Imagine for a moment the Senate was currently controlled by Republicans, and the white male majority leader advised Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich not to pick a black candidate to fill president-elect Barack Obama's vacated seat instead pressuring the governor to choose between two white candidates, do you think this would get some media attention?
Probably every hour on the hour until the white majority leader was forced to apology and conceivably resign, right?
Well, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday who Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told Blagojevich he did and didn't support concerning Obama's replacement, and irrespective of their qualifications, there was a clear racial divide in his preferences:
Days before Gov. Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, top Senate Democrat Harry Reid made it clear who he didn’t want in the post: Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones.
Rather, Reid called Blagojevich to argue he appoint either state Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Sources say the Senate majority leader pushed against Jackson and Davis — both democratic congressmen from Illinois — and against Jones — the Illinois Senate president who is the political godfather of President-elect Barack Obama — because he did not believe the three men were electable. He feared losing the seat to a Republican in a future election.
Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero confirmed that Reid (D-Nev.) and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) — the new chief of the Senate Democratic political operation — each called Blagojevich’s campaign office separately Dec. 3. Sources believe that at least portions of the phone conversations are on tape.
As can be plainly seen from the pictures above, the three candidates Reid was opposed to -- apparently because he felt they were unelectable and could lose this seat in 2010!!! -- are black. Below are pictures of the candidates Reid pressured Blago to choose between:
Coincidentally, Reid has also expressed his opposition to Blago's choice of Roland Burris:
If all four candidates a white Republican Senate Majority Leader opposed were black, and the two he or she supported were white, would this catch the eye of press members?
Maybe we should ask Trent Lott?
Also for the record, although the Sun-Times reported this news concerning Reid, it didn't mention this seemingly obvious racial component. Will anyone else?
Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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The Situtation Room
January 3, 2009 - 13:09 ET by allanfI can just picture Wolf Blitzer in the "Situation Room" with that one. Every thirty seconds we'd hear: "At this hour racist Republicans ..."
I gotta stop
January 3, 2009 - 13:10 ET by BronxBomberI gotta stop reading this website...it causes my bloodpressure to skyrocket...
We gotta find a new planet...
→ Harriet Reid
January 3, 2009 - 13:26 ET by Cool ArrowHow'sHarriet gonna keep the folk in line if they keep jumpin' up to the same pay grade as him?
Racism is OK as long as it's a Democrat hatin' on Black folk. (read as "it's for their own good")
Way to go Harriet. We're aware of your beliefs.
Racism isn't racism if it comes from a democrat
January 3, 2009 - 14:21 ET by c5thenDon't you know the rules??!!!
It's only racism if it comes from a republican.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012
→ You're right c5then
January 3, 2009 - 14:30 ET by Cool ArrowDemocrats know better than the Black folk what's best for them.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Absolutely
January 3, 2009 - 18:05 ET by Red JeepThe former party for Slavery knows best.
I love the message you posted,
January 3, 2009 - 14:46 ET by Spinningplates2keep up the good work. But you got to rethink your support for Alan Keyes, he is part of the reason Obama won so big.
“The way to stop
January 3, 2009 - 14:46 ET by botg“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
Probably every hour on the
January 3, 2009 - 14:35 ET by R D HelmProbably every hour on the hour until the white majority leader was forced to apology and conceivably resign, right?
Actually, if Reid were a republican, this "transgression" would be seen as so heinous by the left as to require self-disembowelment by the offender while kneeling in front of a fully-populated senate chamber.
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -Because enough is enough.
because he did not believe
January 3, 2009 - 14:40 ET by motherbeltbecause he did not believe the three men were electable.
Unelectable....the Democrat code word for "black."
Caroline Kennedy
January 3, 2009 - 15:45 ET by Jerry MackMany years ago I believe that members of congress and our governors were the best and brightest that we had in our country. But the facts speak for themelves. It is who is the best talker, who can rise the most money and can get the media support. If you have doubts I refer you to the Caroline Kennedy nomination.
Today's rant
January 3, 2009 - 16:01 ET by BKeyserI've long held the theory that most Democrat politicians are equal in moral fortitude to that of crack dealers. Sure, they're committed to their clientele (voters) by providing them with just the fix they need at the time they need it most (welfare, affirmative action, race-baiting) all the while letting them continue to live their down-trodden, addicted lives the rest of the time. Harry Reid is no different than Jesse Jackson; and probably no more racist in most ways. They both see poor blacks, whites, asians and hispanics for what they are- obtainable; weak, needy, and obtainable. Then they use them to achieve their own personal goals. Plain and simple.
