Reid apologizes for remark that Obama has ‘no Negro dialect’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid apologized Saturday for saying Barack Obama should seek — and could win — the White House because Obama was a “light-skinned” African-American “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.”

Obama quickly accepted, saying, “As far as I am concerned, the book is closed.”

Reid made the comments in private during the long 2008 campaign, according to a new book about that election, which elevated Obama from first-term Illinois senator to the first black president.

After excerpts from the book appeared on the Web site of The Atlantic, Reid released a statement expressing regret for “using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African- Americans, for my improper comments.”

Obama issued a statement saying he had spoken with Reid, who faces a difficult re-election amid frustration from both liberals and conservatives with his leadership in the Senate and his agenda.

Reid’s office also said he had phoned to apologize to civil-rights leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton; NAACP Chairman Julian Bond and Leadership Conference on Civil Rights president and chief executive officer Wade Henderson, as well as veteran political operative Donna Brazile. Reid also spoke with Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., both African-Americans.

Some quickly fell in line supporting Reid.

“While there is no question that Senator Reid did not select the best word choice in this instance, these comments should not distract America from its continued focus on securing health care or creating jobs for its people,” Sharpton said.

Clyburn, part of the House’s Democratic leadership, also supported Reid despite the comments.

“Sen. Reid’s apology for his private assessment of President Obama’s candidacy should be accepted, and our time and energy should be devoted to helping him overcome current obstacles to job creation, health-care reform and energy independence,” Clyburn said.

The revelations — included in the book “Game Change” by Time Magazine’s Mark Halperin and New York magazine’s John Heilemann — are based on interviews with more than 200 people involved in the campaign, including Obama. The writers’ sources were granted anonymity, and the writers offer no documentation for their accounts. The book is to be released Monday and was obtained by The Associated Press on Saturday.