[StBernard] THE DEMOCRATS' DOUBLE STANDARD

[Westley Annis]

THE DEMOCRATS' 
DOUBLE STANDARD
Will These Dems Hold Senate Majority Leader 
Harry Reid To Their Own Standard?
 
View This Research Briefing At GOP.com
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7271> 
 
Reid Called Obama "Light Skinned" And Said He Had "No Negro Dialect."
"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada described in private then-Sen.
Barack Obama as 'light skinned' and 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted
to have one.'" (Philip Elliot, "Reid Apologizes For 'No Negro Dialect'
Comment," The Associated Press
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7269> , 1/9/10)
 
DEMS CAME OUT QUICKLY IN DEFENSE OF REID'S RACIAL COMMENTS
 
Congressional Black Caucus Defending Reid And "Brushing Back" Republicans.
"Separately, the Congressional Black Caucus plans to issue a new statement
Monday, defending Reid and brushing back Republicans." (Mike Allen & Jake
Sherman, "Democrats Launch Counterattack To Save Harry Reid's Career,"
Politico <http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7266> , 1/11/10)
 

*	Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-CA): "I Look
Forward To Senator Reid Continuing To Serve As Majority Leader." "'Senator
Reid's record provides a stark contrast to actions of Republicans to block
legislation that would benefit poor and minority communities -- most
recently reflected in Republican opposition to the health bill now under
consideration,' CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said. 'I look forward
to Senator Reid continuing to serve as Majority Leader to guide this
important agenda through the Senate.'" (Mike Allen & Jake Sherman,
"Democrats Launch Counterattack To Save Harry Reid's Career," Politico
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7266> , 1/11/10)

 
President Obama Says "The Book Is Closed" On Reid's Comments "Harry Reid
called me today and apologized for an unfortunate comment reported today. I
accepted Harry's apology without question because I've known him for years,
I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice
and I know what's in his heart. As far as I am concerned, the book is
closed." ("Obama Accepts Reid's Apology," Politico's "44
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7264> " Blog, 1/10/10)
 
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Says Reid's Racial Remarks Were "Clearly ... In The
Context Of Praising" Obama. "The Democratic Party chairman, Timothy M.
Kaine, said on Fox that Reid's remarks 'clearly were in the context of
praising' Obama, and that there is no need for the Senate leader to resign.
'The important thing is the president right away said, 'This is a closed
book,' Kaine said." (Chris Cillizza, "Republican Leader Steele: Reid Should
Resign Over Remarks," The Washington Post
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7270> , 1/11/10)
 
Schumer "Quite Certain" Reid Will Survive His Racial Remarks. "Sen. Charles
Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Democrat, is said to be quite certain Reid
would ride out the controversy, particularly because Obama and the Rev. Al
Sharpton had accepted Reid's apology and issued effusively supportive
statements." (Mike Allen & Jake Sherman, "Democrats Launch Counterattack To
Save Harry Reid's Career," Politico
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7266> , 1/11/10)
 
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) Warned Opponents Not To Attack Reid Over
His Racial Remarks. "D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton is warning Republicans
against trying to make hay out of Harry Reid's comments about Barack Obama's
skin color and lack of a 'Negro dialect.'" (Jake Sherman, "Eleanor Holmes
Norton Defends Harry Reid, Warns Republicans," Politico
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7267> , 1/10/10)
 
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Claims "Clearly, This Was A Mistake."
Feinstein: "Clearly, this was a mistake. Clearly, the leader misspoke. He
has also apologized. He's not only apologized to the President, I think he's
apologized to the-- all of the black leadership that he could reach. So the
President has accepted the apology and it would seem to me that the matter
should be closed." (CBS' "Face The Nation
<http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7265> ," 1/10/10)
 
FLASHBACK: IN 2002, REID SAID LOTT HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO RESIGN
 
Reid On Lott: "I Don't Know How In The World I Could Condone, Support Or
Understand His Statements." "'As closely as I've worked with him, I don't
know how in the world I could condone, support or understand his
statements,' said Reid, the Senate Democratic whip. 'I think what he said is
not good for America; it's repugnant what he said.' 'If Republicans think
it's best for Democrats to keep him there, maybe they'll get rid of him,'
Reid said." (Tony Batt and Jane Ann Morriso, "Ensign Continues To Back Lott
As Majority Leader," Las Vegas Review-Journal, 12/17/02)
 

