Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-NV) apologized for privately referring to Barack Obama early in his presidential campaign as a "light-skinned" African American "with no Negro dialect," as recounted in the forthcoming book Game Change.

Reid's statement to Jon Ralston: "I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans, for my improper comments. I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama's legislative agenda."

This Book is gonna be amazing!

*pre-ordered*

That does look good.

Whoa!

I kinda don't see what the problem here is. It's just a fact that people "take" easier to a lighter-skinned, well-spoken black person. Maybe it sucks, but it's a fact.

I don't think we get over these issues when people just "offended" everytime they're brought up.

And speaking of political books - have you read the David Plouffe book, Senator. I was mildly disappointed in it.

I did not. I read Richard Wolffe's "Renegade" - and was massively disappointed in that. I will say that the excerpt linked above is not only a good story (and a very interesting portrayal of a dude who turned out to be an epic piece of shit, and his cunt wife) but written well. Most of the time that is the problem with books on politics. The ones that are well written are few and far between. Check out Richard Ben Cramer's "What it Takes" for the best ever. It's about the 1988 campaign.

"Negro dialect", really?

HAHA. I think there is a double standard here. If this was a Repub, he'd be drummed out of office or at least the leadership post.

I knew that was comin' - ha ha. Obviously, he's gonna get hit for that. It was a dumb thing to say, even if it wasn't meant maliciously. I know older people who occasionally talk like that, even though they have no problem with anybody. Sometimes, the archaic language still surfaces. But yeah - he should know better.

Senator - I thought about reading the Wolffe book, but yours isn't the only "eh" opinion I've seen on it. Funny you mention "What It Takes" - I just saw someone ( maybe it was in Chris Cillizza's weekly live chat ) recommend that one yesterday. Maybe next time I'm in the mood for a "political" book I'll pick it up.

Be forewarned, What It Takes is over 1000 pages of small print, and is essentially a biography of: GHWB, Bob Dole, Mike Dukakis, Biden, Gephardt and Gary Hart + A recap of the entire race. There is a reason it is regarded as the best, but it is a beast.

(And, if you've never read Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972, it is also a pretty fucking good primer. I think it will be interesting to read this book. and see the changes of Teddy White --> HST --> Richard Ben Cramer --> Heileman/Halperin, and the way this stuff is covered)

A Mormon with an abiding fear of a Son of Ham?

I'm shocked!