The MSM, however, is comprised mostly of blind, utopian-believing, fantasy-dwellers; incapable of seeing evil in anything but their opposite- realists who are measured by their performance and not by their vocabulary. They will always paint the democrats as the champions of race-relations, all the while ignoring the historical facts and concurrent examples of mistreatment by- and advantage-takers within their own ranks and those that they chose to support.
Any wonder why they go merrily hand-in-hand, skipping their way into oblivion? The holier-than-thou Democrats will not be able to deliver and the MSM will continue to place blame where it cannot be found. The country will wake up someday, hopefully in time to save it from these idiots.
Master Reid or Simon Legree, the same!
January 3, 2009 - 16:14 ET by jarrett.edwardsSo blacks are ok for the House but Master Reid doesn't want them in the Senate. While I disagree with Burris politically, how can Reid justify not seating him when he continues to have a KKK member in the caucus and is ready to welcome a political neophyte. I believe that Mr. Burris regardless of color is much more qualified than the man he is replacing and the women who might be replacing Sen. Clinton.
Riiight...the rules according to Harry
January 3, 2009 - 16:23 ET by BlondeBlacks and smelly tourists are not wanted in the Senate.
Harry "The Body" Reid . . .
January 3, 2009 - 16:25 ET by Free StinkerHarry "The Body" Reid . . . a real man of the people.
/Sarcasm off
→ Blonde
January 3, 2009 - 16:28 ET by Cool ArrowAh had plumb forgot the exquisitelay keen olfactorah capabilitays of owah august Senatah from Nayvadah.
Cool
January 3, 2009 - 16:38 ET by choselife3xAh ayam frum tha South mahsayalf ayand Ah couldn't hayve sayed it bettah.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Some days I really wish I
January 4, 2009 - 19:11 ET by Conservative BluesSome days I really wish I was from the South, as well.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 - "The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."
Well, we know that all the
January 4, 2009 - 11:08 ET by thebutlerdiditWell, we know that all the tourists stink, you know TAXPAYERS, so presumeably some of them are persons of color.......Ergo, Reid is most likely a racist.
→ Well, jarrett
January 3, 2009 - 16:25 ET by Cool ArrowYou see, that "political neophyte" as you call her, comes from a prestigious Democrat family whose pedigree is above reproach.
Anhd if you're referring to Senator Byrd, the "Conscience of the Senate", well Democrats have a longstanding tradition of remaking public images.
It's not surprising that a duly appointed Black Senator would be a problem to these good ol' boys.
Some will.
January 3, 2009 - 16:43 ET by pbthinkerDrudge has a link to the Sun-Times story, if you want to call that reporting. Yes, they do say that Reid encouraged Blago not to appoint the black candidates, but they also said that this is normal procedure for Senate Majority Leader. I hope the Republicans are smart enough to put all these media comments into a data base so, when they take over again and the press goes into it's all criticism, all the time mode, they'll be able to point out the hypocrisy. It's never been more obvious how the press is going out of their way to cover for Democrats and Obama.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.
pb...one of our newer posters here
January 3, 2009 - 18:32 ET by Blondewrites an excellent blog....which addresses your point of the Republican leadership being "smart".
Thank you Dan Schwartz....great work!
Excellent idea
January 3, 2009 - 18:41 ET by Scuba DudeExcellent idea pbthinker, I myself have said that all
Republican candidates should keep a file on reporters that they have an
interview with. This file will contain all questions that reporter has
asked in the past to both Democrats and Republicans. The Republican
should use this information during the interview to fight back against the
gotcha questions that the reporter is giving them and show the bias when they
ask the reporter why the democrat was never asked such a question and why was
the democrat fed softball questions. The Republican candidate should also
make sure to videotape the interview to counteract the editing that will surely
be done to make them look unfavorable to viewers or readers.
After seeing how the press has treated Pres. Bush and VP Cheney these past 8 years and how they have thrown all ethical standards out the window this past election, I will NEVER trust anything I see or read from the MSM.
