Reid Defends Himself From Racism Accusations (VIDEO)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was forced to defend his support for African-American politicians in a testy exchange with David Gregory on "Meet the Press" Sunday.

In a discussion of Senate appointee Roland Burris, Gregory repeated a claim of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich that the Nevada Senator had opposed three other black potential replaces for President-elect Barack Obama. "He's making it up," Reid said.

Gregory went on to say that people close to Burris were suggesting that "Reid doesn't want an African-American to succeed Obama." Reid gave a lengthy and impassioned defense of his history of promoting black Senate politicians. Anyone accusing him of racism, he concluded, is "part of the Blagojevich spin." Watch:

Comments

[AlaskanWannaB]

The following article has nothing to do with Reid. Just thought this is an interesting articles and it speaks to the mindset of some people in the Red States. I think it was awesome for this person to come out and say this:

Article Title:
Andrew M. Manis: When are we going to get over it

To view the contents on www.shreveporttimes.com, go to:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200812120903/OPINION/81212007

[StillIRise]

I read this article earlier today, and it's a very honest and insightful twist to the "get over it" mantra that blacks are often subjected to whenever the issue of race is raised. Telling us to get over the history of racism in America and the lingering racism with which the black community lives with today, is a bit hypocritical, to say the least. Mr. Manis has very courageously and very candidly addressed this syndrome in a way that few others have even attempted to do.

[THE JEDI 69]

The Gov of ILL aint a dummy..wow....

[FaceYourFears]

Reid predicted a surprise pick, maybe Hillary Clinton or New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. And he said he'd been talking with Obama often, "mostly telling him who I didn't want."

Reid on Obama's VP pick....


latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/08/mccain-reid.html

[ProgressDon]

Why do Republicans always jump up and danced whenever a Democrat is accused of R....ACism, like that's supposed to make us(African Americans) make a 360 degree turn and become members of the GOP......Southern White Christian Hunters Party(SWCHP)

[rogerz]

There is only one historically r acist party and its yours dimwit, try reading a book.Can't believe you call yourself an AA.

[watchandwait]

Apparently, you haven't read a book that's come into existence prior to WWII. The Democratic party BEGAN ITS REALIGNMENT to include African-Americans as of 1932 when the party embraced the notion of civil rights and civil liberties. Over the years, many whites left the party because of this or joined the ephemeral Southern splinter group like the Dixiecrats. During the 1950s, Truman (Dem. President) called for full integration of the armed forces and civil rights for minorities, because whites weren't the only group to fight and defend this country and the Allied Forces in WWII. By the 1960s (passage of the CRA and VRA in '64 and '65, respectively - under Johnson - Dem. President) party realignment with most African-Americans identifying as Democrat was nearly complete; by 1968 and Nixon's development and use of his own "Southern Strategy", the transformation was complete. African-Americans were officially a monolithic Democratic voting bloc.

[eden4barack08]

Hahahahahaha, boy are you FUNNY! Hahahahahaha, seriously dude!

[postman606]

You have selective amnesia. The Republican Party since Roosevelt began to morph until the hit on Nixon's winning Southern Strategy. They have evolved the essentials of that playbook since.

[loucreattie]

Wow!

I'm a little shocked you said that.

[YouDisgustMe]

You're a m_r_n

:-)

[JonG345]

harry reid's mush mouth lips slapping together has the same effect on me as nails on a blackboard. he may be the nicest guy in the world but he's unbelievably unlikable. get him outta there

[rogerz]

R eid isn't r acist.

He's just a dem.

[YouDisgustMe]

your comment doesn't make sense and you know it :)

[realitycheck7]

the accusation is ridiculous and typical race baiting

I'm sure Al Sharpton is laughing

[dreffein]

Harry painted himself into a corner when he led the charge against seating anyone Blago might appoint - even though he lacks legal grounds for his position. This has nothing to do with r a cism. Just another ineffective Harry moment. Please replace him soon!!!

[PoliticalAmazon]

I'm betting this wasn't Reid's idea, but something instigated by Obama, who does not want to start his administration having to deal with the scandal of a Democratic mayor selling a Senate seat.

Accepting Burris' appointment would be a bad move for Obama and the Dems. Blago was already told that he should not appoint anyone to fill the seat, but he did anyway. The reasoning for this demand was because Blago had tried to sell the Senate seat. To just let Burris be seated would be condoning outright fraud and corruption, and would weaken Obama's power as persident.

Burris was so hept up to be Senator, he could have waited until an election was held and launched a campaign. However, Burris is a professional loser at this point, having lost 3 attempts to win the governorship, and the only way he could get a Senate seat is to buy it from Blago.

[EgalitaireEthier]

Exactly my feelings. Harry Reid...Nancy Pelosi...dump them. If preventing Blago from appointing the replacement was so important..they and their Illinois buddies should've worked on impeaching Blago from the day he was arrested. But they snoozed, as usual. Blago exercised a legal right as governor. As for Burris, he's medium grade to me--no worse, no better than most state-level pols. Maybe he'll find his way to being a better servant of the people under an Obama administration.

[cdsister]

Were you not aware that the efforts to impeach Blago rested on the Illinois state Senate and not the US Senate? And they are trying. They were asked to wait by the IL AG, and the question of what type of evidence is needed has come up often. I would not be surprised to see Blago become a Republican in a few years....after his jail time of course.

[loucreattie]

OMG!

Fantastic post.

I agree completely.

