In their new book Game Change, political reporters Mark Halperin and John Heilemann write this about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid during the 2008 Presidential campaign:

He was wowed by Obama’s oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama — a ‘light-skinned’ African American ‘with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.

A quick peek at the major news outlets tells me this is being regarded as a racist comment and that Reid is being called to resign. Hmmmmm. What am I missing? Is that not true? Is race not still a factor in our elections? I don’t believe for a minute Obama would be President if he had darker skin and he talked like a hip hop artist. I also don’t believe Mario Cuomo would have been governor if he talked like a wise guy. Duh. It’s common sense.

Conservative commentator George Will disagreed vehemently with fellow conservative Liz Cheney on this:

WILL: I don’t think there’s a scintilla of racism in what Harry Reid said. At long last, Harry Reid has said something that no one can disagree with, and he gets in trouble for it.

CHENEY: George, give me a break. I mean, talking about the color of the president’s skin …

WILL: Did he get it wrong?

CHENEY: … and the candidate’s …

WILL: Did he say anything false?

CHENEY: … it’s — these are clearly racist comments, George.

WILL: Oh, my, no.

Clearly, we still don’t know how to talk about race in this country. Sad.