Smart enough? Isn't the
January 3, 2009 - 19:03 ET by dscottSmart enough? Isn't the real issue the intestinal fortitude of GOP senators and reps to get down and dirty and be the Opposition Party? As long as they have the attitude of John McCain being chummy with the Dems they aren't interested in holding them accountable for anything. They are too busy trying not to offend their feelings. That's not leadership, that's self interest.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Reid's meddling
January 3, 2009 - 19:00 ET by KC MulvilleWhat strikes me is that Blagojevich should use Harry Reid's meddling to his advantage.
What will it say about Reid if the rest of the Congress spurns Blago's appointee?
Reid's vulnerability makes him usable for Blago
January 3, 2009 - 19:46 ET by nkviking75What strikes me is that Blagojevich should use Harry Reid's meddling to his advantage.
Especially since Reid is considered highly vulnerable in his bid for reelection in 2010. Reid is going to have to start shooting himself in the knees. There can't be much left of his lower legs after shooting himself in the foot so many times.
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
I hear Reid will seat him,
January 3, 2009 - 21:23 ET by BlazerI hear Reid will seat him, but only as long as Burris will acknowledge that he is only 3/5ths of a Senator.
Also, as along as he agrees to not drink from "The White's Only" waterfountains in The Capitol building.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
→ OUCH! Blazer
January 3, 2009 - 21:25 ET by Cool ArrowNow that's biting sarcasm if ever I seen it.
Hey Cool, we all know
January 3, 2009 - 21:38 ET by BlazerHey Cool, we all know which the party is truly, the party of freedom and inclusiveness, right? I'm gonna' roll with it.
I encourage our GOP Congress to greet Mr. Burris on the Capitol steps and march with him Gracie family style into the Congressional chamber and dare Dingy and co. to have his Sgt. of arms remove him.
After all, if your a strict constructionist and follow the law of the land like I do, Mr. Burris was selected by the lawful Gov. of the great state of Illinois and should be seated with the rest of the crooks in Congress, am I wrong?
Anything else would be gobsmackingly racist.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
→ Excellent Blazer
January 3, 2009 - 21:46 ET by Cool ArrowIt is completely constructionist.
And what better way to extend the hand of bipartisanship?
Brilliant!
Blazer
January 3, 2009 - 22:57 ET by Noel SheppardBlazer,
OUCH! Nicely done bit of humor there. Bravo. :-) ns
P.S. I'm sure my plaudit will be recorded by Media Matters as "evidence" of both of our racist proclivities. :-) ns
I take my bow down to you
January 3, 2009 - 23:14 ET by BlazerI take my bow down to you Noel and the rest of the masthead of NB. Godbless you guy's/gal's for all that you do. You folk's not only have provided an alternative outlet to the mind-slop our current media outlet's offer us, but I also believe you folk's are doing a great public service in educating the public and our youth as far as the bias and corruption in our national corporate media is concerned.
May I say that it is not only a privledge, but an honor to be a member of this site. Thank you for helping opening my eyes Noel.
Keep up the good work.
P.S. This is now my 15 yr. old sons site to go to for his daily news fix . To say the least I'm proud, not only of me, but of you guys especially
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Hey...I SAID HEY!...you
January 3, 2009 - 22:56 ET by moovova"Hey...I SAID HEY!...you four guys...move to the back of the bus."
"Alright ladies...here's a seat up front... "
What's sad is that I don't
January 4, 2009 - 02:11 ET by mostlymoderateWhat's sad is that I don't even consider Obama a *real* "black". A real black, to me, is somebody that has roots in the American-black-experience (i.e. slavery, civil rights, etc. etc.). Obama is HALF-KENYAN! He might not even have been BORN in this country. He grew up in Hawaii at a private school??? He does not share the heritage of what we consider a true "African American". You would think the Democrats would want some *real* African American's in the Senate; to disregard 4 in a row is suspiciously strange.
BO
January 4, 2009 - 14:02 ET by Red JeepBO is the Magic Mulatto, by dictionary definition, one white + 1 black parent.
Wonder where Harry Reid keeps his "Blacks Need Not Apply" sign.
You know, I went back and
January 4, 2009 - 11:13 ET by thebutlerdiditYou know, I went back and read the article about Trent Lott Noel linked, and of course it was Algore bloviating. The amazing thing is, I didn't even think his words were that bad, he said he meant the entire career of the man, not just the past, so why does he have to be a liar? Maybe it was what he meant? And there have been so many worse things said in the years since, it is amazing that he was slammed so hard, but of course he was a Republican.