, the editors of the NEJM have surrendered their objective status as an advocate of integrity in research and patient care.

http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/12/14/nejm-accepts-baucus-claim-of-no-financial-interests/

[speciallyblend]

Same with Native Americans. Some still prefer American Indian.

yep i have met russell means several times. they perfer indian. they do not want to be known as native american. they are indians not americans;)

[speciallyblend]

Who's that?

The only candidate that backs and aligns with the Tea Party/Libertarians, Conservatives-Republicans and Independents

http://www.robintitus.com/index.htm

http://www.robintitus.com/platform/platform.htm <=== On the Issues

Robin L. Titus, M.D.
For U.S. Senate From Nevada Conservative

[catdd]

yep i have met russell means several times. they perfer indian. they do not want to be known as native american. they are indians not americans;)

Always wanted to meet him and still think he and Ventura would make good running mates.

[jmdrake]

Where is Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the NAACP, the CBC all the other groups that would be marching on DC if this was a conservative or libertarian, or anyone other than a Democrat?! Where is the outrage?

Last time I checked they all donated to the United NEGRO College fund. Negro has never been a racial slur. Where Sharpton et al fell on the job was for not going after democratic senator (and former klansman) Robert Byrd for using the term "white n*gger".

YouTube - Senator Robert Byrd says "white *******" on TV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FIBJt-c2o0)

Jesse Jackson should just sit down and shut up. After getting caught on TV saying he wanted to cut Obama's nuts off he really has no credibility. (Not that he had any anyway after getting some young lady pregnant while "counseling" Clinton over the Lewinsky affair.)

[Liberty Star]

This is wonderful news, Reid should oblige and immeditately step down, he's not worthy to be in US Senate.

Reid has been disrespecting Obama for quite sometime now interferring in his policy making by writing public letters questioning his leadership:

http://news.antiwar.com/2009/06/19/sen-reid-to-obama-back-off-israel-pressure-palestinians/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/30/reid-appeals-directly-to_n_305784.html

But Reid never used such tone in letters or even penned such letters when a previous president without any "negro dialect" potential was in office.

In other news, rising Alaskan politician Palin said that people like Reid are a discredit to the Republic and our efforts of spreading freedom and equality around the world.

[Daamien]

Reid should resign from his leadership position just like Trent Lott did in 2002 after claiming the country would have been better had it elected racial segregationist Strom Thurmond in 1948. His party is discredited by him maintaining authority after such remarks. At worst he is a closet racist, which his party should rebuke him for. At best he is ignorant of the connotations and impact of such off-the-cuff remarks, which indicates he should not be in a position of leadership.

[Daamien]

In other news, rising Alaskan politician Palin said that people like Reid are a discredit to the Republic and our efforts of spreading freedom and equality around the world.

"Rising"? She resigned. She is a discredit to conservatives, intelligent discourse, and makes a mockery of our electoral politics. Why should I value her opinion?

[jmdrake]

Reid should resign from his leadership position just like Trent Lott did in 2002 after claiming the country would have been better had it elected racial segregationist Strom Thurmond in 1948. His party is discredited by him maintaining authority after such remarks. At worst he is a closet racist, which his party should rebuke him for. At best he is ignorant of the connotations and impact of such off-the-cuff remarks, which indicates he should not be in a position of leadership.

Tempest in a teapot. See:

http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/history/images/uncf.jpg

[Daamien]

Tempest in a teapot. See:
http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/history/images/uncf.jpg

Oh, so you are agreeing with Reid because you can cite a historical ethnic educational organization that decided not to change its name?

His comments were quite clear. Reid said that Obama had an advantage because he was "light-skinned" and had "no Negro dialect" until he wanted to use it. Those are clearly unacceptable racially-charged comments no matter what straw-man examples you can produce. Stop playing devil's advocate for someone who is at worst a racist or at best ignorantly undeserving of his office.

[Liberty Star]

"Rising"? She resigned. She is a discredit to conservatives, intelligent discourse, and makes a mockery of our electoral politics. Why should I value her opinion?

