Outraged over forgiven comment, but not affair

The GOP is supposedly outraged over a comment by Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, of Nevada, who is quoted in a book as saying that then-Senator Barack Obama was “light skinned” with “no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” Republicans demand Reid resign from the Senate, or at least give up his post as majority leader.

Reid made an unfortunate comment for which he has apologized (and the president has accepted), but it pales compared to the unapologetic comments I've heard from some conservatives and Republicans about Obama. I've heard that Obama pals around with terrorists, is a secret Muslim, wasn't born in America, is a socialist who hates America and even a Nazi who wants to euthanize grandma

when her pills get too

expensive.

In addition, a while back, Republican Sen. John Ensign, also of Nevada, confessed to having an extramarital affair with his best friend's wife. There was hardly a peep of condemnation from any Republican or conservative.

Which is worse, an adulterous affair or an unfortunate comment? The Republicans' level of (pretend) outrage is out of whack.

Roger Alton

Cedar Rapids