Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) apologized for saying that he did not think Asian Americans are smarter than other people but they’ve convinced him otherwise.
“My comments were in extremely poor taste and I apologize. Sometimes I say the wrong thing,” Reid said in a statement provided by his office.
On Friday Time magazine highlighted video surfaced by the Republican opposition research shop America Rising that showed Reid, speaking to the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, saying “The Asian population is so productive. I don’t think you’re smarter than anybody else, but you’ve convinced a lot of us you are.” The crowd laughed in response.
Later on during the appearance Reid also quipped that “one problem that I’ve had today is keeping my Wongs straight.”
For people that are always whining about “political correctness” conservatives have become the very embodiment of the “PC Police”. They sure spend a lot of time finding trivial things to complain about.
Don’t they have real jobs they could be doing?
This is the best their oppo researchers can come up with?
Pathetic.
I read it twice and was like, Huh? Maybe the “Wongs” statement and that’s a stretch and a half.
I had a hard time finding this offensive, but assuming it is, please note the sincere apology. There was no classic GOP hedge such as “I’m sorry if you misunderstood me to be saying something offensive.”
That’s an Asian joke? Sad. He should’ve told this one.
An Italian, a Scotsman, and a Chinese fellow were hired at a
construction site. The foreman pointed out a huge pile of sand and told the Italian guy, “You’re in charge of sweeping.” To the Scotsman he said, “You’re in charge of shoveling.” And to the Chinese guy, “You’re in charge of supplies.”
He then said, “Now, I have to leave for a little while. I expect you guys to make a dent in that there pile.”
The foreman went away for a of couple hours, and, when he returned, the pile of sand was untouched. He asked the Italian, “Why didn’t you sweep any of it?” The Italian replied, “I no hava no broom. You said to the Chinese fella that he a wasa in a charge of supplies, but he hasa disappeared and I no coulda finda him nowhere.” Then the foreman turned to the Scotsman and said, “And you, I thought I told you to shovel this pile.”
The Scotsman replied, “Aye, ye did lad, boot ah couldnay get meself a shoovel! Ye left th’ Chinese gadgie in chairge of supplies, boot ah couldnay fin’ him either.” The foreman was really angry by now and stormed off toward the pile of sand to look for the Chinese guy.
Just then, the Chinese guy jumped out from behind the pile of sand and yelled…
“SUPPLIES!!”
Here in San Francisco where I live there is a huge Chinese population and the Chinese-Americans I know are some of the smartest people on the planet. That includes my doctors, dentists, etc. Children are raised by Tiger moms (and dads) are taught to excel from an early age. Harry’s not mistaken, but he’s no standup comic and it shows.