Negro dialect?

[WriterDom]

Harry Reid's political life just ended. Things are so bad two democrat sitting senators aren't even bothering to run.

 

[Sharpened]

Harry Reid's political life just ended. Things are so bad two democrat sitting senators aren't even bothering to run.

If this does end his political career, how sad is that. The man has been given a 100% by the NAACP on legislation. By the people who monitor race related actions in congress, Harry Reid has been impeccable. This political firestorm over the comments is downright laughable, or at least, should be.

 

[WriterDom]

If he was a republican he would have been forced to resign yesterday. As senate leader. He'll probably survive but his poll numbers were sucking before this. Goodbye you asshole.

 

[unregistered]

 

[WriterDom]

I cannot even imagine the news reports had a republican senator had made the same statements.

Me either. Seriously he probably would have been beaten up by the Black caucus. Instead Obama kissed his anus.

 

[midwestyankee]

If he was a republican he would have been forced to resign yesterday. As senate leader. He'll probably survive but his poll numbers were sucking before this. Goodbye you asshole.

I cannot even imagine the news reports had a republican senator had made the same statements.

Me either. Seriously he probably would have been beaten up by the Black caucus. Instead Obama kissed his anus.

And how quickly was it that Congressman Vitter was forced to resign after being outed for his fun with the DC Madam?

 

[WriterDom]

And how quickly was it that Congressman Vitter was forced to resign after being outed for his fun with the DC Madam?

That's between him and his wife. At least that's what you would tell me about the man whore Clinton. Who lied under oath.

Negro Dialect? Come on.

 

[intothewoods]

This will hurt him, but his career probably won't be over. His use of the word "negro" was stupid, archaic and politically incorrect, but he was essentially expressing a political reality: that a Black candidate who speaks in a stereotypical manner is not an electable presidential candidate.

To cut to the chase here, his comments weren't at all comparable to Trent Lott's, as Trent Lott was expressing admiration for a segregationist, racist candidate and campaign. The campaign was in the past, but his comments seemed oblivious to where we are today, and that's what was politically fatal.

To the extent that party makes a difference, it's that Democrats will almost always defend Democrats, and Republicans will almost always defend Republicans, regardless of the inane statements that comes out of their mouths.

At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words. I haven't followed Harry Reid's career closely, but if he has historically supported legislation that black voters also support, people will forgive a stupid remark. On the other hand, had he said something that was racist and indicated support for unequal legislative treatment of Black Americans, for example, he would be in a far different position right now.

 

[JMohegan]

It's so touching to see the newfound racial sensitivity of people like WD. Are you folks taking on the Census Bureau over this year's form as well? Just wondering.

Personally I think the President summed up the Reid tempest in a teapot well.

"This is a good man who’s always been on the right side of history. For him to have used some inartful language in trying to praise me, and for people to try to make hay out of that makes absolutely no sense. He apologized, recognizing that he didn’t use appropriate language, but there was nothing mean-spirited in what he had to say and he’s always been on the right side of the issues."

 

[WriterDom]

Put the bong down. He was already way down in the polls before this happened. Hell, two dems in the senate aren't even running next year. It's going to be a bloodbath.

This will hurt him, but his career probably won't be over. His use of the word "negro" was stupid, archaic and politically incorrect, but he was essentially expressing a political reality: that a Black candidate who speaks in a stereotypical manner is not an electable presidential candidate.

To cut to the chase here, his comments weren't at all comparable to Trent Lott's, as Trent Lott was expressing admiration for a segregationist, racist candidate and campaign. The campaign was in the past, but his comments seemed oblivious to where we are today, and that's what was politically fatal.

To the extent that party makes a difference, it's that Democrats will almost always defend Democrats, and Republicans will almost always defend Republicans, regardless of the inane statements that comes out of their mouths.

At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words. I haven't followed Harry Reid's career closely, but if he has historically supported legislation that black voters also support, people will forgive a stupid remark. On the other hand, had he said something that was racist and indicated support for unequal legislative treatment of Black Americans, for example, he would be in a far different position right now.

 

[JMohegan]

My copy of Game Change hasn't arrived yet, but from the tidbits released in the press I'd say that the most damning revelations are made about John McCain. Because he picked a VP candidate who apparently couldn’t explain why North and South Korea were separate nations, didn't know what the Federal Reserve does, and repeatedly said she believed Saddam Hussein attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

 

[WriterDom]

Sarah was pretty dumb I'll give you that. I'm not even conserned about 2012 yet.