[moda31]

hmm i have a hard time believing that he "doesn't remember" what specifically he talked to blago about with regard to the senate seat; and having to list every black person you've ever met or worked with usually isn't good sign for anyone. plus citing obama as someone he's worked closely with and supported is a little dubious; the way i remember it, it wasn't too long ago that reid thought obama was pretty unelectable as well. either way i imagine reid doesn't know enough about illinois politics (in particular as it pertains to race) to be deeming specific candidates unacceptable for the senate spot, it's an unfortunate "coincidence" for him that those he opposed all happened to be black. if anyone should have been talking to blago about candidates it probably should have been the head of the DSCC, which isn't reid.

[loucreattie]

While I don't agree this is a race issue.

I have to thank you for your intelligent post.

It made me think.

[ObjectiveRealist]

Hairy Ride believes Burris "cannot" be elected, and ignores the fact that he does not need to be elected. He has been appointed. Blagojevich is *about* to be removed from power, but at the time he selected Burris he had the legal RIGHT to do so.

End of conversation.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Reid is referring to Burris' ability to reelected, if he takes the current bought Senate seat.

Burris is a professional loser at this point, having failed in three attempts to win the governor's race.

[Ides]

Not quite. The Attorney General of Illinois has to approve it, and he already said he won't approve anyone Blagojevich appoints, including Burris.

Hence the entire argument is moot.

[mjb5406]

Wrong... the Secretary of State has to certify it... our Attorney General is a she, but has no say in certifying the appointment.

[YouDisgustMe]

reid has never come off as raclst, but the way he defended the accusations kind of made him look like he could be.....i mean seriously...did he have to list every black person he's ever worked with? it was almost like saying "i used to have a black friend"....and he referred to one of his black friends as a "nobody" (lol...i'm sure that doesn't help his situation)

if he truly isn't raclst, he should have said thay blagojevich's claims were ridiculous and not addressed them any further..

[Americano]

Reid, is being a A-hole again! The guy just doesn't quit! Power drips into these guys blood and they (Rieid and company) get toxic! A better word, meaning stupid! Reid, we got bigger fish to rye! Give the guy the senate seat and let's move-on!

[JonG345]

americano you make absolutely no sense

[JhNyc]

You could have as little sense with fewer words.

[YouDisgustMe]

umm...what the other two said lol...

[reggieb]

I saw an interview with him once where he went on ad nauseum naming Republicans who were his "friend". He's clueless. I don't give a rat's as@ who his friends are. I want to know how he's going to LEAD. He needs to go.

[BBC9nch]

I kind of see your point but the rac.ist label is so explosive that you almost can't blame the guy for trying to clear his name. It's almost like throwing the word r a .pe at someone. Cmon that's why Burris's people are hurling it out there. They're playing the race card. How do you disprove a negative? Some people feel that it requires specific examples. In thought he gave credible examples. However, he did almost call his "bla ck friend" a NOBODY :-) .

[YouDisgustMe]

it is so obvious that blagojevich, burris & co are "playing the race card" (i hate that phrase but that is another discussion entirely) that he shouldn't have taken the bait

[realitycheck7]

exactly, but Reid is spinless and has never known how to stand up for himself

so he continues to get trampled

[thankulord13]

As a African American this man is no raci.st. He was like most Whi.te people just defending himself. Whi.te people don't like to be called raci.st and more than a Black person likes to be called the N-word. Whenever I had suggested such to a Whi.te person they take that to heart. They don't want that type of stain attach to their name or reputation. Reid wanted to win at any and all cost and he doesn't care who helps him do it.

[YouDisgustMe]

white people only get that defensive when they know they either ARE racist or have racist tendencies

trust me, i am a white person with many closet racists in my family...i know

[hmmmmmer]

Reid is about as inspiring as a dirt clod.

[McChimp]

I will donate to any Democrat, Republican, or Independent that can defeat Reid in 2010.

[sol 0303]

Things are starting to unravel, and soon the truth will come out.

Let's assume that what Fitzgerald has got on the tapes is true. Part of the contents has already been released, btw. In one of the conversations, Blago says something like this (paraphrased): "I'm getting pressure not to appoint [Candidate5]....."

Where was Blago getting this pressure from? I doubt he was getting it from BO. Harry Reid can deny all he wants, but this seems to confirm the pressure was probably from Harry Reid. Time will tell.

[ikesambobby]

Reid may be alot of things but a racist? Please!

[Maezeppa]

So? Harry Reid shouldn't have to defend himself. These are ridiculous charges and a smokescreen. Reid denied ever pressuring Blagojevich about Jackson and until I know otherwise I will accept Reid's statement.

[karela]

Ditto. He knows that his words with Blago are most likely recorded and he mentioned that. If a man is accused of racism in his work, he has a right to talk about his non racism record as it pertains to his work. It's quite easy to be armchair politicians expounding on what a politician in Reid's position should have done, but it is quite another to try to get things done in the Senate. That place is a writhing swarm of centipedes who all sprout deadly stingers and the dance is delicate. People want Reid to use a hammer to do the job when the only tool that will work over the long term for the good of the country is a delicate pair of tweezers. Government is about finess and it ain't easy!

[FaceYourFears]

It really makes you wonder if all the negative press surrounding JJJr.was intentional.

[Omidal]

Do you know what politics is?
The fact a politician is applying pressure on another one is not illegal.
What is illegal is what allegedly Blago did.

[sol 0303]

Yes, what is illegal is what Blago allegedly did. Not denying that.

BUT, Harry Reid is denying he never pressured Blago not to pick those three black men.
Yet it is clear there was pressure. The question is: Where was the pressure coming from?
I think this guy's a lier.

[eden4barack08]

That was crook lingo to say you gotta give me more money if you want me to go against this "pressure". Funny how a crook suddenly has so many fans.

[GJR227]

Reid would be a more effective with a spine.