As a Black man, I never thought I’d find myself in a position to be forced to apologize for racist statements made by “White” people, but that’s exactly what I’m about to do. This weekend a story was shared from a private conversation over President Obama’s “Light Skin” and his dialect. President Obama is a Harvard Graduate. We say “Haarvaard” with our noses sticking up a bit in the air to emphasize our distaste for elitism. There’s nothing wrong with this obvious truth. No apology necessary, right? Wrong!
Apparently, “Some” people find any racial commentary concerning this President to be “Offensive.” That’s a bunch of crap. No apology is necessary from Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid. We need to get a grip and seek the truth in our public and private conversations. This conversation was allegedly private. The ugly truth about this story is “Some people are trying to Daschle Senate Majority Leader Reid.” What is “Daschling” you say? How quickly we forget former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle’s fate?
A nation politically divided is vulnerable at the point of attack. Tom Daschle often served as the “Tip of the Spear” in countless Democratic attacks against President Bush and all his assaults on the Constitution. Democrats had to protect and defend us from ourselves living in fear. The GOP used Democratic opposition and our isolation to make Tom Daschle “The Lightning Rod” of all American anger. Daschle was defeated by Senator Thune in one of the closest elections ever. Sen. Daschle’s fate was not individually deserved, but he handled our collective loss with the utmost dignity. Why Daschle Harry? The GOP is in total disarray. This Daschle Blueprint is one of the few successes the GOP has had since President Reagan. Is the GOP desperately trying to “Daschle” Harry Reid to kick start their rejected racist and selfish agenda? You betcha!
Releasing articles using the outrage of “Some” people is akin to using Ross Perot’s “You People.” We need to define the people who are actually offended. Harry spoke truth to the subject of race privately. Democrats accepted the challenge and the gamble paid off. President Obama is “Light Skinned.” His dialect is almost “Pitch perfect.” Obama abandoned the old “Preacher Style, Rhyme and Reason Rhetoric” to speak directly to America. Obama looked us all in the eye and “Yes, We Can” was the “Winning Message.” Post 9-11 America is filled with uncertainty and doubt. Obama spoke to and listened to the “Little People’s” concerns for our future. He took the best Democrats had to offer and rallied us to be “One.” This is why Obama won. His race hurt as much as it helped. Any White Democrat was almost guaranteed to receive 90 to 93% of the Black vote. Obama got 95 to 96%? Truth to power means being light skinned was important to White people. No apology necessary.
In short, this “controversy” is just a part of a larger plot to “Daschle” Harry. I’m not falling for it. If Harry used the N-word or Macacca, he better start tap dancing and kissing Rev. Al and Jesse’s rings. Again, no apology necessary. Some people need to get over playing the race card for convenience and comfort. We are still way to sensitive about race. We haven’t overcome race just because America is willing to try “Change.” We’ve entered into a dangerous era of “Quota Politics.” Do qualifications matter? I’m not apologizing for President Obama’s race or Sen. Majority Leader’s Reid’s “Light Skinned” statement because clearly Obama was qualified. Sen. McCain was way too old and Sarah Palin maybe not qualified at all? The GOP should apologize for recklessly choosing a pair so unqualified and untested. The GOP owes us an apology for thinking they could win ugly. Daschling Harry won’t work either. Isn’t the other Nevada Senator in trouble? This is a GOP ugly distraction. Harry’s record of success is strong.
