John McLaughlin's Oreo Problem

John McLaughlin used the term "Oreo" on his program this weekend while discussing Jesse Jackson's hot mic incident and his comments about Barack Obama.

GASP! How dare McLaughlin say something so offensive!

(CNN) -- Longtime Washington talk-show host John McLaughlin is facing fire Monday for referring to Barack Obama as an "Oreo" during a segment on his Sunday political program, "The McLaughlin Group.

The veteran Washington journalist was discussing the recent comments from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was caught last week by an open microphone on Fox News saying the Illinois senator is "talking down to black people" as he campaigns for the White House. Those remarks were largely seen in reference to Obama's recent admonishment at a Chicago church of some black men who he said were not living up to their responsibilities as parents.

CNN certainly sanitizes Jackson's comments. Yes, Jackson said that Obama is "talking down to black people."

I don't think that was what really caused the uproar. It was the degree of Jackson's disgust with Obama that made his open microphone comments newsworthy, as well as the violent imagery and vulgarity. "I wanna cut his nuts off" is a dramatic thing for the REV. Jackson to say about the man he supposedly supports unequivocally to be president of the United States.

Referencing Jackson's comments, McLaughlin said Obama "fits the stereotype blacks once labeled as an Oreo — a black on the outside, a white on the inside."

"Does it frost Jackson, Jesse Jackson, that…an Oreo should be the beneficiary of the long civil rights struggle which Jesse Jackson spent his lifetime fighting for?" McLaughlin asked his panelists.

The term "Oreo" is often viewed as a derogatory term toward some African-Americans who appear not to exhibit certain stereotypes of their race.

What's nuts about this is that Obama himself discusses how many in the African-American community initially didn't consider him to be black enough. That was back when Hillary Clinton still had the support of African-Americans.

Now, when the presumptive Dem nominee gives his stump speech and discusses race, Obama talks about being considered not black enough at first by some but then evolving into being seen as too black by others.

...Roland Martin, a CNN contributor and host of a syndicated radio show, says some people may be overreacting to McLaughlin's remark.

"Obama's candidacy is bringing to light to the internal conversation that is taking place in black America and white America. I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with the dialogue," he said. "If John McLaughlin was an African American and who had made the comment, people would have said, well, he probably understands what he's talking about."

"The reality is we also have a white, his mother is white and his dad is from Kenya," Martin also said. "I think that is the qualifier there and this is a debate that you have heard take place inside of the black community that you also have people who question someone like Obama, where does he stand? Is he black enough?"

Yes, there's that reality of blood.

Obama has a white mother and a black father.

By birth, Obama is as white as he is black.

I think McLaughlin should be cut some slack. The issue was race. He referred to "Oreo" as an old stereotype, and it's undeniable that Obama's blackness has been debated. He was trying to get the panel to discuss the source of Jackson's anger related to Obama.

McLaughlin should have known better and stayed away from the term. When it comes to talking about Obama, no one can say anything questionable without it blowing up into a controversy. Even his middle name is unmentionable.

Once again, what bugs me is the double standard. It's a conservative/liberal thing.

There wasn't tremendous outrage when Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele was running for the U.S. Senate and he was called an Oreo. There wasn't outrage because he's a Republican.

Democrats, even black Democrats, condoned and took part in disgusting attacks on Steele.

From the Washington Times:

Black Democratic leaders in Maryland say that racially tinged attacks against Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele in his bid for the U.S. Senate are fair because he is a conservative Republican.

Such attacks against the first black man to win a statewide election in Maryland include pelting him with Oreo cookies during a campaign appearance, calling him an "Uncle Tom" and depicting him as a black-faced minstrel on a liberal Web log.

Operatives for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) also obtained a copy of his credit report -- the only Republican candidate so targeted.

Read the rest of the article.

It's shocking the way black Dems attempt to rationalize the horrible treatment they dished out to Steele.

As a Republican, Dems pelted Steele with Oreo cookies, he was called an "Uncle Tom," and that was considered fair.

Sorry, I can't get upset about McLaughlin use of the term "Oreo" in the context of a legitimate discussion.

The reality is Obama's mother was white. His middle name is Hussein. Some people have a problem with that. Worse, Obama sometimes seems to have a problem with that.