OOOh, Lou definitely caught himself. I must be really young (or sheltered) since I've never heard anyone but a black person use that "almost expressed" expression towards another black person.

Anyway, I disagree with him on America being the most diverse society on the face of the earth. Check out some parts of Europe once in a while Lou!

Sent by Moji | 7:33 PM ET | 03-31-2008

Mr. Dobbs was about to say "cotton picking" which is an old fashioned term used to replaced "god-damn". My Caucasian Great Grandmother picked cotton in west Texas. Moreover, to say "cotton pickin'" hands is to say clumsy or ham-fisted because picking cotton caused the hands to become rough and calloused. Wasting time looking for so called racial bias is a self-defeating endeavor. It is better to focus on making a positive difference in the world. FYI, Lou Dobbs is married to a Hispanic woman.

Sent by Ted | 11:05 PM ET | 03-31-2008

I didn't hear what you seem to say he almost said. What was it? "cotton picking..."? What is the problem? -w-

Sent by wm | 12:44 AM ET | 04-01-2008

I agree that saying "cotton-pickin'" wouldn't necessarily make someone a racist. However, we all benefit when we get together with diverse people to talk about (and act on) ways that our society still treats people unfairly due to race or ethnicity. I work for Everyday Democracy, a nonprofit that helps communities build coalitions to take action against structural racism. We have a discussion guide called Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation and many other resources as well. You can check us out at http://www.everyday-democracy.org.

Sent by Julie Fanselow | 11:17 AM ET | 04-01-2008

This attempt at race baiting is getting out of control. Everything and everyone seems to be falling victim to being defined as racist. I'm getting kind of tired of all of this. I listened to Lou Dobbs and it didn't appear that he was talking about Ms. Rice at all. He was merely attempting to use the words cotton pick... as a replacement for perhaps using profanity? It did not appear as though he was being disrespectful to Ms. Rice or anyone else. I think we are getting a little too sensitive as of late, to the point where we are about to go off the deep end because of issues of race. Can't we all just be one people within the human race?

Sent by Evelyn | 3:49 PM ET | 04-01-2008

I'm almost positive I learned the phrase from Foghorn Leghorn watching Looney Tunes cartoons growing up. Not sure what conclusions to draw from that.

Sent by andy carvin, npr | 4:24 PM ET | 04-01-2008

I listened to the YouTube snippet...and I laughed like a goon! I've never heard a human being retract his tonque quite so quickly or deftly.

Surely, we've got other things to worry about than the list of colloquialisms that are to be considered forbidden by fiat.

I do think we should exercise caution when claiming affront, particularly when it comes to these time-worn phrases or uncommon words. Remember, a few years ago, when there was the incredible flap over the word "niggardly" (meaning: stingy)? We can't claim offense for words that we've decided approximate other offensive words. That would be entirely untenable and dilute our credibility when it comes to the real deal.

Sent by Lalita Amos | 8:01 PM ET | 04-01-2008

absolute height of hilarity!!!

the fact that lou retracted the phrase he was about to use, absolutely negated the point he was trying to make about how americans should feel comfortable talking about race.

lou knew that if he used that word, it would harken back to the very birth defect condi referred to and would likely piss some people off - even if it wasn't intentional.

www.bonvivantonline.com

Sent by ksolo | 3:02 PM ET | 04-02-2008

Funny how the Imus fallout and an economic depressio [yes folks it aint a recession but a global depression stay tuned and see] will have folks biting their tongues to keep themselves economically afloat. He must have an ARM on his abode...and he was not about to say cotton picking as some would such as much as he would say "cotton-picaninny" recall he was referring to a person [noun] and not an act [verb]. Imagine if you will the sharia cutting out of his tongue such a slip would have cost him in reference to the current "Secretary of State." Cheers

Sent by Mr. K Mjumbe | 3:58 PM ET | 04-02-2008

I feel that Lou's "cotton pickin" comment was very racist. As a Black woman, am I suprised by Lou? No. And obviously he knew that it wasn't something that he should have been saying too. You can tell by his facial expression after he said it. "Thank ya Massa Lou fa tellin us bout racism in America. I mus be gittin back to pickin ma cotton!"

Sent by RP | 12:38 PM ET | 04-05-2008