January 15, 2010
This past week, for a day or two, the sensationalism of comments about President Obama that Senate Leader Harry Reid had made in his recently released book made the media stories. Senator Reid pointed out the obvious about our culture. That part of Obama’s acceptance had to do with the subtleness of his minority side. Light skin, doesn’t speak with an African American intonation.
The media and all of America responded by demanding an apology for insulting Obama. A small attempt on the part of the Republicans to grab some payback for Senator Trent Lott’s innocent comments years ago was made. I suppose with the Tiger Woods story in our distant memory, this was as good as any misguided tabloid to grab a few viewers one evening or two. But the President responded appropriately. He was above it all. He saw it for what it was. He didn’t miss the reality. (Tiger is light skinned too after all).
The statements are a truthful reflection on our culture. How did Jesse Jackson and Alan Sharpton fair during their attempts at the higher office years ago? They had similar messages as President Obama, but we could not get past their “blackness”. If this is prejudice, well, ok. Let’s be honest. It was not the President who should have been offended. It was black Americans in general. And as I said, the President responded appropriately. To go further and point out the fullness of Reid’s comments would only have divided us more. Sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie, as they say.
But again, for a few days, we focused in the wrong direction and made it a political party issue. And missed the truth of the insult.
Publius
This past week, for a day or two, the sensationalism of comments about President Obama that Senate Leader Harry Reid had made in his recently released book made the media stories. Senator Reid pointed out the obvious about our culture. That part of Obama’s acceptance had to do with the subtleness of his minority side. Light skin, doesn’t speak with an African American intonation.
The media and all of America responded by demanding an apology for insulting Obama. A small attempt on the part of the Republicans to grab some payback for Senator Trent Lott’s innocent comments years ago was made. I suppose with the Tiger Woods story in our distant memory, this was as good as any misguided tabloid to grab a few viewers one evening or two. But the President responded appropriately. He was above it all. He saw it for what it was. He didn’t miss the reality. (Tiger is light skinned too after all).
The statements are a truthful reflection on our culture. How did Jesse Jackson and Alan Sharpton fair during their attempts at the higher office years ago? They had similar messages as President Obama, but we could not get past their “blackness”. If this is prejudice, well, ok. Let’s be honest. It was not the President who should have been offended. It was black Americans in general. And as I said, the President responded appropriately. To go further and point out the fullness of Reid’s comments would only have divided us more. Sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie, as they say.
But again, for a few days, we focused in the wrong direction and made it a political party issue. And missed the truth of the insult.
Publius
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