Reid, White and Blue

Harry Reid has a knack. From the New York Times:

Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader, apologized on Saturday for once predicting that Barack Obama could become the country's first black president because he was "light-skinned" and had "no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

This has just come out of a book on the 2008 election. Reid has publically apologized and has personally apologized to the President, who gracefully accepted it.

How bad a gaff was this? First off, it doesn't look like a major crime. Senator Reid was either right or wrong in thinking that the President's complexion and dialect were assets in the Presidential election. If his comment insulted anyone, that would be the American electorate; but even if he is wrong, a sensible person could surely believe what he said.

On the other hand, it was a stupid thing to say even though he surely believed it is true. A public discussion of racial gradients is far too radioactive for someone of Reid's complexion and competence to engage in.

At worst, Reid's comment was a faux pas; however, Republicans were quick to point out that just such a faux pas ended the leadership of Trent Lott. From Real Clear Politics:

GOP Chairman Michael Steele, in appearances on two Sunday news programs, compared Reid's predicament with the circumstances that led Senate Republican leader Trent Lott to step down from that post in 2002. Lott had spoken favorably of the 1948 segregationist presidential campaign of Strom Thurmond, and in spite of apologies for those remarks at Thurmond's 100th birthday, Lott was forced out as leader.

"There is this standard where the 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's racism," said Steele, who is black. "It's either racist or it's not. And it's inappropriate, absolutely."

Well, yes and no. Lott's 2002 comment at Strom Thurmond's 100^th birthday party was almost certainly innocently intended. He just meant to praise Thurmond's conservative record. But he used words that, taken literally, implied an endorsement of Thurmond's 1948 segregationist position. Steele is right that there is a double standard; but Lott's words, had they been genuinely intended, add up to something much worse than Reid's remarks.

It is silly to call for Reid's resignation over this. That's Republican sour grapes. If Reid should resign, it is for the simple reason that he is too badly damaged to be reelected. According to a new poll, 52% of Nevadans have an unfavorable view of him, vs. 33% favorable.

Reid would resign, I suppose, to give some other Democrat a chance of retaining his seat. Except that he can't, as he is in charge of managing the healthcare bill. That is more unfortunate news for the Democrats.

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