Klobuchar defends Senate leader Reid

Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada at a news conference, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is defending Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid against Republican calls for Reid to step down.

A new book reports that in a private conversation in 2008 about Barack Obama's chances of becoming president, Reid described Obama as a light-skinned African-American "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

Klobuchar told reporters Monday morning she and other Democrats are satisfied with Reid's apology over the remarks, and do not think he needs to leave his leadership post.

"People who have worked with Harry Reid know that he believes in justice and he believes in civil rights," said Klobuchar. "I think he chose some very inappropriate words, and he said he chose some inappropriate words, and he apologized."

Klobuchar talked about Reid after touring a St. Paul company that installs green energy products.

Minnesota's other U.S. senator, Al Franken, has not yet publicly commented on the controversy surrounding Reid's remarks.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.