*	Reid: Lott Had "No Alternative" But To Resign. "Sen. Harry Reid said
Republican Senate leader Trent Lott's decision to relinquish his post Friday
came as no surprise. 'He had no alternative,' the Nevada Democrat and Senate
minority leader said. 'Senator Lott dug himself a hole and he didn't dig it
all in one setting. He dug it over the years. And he couldn't figure out a
way to get out of it.'" ("Nevada Lawmakers Not Surprised By Lott
Resignation," The Associated Press, 12/20/02)

 
SAME DEMS WHO ARE DEFENDING REID WERE QUICK TO ATTACK LOTT IN 2002
 
Congressional Black Caucus Called For Formal Censure On Lott. "In the days
since, Democrats have heaped criticism on Lott. One official, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said Senate Democrats were considering whether to
call for a formal censure vote of the GOP leader, a suggestion first made
Thursday by the Congressional Black Caucus and renewed after Lott spoke."
(David Espo, "Lott Apologizes Again, Denounces Racism," The Associated
Press, 12/13/02)
 
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): Lott Should Not Be Renominated. "'My first hope
is that he is not renominated,' Mr. Schumer said in an interview. 'The
remarks that Senator Lott made come from the same type of insensitivity that
we found in Judge Pickering and led us to the conclusion that he didn't
merit promotion to a higher court. If anything, the reaction to Lott's
comments reinforce that view.' If Judge Pickering is renominated, Mr.
Schumer said, a rich Senate floor debate on race will be inevitable." (Neil
A. Lewis, "Divisive Words: Judicial Appointments," The New York Times,
12/18/02)
 
AND MANY DEMS WHO ATTACKED LOTT HAVE BEEN SILENT ABOUT REID
 
Then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE): "You Cannot Be Insensitive To Race Issues From
Positions Of Leadership." Biden: "Well, I--I think the Republicans have to
come to the milk and decide what they want to do. Look, one thing we should
have all learned by now, you cannot be insensitive to race issues from
positions of leadership. And unfortunately for Trent, his comments are not
measured just in the context of the incident where he made them but in the
context of his whole record. ... They've got to define for themselves what
kind of face they want to put on their party. And my guess is out of their
self-interest, they may very well decide that--that Trent has to go." (CBS'
"Face The Nation," 12/15/02)
 
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) On Lott: We Need Healers, Not Dividers. "'We need
political leaders who are healers, not dividers,' Durbin said. 'I hope that
Senator Lott's apology will translate into action and that he will advance
policies that bring us together as a nation rather than pull us apart.'"
(Dori Meinert, "Fitzgerald, Simon Support Lott In Racial Controversy,"
Copley News Services, 12/13/02)
 
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) Called On Lott To Resign. "Sen. John Kerry,
Massachusetts Democrat, urged Mr. Lott to resign as party leader because the
remark would 'place a cloud over his leadership.'" (Stephen Dinan, "GOP
Defends Lott's Intent," The Washington Times, 12/12/02)
 
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA): If A Democrat Leader Made Racial Comments, They
Would Not Be Allowed To Keep Their Position. "'I can tell you, if a
Democratic leader said such a thing, they would not be allowed to keep their
position,' Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat, said of Mr. Lott in
2002." (Joseph Curl, "Democrats Close Ranks Around Reid," The Washington
Times <http://link.sc.states.gop.com?164-1265-1515-25548-7272> , 1/11/10)
 
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR): Lott Is Out Of Touch With The Senate. "'The
sentiments expressed by Senator Lott's words last week have no place in
today's America,' Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat, said in a statement. 'If
he truly believes a Strom Thurmond presidency would have been good for the
country, then he is out of touch with the U.S. Senate and certainly with a
great majority of Americans. Senator Lott owes the nation a thorough
explanation of his words recorded in 1980 and again last week. Racism and
bigotry once divided America and we cannot tolerate words that might send us
back there.'" (Paul Barton, "Lott's Remarks Draw Arkansas Reproach,"
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 12/12/02)
 
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA): His Apology Doesn't Take Away The Sting Of His
Remarks. Boxer: "His apology does not take away the sting of his divisive
words, nor the pain inflicted on millions of African Americans under
segregation." (Edward Epstein, "Bush Calls Lott's Remark 'Wrong'," San
Francisco Chronicle, 12/13/02)
 
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) On Lott: His Comments "Demonstrate A Glaring
Insensitivity To The Pain African-Americans Suffered As A Result Of
Segregation And Discrimination." "Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland said
Lott's comments 'demonstrate a glaring insensitivity to the pain
African-Americans suffered as a result of segregation and discrimination.'"
(Julie Hirschfeld Davis, "Lott Repeats Apologies, Rejects Calls To Resign As
Senate Leader," The Baltimore Sun, 12/14/02)