Reid Says "Definition of 'Racism' has changed since 2002"

WASHINGTON, DC -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has stated that the definition of the word "racism" has changed since 2002, when a predecessor of his was ousted over politically incorrect language.  Senator Reid is embroiled in a minor controversy, similar to Senator Trent Lott's troubles in 2002, involving words that may have implied a disparagement of a non-Asian racial minority.  Reid explained today in a press conference that "racism is not as much of an issue today as it was back in the Jim Crow days of 2002 because we now live in a post-racial world."

He went on to state that the election of an African-American President has fundamentally changed the definition of the word "racism".  He provided documentation from the 2002 Official US Senate dictionary and the most recent version, reprinted here:

(2002) racism, noun: a belief by any US Senator that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

(2010) racism, noun: a belief by any Republican US Senator that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

The dictionaries are released by the Senate Definitions Subcommittee, usually controlled by the majority party.

He further expressed hope that this could all be resolved by drinking a beer with President Obama to "put this whole thing behind us and forget about it.  ...or at least get the press to stop writing about it."