I was just trying to practice satire there LOL

She has no political future.

[Daamien]

I was just trying to practice satire there LOL

She has no political future.

Ahh, gotcha, heh

[jmdrake]

Oh, so you are agreeing with Reid because you can cite a historical ethnic educational organization that decided not to change its name?

I'm saying there's nothing racist about the word "Negro".



His comments were quite clear. Reid said that Obama had an advantage because he was "light-skinned" and had "no Negro dialect" until he wanted to use it. Those are clearly unacceptable racially-charged comments no matter what straw-man examples you can produce. Stop playing devil's advocate for someone who is at worst a racist or at best ignorantly undeserving of his office.

Undeserving of his office? Sure. For using the word "Negro"? Nope. Quit being politically correct. Had Reid said "Obama doesn't use ebonics unless he wants to and that's helpful in being elected president" we wouldn't even be having this discussion. In fact I seem to recall Bill Cosby getting all sorts of praise from conservative whites for his criticism of ebonics. As for Obama being "light skinned"....well I've seen lighter. I doubt that makes a difference to the average white voter. But speech probably does.

[Dunedain]

Good thing the Republicans retain a black guy that can speak proper English...they come in handy in these kinds of situations.

[Daamien]

I'm saying there's nothing racist about the word "Negro".

There is nothing wrong with the word Negro. There is somewhat wrong with the way with the manner in which he used it. He could have said "black" instead of "negro" and it still would have been an inappropriate racially-charged comment.


Undeserving of his office? Sure. For using the word "Negro"? Nope. Quit being politically correct. Had Reid said "Obama doesn't use ebonics unless he wants to and that's helpful in being elected president" we wouldn't even be having this discussion. In fact I seem to recall Bill Cosby getting all sorts of praise from conservative whites for his criticism of ebonics. As for Obama being "light skinned"....well I've seen lighter. I doubt that makes a difference to the average white voter. But speech probably does.

You're focusing on the word. I am focusing on the context.

[jmdrake]

There is nothing wrong with the word Negro. There is somewhat wrong with the way with the manner in which he used it. He could have said "black" instead of "negro" and it still would have been an inappropriate racially-charged comment.



You're focusing on the word. I am focusing on the context.

The context is Harry Reid thought that white people are more likely to vote for a light skinned black man who speaks correct English than a dark skinned black man who uses ebonics. I think Harry read is 100% correct about the ebonics assessment. I don't think the "light skinned" part is accurate, but I don't view that as equivalent to praising a segregationist presidential campaign. Sorry if that derails your grand plan to get rid of Harry Reid. I've already mentioned this earlier so it is inaccurate to say I'm only "focusing on the word". I'm focusing on both. Lot's of people in 2008 were questioning if a black man could be elected president. Why is it any more racially charged to point out that certain black people might have a better shot than others? Enlighten me. (No pun intended).

[Daamien]

The context is Harry Reid thought that white people are more likely to vote for a light skinned black man who speaks correct English than a dark skinned black man who uses ebonics. I think Harry read is 100% correct about the ebonics assessment. I don't think the "light skinned" part is accurate, but I don't view that as equivalent to praising a segregationist presidential campaign. Sorry if that derails your grand plan to get rid of Harry Reid. I've already mentioned this earlier so it is inaccurate to say I'm only "focusing on the word". I'm focusing on both. Lot's of people in 2008 were questioning if a black man could be elected president. Why is it any more racially charged to point out that certain black people might have a better shot than others? Enlighten me. (No pun intended).

It wasn't that Reid simply suggested that Obama had an advantage by being black and being able to speak eloquently, it was that Reid was suggesting that the country was ready to overlook his race and elect a black president because he was "light-skinned" and "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one”. Thus, he infers that race and racial dialect are important in politics and that it was essential for Obama's "blackness" be downplayed depending on the audience in order to be elected. It also suggests surprise that a "negro" can speak normally. You shouldn't have to overlook anything and if you are, then it should because of their stance on issues and rhetoric, not because of their degree of ethnicity. Therefore, I stand by my assertion that Reid has racist tendencies or at least is ignorant of how such comments easily play into racially-influenced politics suggesting he is unfit for such a leadership position.

