Reid's Racism Is No Skin Off Obama's Nose

On Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apologized to President Obama for remarks he made about him during the 2008 Presidential race.

Reid referred to Obama as "light skinned" and having "no Negro dialect."

His remarks were published in a book about the '08 election called Game Change co-authored by Mark Halperin of Time Magazine and John Heilemann of New York Magazine.

Do you think Halperin and Heilemann would have sat on this for a year and a half if a senior Republican had made these remarks?

But the most interesting reaction of all comes from President Obama himself:

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.

Translation: President Obama needs Reid to shepherd Obamacare through the Senate.

I doubt the President would have been this generous had these remarks been uttered by a Republican. Let's not forget what he said at a Democratic fundraiser in Florida in June 2008:

We know what kind of campaign they're going to run. They're going to try to make you afraid. They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?

In that instance, Obama was accusing Republicans of racism where none existed. Yet when racism exists amongst his own ranks it's see no evil, hear no evil. Harry Reid's racism is no skin off Obama's nose. His hypocrisy is staggering.

Unlike Trent Lott, I doubt Harry Reid will lose his job as Senate Majority Leader over it.

But then again it could just be delaying the inevitable. According to a new poll, a majority of Nevadans hold an unfavorable view of Senator Reid. It's a view they might very well be prepared to express against Reid at the polls in November.

Perhaps Reid will exit public life earlier than that though. I could see a scenario where the Senate passes Obamacare and then Reid announces his resignation "to spend more time with his family." It would be a way for Reid to save his own skin.