During the 2008 presidential campaign, Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid marveled at the electability of Barack Obama
because, unlike previous black candidates, Mr. Obama was "light-skinned" and
lacked a "Negro dialect." In other words, he wasn't "too black." He was more
Carlton Banks than Suge Knight. A few thoughts on the ensuing uproar over
this insult to all Americans:
- No more "My bads." After the Christmas terror attack, Mr. Obama took
"responsibility" for the security failures that had led to the
near-slaughter of 300 people over Detroit. He was roundly applauded for
saying nothing more than "My bad"; he then suffered no punitive
consequences. On Monday, Mr. Reid took a page from Mr. Obama's playbook
and "apologized" for a poor "choice of words." Nothing to see here, folks;
move along.
Generally speaking, when Democrats commit whoppers, they get away with
it. When Republicans commit whoppers, the "My bad" routine isn't enough, and
they're expected to step down. For Republicans, accepting responsibility
means accepting punishment; for Democrats, it means only an admission of
error and a suggestion they'll do better in the future. This double standard
must end.
- It's the hypocrisy, Stupid. Over the past two years, many Democrats
have used race in appalling ways. Several weeks ago, Mr. Reid compared
Republican opponents to the Democrats' health care debacle to those who
clung to slavery. Like Mr. Reid, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. gawked
at Mr. Obama, calling him "clean" and "articulate" for a black guy:
"That's a storybook, man!" Former President Bill Clinton downplayed the
significance of Mr. Obama's South Carolina primary victory by equating it
with Jesse Jackson's wins there in 1984 and 1988. And according to the new
book "Game Change," by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, Mr. Clinton
dismissed Mr. Obama to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy by saying, "A few years ago,
this guy would have been getting us coffee." Former President Jimmy Carter
suggested that Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican, was a racist
for blurting out "You lie" during Mr. Obama's health care address. And
more broadly, the left has sought to paint anyone who opposes its radical
agenda as racist. Remember "comedian" Janeane Garofalo's response when
asked about the "tea party" movement? "This is racism straight-up. This is
about hating a black man in the White House."
The left can play the race card incessantly without consequence or
punishment, but woe to anyone else who even breathes valid opposition to
their policies: Thou shall be deemed a racist.
- Rush and Imus. A few years ago, Rush Limbaugh made comments suggesting
that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who is black, was
"overrated" but largely protected from criticism because of a societal
desire to see a black quarterback do well. He was roundly attacked for
those comments and run out of his gig as an NFL commentator. Likewise, on
his national radio show, Don Imus referred to members of the Rutgers
women's basketball team as "nappy-headed ho's." That got him wide
condemnation and got him fired from his radio and TV gigs. Mr. Reid is
still in his Senate leadership position, not only not forced out of his
gig, but protected by the very voices that condemned Mr. Limbaugh and Mr.
Imus.
- Why? Because liberals have set up an assumption that they've managed
to steep deep into the national psyche: On issues of race (and everything
else), they are presumed to be "good." In his first statement about this
mess, Mr. Reid directed his critics to his record on civil rights, as if
that absolves him from a comment that would have killed a Republican's
career. The black individuals and groups who have defended Mr. Reid have
pointed to the same thing: "See? He can't possibly be a racist because
he's good on our issues."
Of course, "good" to them means big-government policies that perpetuate
cyclical racial victimization, such as affirmative action, welfare, quotas
and poor education policies. Republicans, by contrast, have long espoused
policies aimed at creating the greatest opportunity for minorities,
including charter schools, "workfare" and merit-based admissions and hiring.
Republicans have sought to create an environment for minorities to succeed,
not by insulting their abilities but by unleashing and rewarding them. And
yet, in this sick, twisted universe liberals have created, the Republicans
are smeared as "bad" on civil rights and minority issues.
- The final nail for the Democrats. They're already sinking under the
weight of their own big-government, big-spending overreach, and the
hypocrisy of their reaction to Mr. Reid's comments might be the thing that
does them in. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said she
couldn't recall a single Democrat who had called for the resignation of
Republican Sen. Trent Lott following his birthday toast to elderly former
segregationist Democratic Sen. Strom Thurmond. In fact, dozens of
Democrats - including Mrs. Feinstein herself - piled on Mr. Lott and
called for him to go. They said it wasn't appropriate for an American
leader who said such things to remain in high office. Just so.
Democrats circle the wagons well. But this time, on top of all the other
nightmares they are inflicting on the American people, from health care to
cap-and-trade, they may have pushed the American people too far.
True equality means holding everyone accountable in the same way,
regardless of race, gender, faith, ethnicity - or political ideology. It's
time for the Democrats who claim to promote equality to put their money
where their big mouths are.
Monica Crowley is a nationally syndicated radio host, a panelist on "The
McLaughlin Group" and a Fox News contributor.
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