[erowe1]

I agree with Daamien.

Modern standards of political correctness require that we all pretend that there is no such thing as a black or negro dialect, despite any knowledge we may have to the contrary. For Reid to refuse to play along with that game, even in private conversation, and even though it did no harm to anyone, makes him a racist. He must pay.

[erowe1]

Thus, he infers [sic]

that race and racial dialect are important in politics
that it was essential for Obama's "blackness" be downplayed depending on the audience in order to be elected


Aren't those things true?

[Daamien]

Do you agree that race and racial dialect are important in politics and that it was essential that Obama's "blackness" be downplayed depending on the audience in order to be elected?

How about this:
Would it be essential for Obama's "blackness" to be downplayed for you to vote for him?

Harry Reid thinks so.

[erowe1]

Do you agree that race and racial dialect are important in politics and that it was essential that Obama's "blackness" be downplayed depending on the audience in order to be elected?

Yes, of course.



How about this:
Would it be essential for Obama's "blackness" to be downplayed for you to vote for him?

In Obama's case, I wouldn't vote for him under any circumstances anyway. But if I have a choice between a candidate who speaks what I consider proper English and one who does not, all else being equal, I would prefer the one who speaks proper English.



Harry Reid thinks so.

I see no reason to accuse Reid of that. All we know is that Reid answers the first question in the affirmative, we know nothing of his answer to the second.

[bobbyw24]

Top Republicans called for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to step aside Sunday — and accused the Democrats and the media of holding the GOP to a double standard on matters of race.

In an interview with POLITICO, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) said it would be "entirely appropriate" for the Nevada Democrat to relinquish his leadership post over comments about Barack Obama's skin color and lack of a "Negro dialect."

And like Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and Senate GOP Whip Jon Kyl — both of whom also called for Reid's resignation Sunday — Cornyn suggested that any Republican who said what Reid said would be under attack from Democrats, leading African-Americans and the media.

“There’s a big double standard here,” Steele said during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“What’s interesting here, is when Democrats get caught saying racist things, an apology is enough. If that had been [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) saying that about an African-American candidate for president of the president of the United States, trust me, this chairman and the [Democratic National Committee] would be screaming for his head, very much as they were with Trent Lott.”

Lott lost his leadership post in 2002 after saying that the country would have been better off if Sen. Strom Thurmond — a segregationist — had been elected president in 1948.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31325.html#ixzz0cGBk5xYY

[bobbyw24]

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele called Sunday for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to resign because of racial remarks, but Steele took the opposite view when a Republican Senate leader was facing similar calls.

The Washington Post reported on Dec. 14, 2002: “Lt. Gov.-elect Michael S. Steele said last night that he was personally upset by U.S. Sen. Trent Lott's praise for Sen. Strom Thurmond and his segregationist past, but said Lott should not be forced to relinquish his leadership position in the Senate. ‘Trent Lott apologized, but he needs to keep apologizing because this is a very sensitive issue to the black community,’ Steele (R) said at an event celebrating his election as Maryland's first black lieutenant governor. ‘I know Trent Lott personally, and I know that this is not his intent. But it's still unfortunate. And I think he needs to apologize a little bit more.’”

On Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” David Gregory asked Steele – now the GOP chairman — if it would be right for Reid to step down as majority leader. “I believe it is,” Steele said. “[F]rom my perspective, whether he steps down today or I retire him in November, either way, he will not be the leader in 2011.

But back when Lott was in trouble, Steele said an apology was enough, and said his past record should be taken into account.

The Washington Times reported on Dec. 12, 2002: “Michael Steele, the lieutenant governor-elect in Maryland, said Mr. Lott’s remarks were a poor choice of words but don’t reflect his own experiences with the senator. ‘I know Senator Lott personally and understand him to be co

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31332.html#ixzz0cGCWvyTg