 

[WriterDom]

You probably will take Connecticut. That's about as liberal as it gets. But damn, Jersey has a republican governor now.

 

[JMohegan]

Sarah was pretty dumb I'll give you that. I'm not even conserned about 2012 yet.

I agree with you that 2010 will be a stormy political year. Tough for incumbents across the board, but especially many Democrats.

In case you haven't seen it, Silver has been offering running commentary on the Senate races, which you might find of interest. Click me.




ETA - the fact that Jersey elected a red governor says more about Corzine than anything else.


And by the way, Silver openly compares Reid's favorability ratings to Corzine's in this piece. He currently shares your view on Reid's prospects, WD. And Silver's never wrong!

 

[rosco rathbone]

There's a reason that the Democrats can survive this kind of gaffe.

 

[intothewoods]

Put the bong down. He was already way down in the polls before this happened. Hell, two dems in the senate aren't even running next year. It's going to be a bloodbath.

LOL, I didn't say he was going to run against Obama in 2012 or anything. Silly me for expecting your random blurts in this thread to relate to each other.

It will be a difficult road ahead for Democrats, but I don't see smooth sailing for the Republicans either. It depends on the particular race. In some places there will be a fight between the "moderate" Republican candidate and someone purporting to represent "tea party" values. That kind of thing will favor Democrats, but it's certainly not an issue everywhere.

My copy of Game Change hasn't arrived yet, but from the tidbits released in the press I'd say that the most damning revelations are made about John McCain. Because he picked a VP candidate who apparently couldn’t explain why North and South Korea were separate nations, didn't know what the Federal Reserve does, and repeatedly said she believed Saddam Hussein attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

Did you read the excerpt on Edwards in NY Mag? Was pretty fucking juicy stuff.

 

[JMohegan]

Did you read the excerpt on Edwards in NY Mag? Was pretty fucking juicy stuff.

No, but I heard that the portrayal of Elizabeth is negative as well. Any new substantive revelations in the text?

I know people who campaigned for Edwards, and are beyond hell pissed by the whole 'fucking the videographer while taking people's time and campaign contributions and pretending we can get away with it' dick move. So it doesn't surprise me that anyone who knew anything would spill.

 

[intothewoods]

No, but I heard that the portrayal of Elizabeth is negative as well. Any new substantive revelations in the text?

I know people who campaigned for Edwards, and are beyond hell pissed by the whole 'fucking the videographer while taking people's time and campaign contributions and pretending we can get away with it' dick move. So it doesn't surprise me that anyone who knew anything would spill.

Evidently, Bill and Hillary's marriage comes off looking pretty darn good by comparison. It had been reported that everyone on the campaign was blindsided, but there were apparently many attempts at an intervention. I suppose that's not surprising, but I can't remember reading it anywhere else.

 

[WriterDom]

2012 will be interesting. Something like 24 democrats are up for reelection in the senate.

 

[midwestyankee]

That's between him and his wife. At least that's what you would tell me about the man whore Clinton. Who lied under oath.

Negro Dialect? Come on.

Then so was the little mess with Eliot Spitzer, right?

 

[Netzach]

There's a reason that the Democrats can survive this kind of gaffe.

Yep.

Though it makes me wonder what effin' rock our elected officials must live under. All it says to me is that ancient white men like HR have NO connection to the world outside and what people find respectful in it.

 

[WriterDom]

Teddy's seat gets voted on next week. Too close to call. That's amazing.

 

[midwestyankee]

Teddy's seat gets voted on next week. Too close to call. That's amazing.

What do you find amazing about the fact that there is actually some real competition for this Senat seat?

 

[rosco rathbone]

Yep.

Though it makes me wonder what effin' rock our elected officials must live under. All it says to me is that ancient white men like HR have NO connection to the world outside and what people find respectful in it.

My grandmother was a lifelong supporter of civil rights and called African-Americans "coloreds" til the day she died. People get old and out of touch.

 

[WriterDom]

What do you find amazing about the fact that there is actually some real competition for this Senat seat?

Because if republicans can win there and in Jersey they can win anywhere. The Dem in North Dakota dropped out because he was 22 points behind. All these moderate districts the dems won to get so big are going to dry up.