Non-Racist Republican has Racist Idea

Harry Reid thinks an amendment to make English the official language of America is racist. He doesn't think Senator James Inhofe, who brought the proposal forward, is a racist, just his proposal.

"Even though I feel this amendment is unfair, I don't in any way suggest that Jim Inhofe is a racist," Mr. Reid said. "I don't believe that at all. I just believe that this amendment has, to some people, that connotation -- not that he's a racist, but that the amendment is."

Note the obvious backtracking from earlier remarks as Ried stumbles through the above clarification after his "racist" tag goes over like a lead balloon. He goes from saying the proposal is racist to suggesting that "some people" think it's racist. But don't confuse those people with Harry Reid, who is simply concerned that Republicans might be unfairly judged as racist.

According to the article in the Washington Times, People Other Than Harry Reid might also think the American people are overwhelmingly racist.

A poll by Zogby International earlier this year found that 84 percent of Americans say English should be the official language of government operations. The same poll found that 77 percent of Hispanics agree. And it's a bipartisan issue, according to the poll, which found that 92 percent of Republicans and 82 percent of Democrats approve making English the country's official language.

That a large portion of Americans are racists is certainly common knowledge, but what about those Hispanics? I had no idea there were so many racists from south of the border. And against themselves! Amazing.

The article also summarizes remarks by Reid from 1993 on illegal immigration that might sound a bit racist...

"Our federal wallet is stretched to the limit by illegal aliens getting welfare, food stamps, medical care and other benefits without paying taxes," he said in 1993. "These programs were not meant to entice freeloaders and scam artists from around the world."

...but clearly are not because, while Reid might use the dreaded "illegal alien" insult and refer to irregular migrants as "freeloaders" and "scam artists," there is no indication that he expected them to speak English.