Cornyn, Steele Call on Reid to Resign as Senate Leader After Obama 'Negro' Comment

[Danno 1,228]

In the spirit of fairness some are calling for Sen. Reid to step down in the same way the Republicans Sen lot did.

Cornyn, Steele Call on Reid to Resign as Senate Leader After Obama 'Negro' Comment

FOXNews.com

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has joined Republican National Committee Chairman Michale Steele in calling on Harry Reid to resign his Senate majority leadership role after news broke over the weekend that Reid described then-candidate Barack Obama in 2008 "light-skinned" with "no Negro dialect" unless he wants one.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has joined Republican National Committee Chairman Michale Steele in calling on Harry Reid to resign his Senate majority leadership role after news broke over the weekend that Reid described then-candidate Barack Obama in 2008 "light-skinned" with "no Negro dialect" unless he wants one.

Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Sunday that Reid should follow the example set by Trent Lott in 2002, who resigned his leadership post after making unfortunate remarks at the centennial birthday party for Sen. Strom Thurmond, who had been a segregationist in the 1940s.

"In 2002, Democrats expressed outrage at Senator Lott and called on him to step down as leader. That same standard should be applied to Senator Reid and his embarrassing and racially insensitive statements; statements, I would add, that Senator Reid still has yet to clarify," Cornyn said in a written statement.

"As we await his explanation, Senator Reid should do the right thing, follow the example that he himself set in 2002, and step down as majority leader."

Earlier in the day, 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 Democratic 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."

"Clearly this was a mistake. Clearly the leader misspoke. He has also apologized," Feinstein said. "So the president has accepted the apology. And it would seem to me that the matter should be closed."

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 speaking publicly about the matter on Sunday. Aides said he had 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.

Steele's response Sunday was much more fiery than his initial tepid remarks to the news a day earlier. Some had suggested the reason for his stilted reply was due to his own use of the racially charged term "honest injun" during an interview last week.

Steele said he too never intended to make a racial slur.

"Well, if it is, I apologize for it. It's not an intent to be a racial slur. I wasn't intending to say a racial slur at all," 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.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/10...-negro-comment/

Edited January 11, 2010 by Danno

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

In the spirit of fairness some are calling for Sen. Reid to step down in the same way the Republicans Sen lot did.

Cornyn, Steele Call on Reid to Resign as Senate Leader After Obama 'Negro' Comment

FOXNews.com

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has joined Republican National Committee Chairman Michale Steele in calling on Harry Reid to resign his Senate majority leadership role after news broke over the weekend that Reid described then-candidate Barack Obama in 2008 "light-skinned" with "no Negro dialect" unless he wants one.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has joined Republican National Committee Chairman Michale Steele in calling on Harry Reid to resign his Senate majority leadership role after news broke over the weekend that Reid described then-candidate Barack Obama in 2008 "light-skinned" with "no Negro dialect" unless he wants one.

Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Sunday that Reid should follow the example set by Trent Lott in 2002, who resigned his leadership post after making unfortunate remarks at the centennial birthday party for Sen. Strom Thurmond, who had been a segregationist in the 1940s.

"In 2002, Democrats expressed outrage at Senator Lott and called on him to step down as leader. That same standard should be applied to Senator Reid and his embarrassing and racially insensitive statements; statements, I would add, that Senator Reid still has yet to clarify," Cornyn said in a written statement.

"As we await his explanation, Senator Reid should do the right thing, follow the example that he himself set in 2002, and step down as majority leader."

Earlier in the day, 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 Democratic 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."

"Clearly this was a mistake. Clearly the leader misspoke. He has also apologized," Feinstein said. "So the president has accepted the apology. And it would seem to me that the matter should be closed."

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 speaking publicly about the matter on Sunday. Aides said he had 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.

Steele's response Sunday was much more fiery than his initial tepid remarks to the news a day earlier. Some had suggested the reason for his stilted reply was due to his own use of the racially charged term "honest injun" during an interview last week.

Steele said he too never intended to make a racial slur.

"Well, if it is, I apologize for it. It's not an intent to be a racial slur. I wasn't intending to say a racial slur at all," 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.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/10...-negro-comment/

NO!!!!! Leave him in there exactly as a symbol of the Democrats tolerance of racism. They fought to protect slavery and fought against civil rights, it is perfectly logical for Democrats to make racist remarks. Republicans, on the other hand, should not tolerate such things as they have always stood for equality of all people. It was correct for Lott to resign after praising Thurmond for being a racist (when Thurmond was a Democrat), such should not be tolerated by Republicans and Libertarians. Let the Democrats have the racists!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Republicans, members of the party that legitimizes racism on a daily basis, want someone to resign for allegedly being a racist?

Oh, the irony.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I never understamd why Republicans would suggest or demand something to make Democrats look good. Why would they want him to resign? There is much more political capital in having a stated racist in the leadership of the Senate.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Why do people spend so much time obsessing over the appearance of things?

Aren't there more important things to talk about?

[peejay 327]

Personally, I don't think that Reid is a racist or that the comment is so heinous. I find it more hilarious that these nitwits are wringing their hands and agonizing over it at all. To me it just shows how out of control all this P.C. ####### has gotten throughout the years. People of my generation have heard much. much worst in our lifetimes so this one doesn't even register with me. To me it is a big to-do about nothing, but it is quite funny to watch the fireworks show. Reid is getting a good dose of the atmosphere he has had a big hand in shaping.

[slim 1,533]

Republicans, members of the party that legitimizes racism on a daily basis, want someone to resign for allegedly being a racist?

Oh, the irony.

Irony is creating an entitlement mentality for an entire people that ends up enslaving them once again.

Just as a side note, I got an e-mail the other day that said, "it's so cold out there I saw a Democrat walking around with his hands in his own pockets."

[Danno 1,228]

Why do people spend so much time obsessing over the appearance of things?

Well I guess it "appears" the leader of the Senate actually believes a Black man must be light skinned and speak without a ethnic accent to get his support at being president,

think about what this telegraphs to Millions of Black children across the country.

As we have heard asked so many times in the past ... "Is this the type of mindset we want in the highest offices in the land?"

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well I guess it "appears" the leader of the Senate actually believes a Black man must be light skinned and speak without a ethnic accent to get his support at being president,

think about what this telegraphs to Millions of Black children across the country.

As we have heard asked so many times in the past ... "Is this the type of mindset we want in the highest offices in the land?"

The mistake you are making is assuming that all stupid comments are equivalent. They aren't.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The mistake you are making is assuming that all stupid comments are equivalent. They aren't.

I have to agree with Gene on this one. LEAVE him there. Hopefully he will make MORE racist comments and stupid comments until he is ousted in November. What can Repulicans be thinking to want him out?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If the guy is indeed racist, then he will.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

My thoughts: We have a country that needs to be protected and a world that is unstable and people are fussing over who called who what. Childish PC and irresponsible media and government.

[Danno 1,228]

I have to agree with Gene on this one. LEAVE him there. Hopefully he will make MORE racist comments and stupid comments until he is ousted in November. What can Repulicans be thinking to want him out?

Ahh, no one is under any fantasy that he is going to loose his seat prior to his voters doing the job.

[Kevin and 10]

Why do people spend so much time obsessing over the appearance of things?

Aren't there more important things to talk about?

Of course there are, but the media loves to distract us with meaningless #######.

[Ali G. 37]

What this illustrates to me is that he is a ignus fatuus type of politician. That he'll basically tell you what you want to hear, in order to be elected.

However, the conservatives are right. Had this been a republican, they might as well pulled Japanese suicide following the comment.

Edited January 11, 2010 by Booyah