Washington, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – In a speech before the Asian Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas last Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) delivered a couple of punch lines that many consider to be racist and insensitive to Asian Americans.

“One problem I’ve had today is keeping my Wongs straight,” Reid said with a chamber officer, Terry Wong, standing by his side. It was Reid’s take off from the often-quoted racist remark, “Two Wongs don’t make a Right.”

Earlier in his speech, Reid also admonished his predominantly Asian American audience by saying, “I don’t think you’re smarter than anybody else, but you’ve convinced a lot of us you are.”

Very few of the mainstream media and Asian American advocacy groups called him out on his remarks, but realizing he had offended many Asian Americans, Reid issued this apology:

“I realize I may have offended a lot of people with my remarks. I should have known better. I now realize I’m no smarter than Asian Americans. In fact, I’m no smarter than a 5th grader.” (It was a take off from the popular TV show)