o'tom - a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,'

source: "The Patriot Post (www.patriotpost.us/subscribe/ )" The Chronicle
excerpts:
"The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men." -- Samuel Adams

Mr. Reid is apologizing to all and sundry for saying in private in 2008 that Barack Obama should run for President because he was 'light-skinned' and spoke with 'no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.'

"White liberals have built a political culture that is little different from the plantations of another generation. African-Americans are given just enough to help them survive, but not opportunity which will allow them to escape and become independent of government programs." -- columnist Cal Thomas

"I don't know why people are making such a fuss about this. What is the big fuss about the word 'Negro'? --  Rep. James Clyburn, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and current House Majority Whip

"Is it possible it's not what he said but what he didn't say?  Isn't Harry Reid implying that a dark-skinned African-American who speaks in a way that some would consider more stereotypical would not be electable?" -- NBC's Matt Lauer

More deep thoughts: "A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee." -- Bill Clinton in 2008, as reported in "Game Change"

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