Harry needs to explain "light skinned with no Negro dialect"

In the book  "Game Change", released 01/11/2010, there are quotes from Democrat Senator and Majority Leader, Harry Reid, that he made during the 2008 election season.  He called the then Senator from Illinois, Barack Hussein Obama as being "light skilled... ...with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.". Harry has apologized for the comments saying: "I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African-Americans for my improper comments."

I would like to know what the Senator from Nevada meant by these two specific characteristics of Mr. Obama he felt strongly enough to speak about them.

Light Skinned:
What does the lightness or darkness of one's skin has to with anything?  Does one's skin tone determine how one will govern? Does a lighter tone govern differently from a darker tone? Would skin tone determine if someone is electable?

No Negro Dialect, unless he wanted to have one:
Let's break this comment down further:
Negro:
The term Negro is offensive to nearly all Americans, especially Americans of African descent. Why use a 1960's derogatory word to describe an American whose ancestry is from another continent? Is Senator Harry Reid stuck in the 1960's? Does he hold racist views for a group of Americans who may not look like him (short old white of European descent)?
Dialect:
Is Harry Reid trying to say that all people with African lineage speak a specific way?
no Negro Dialect:
Is Harry racist enough to say that Barack Obama is speaking "white"? 
unless he wanted to have one
Is the Senator saying Barack Obama can speak like those "in the hood" if wanted to, but amongst white folk he speaks white?

Yes the Democrat Harry Reid has apologized for using "poor choice" of words.  But it should not end there.  Harry needs to clarify his remarks.  The media needs to do its job and demand Reid clarify his statements.  After all, the media did hound the then Rebublican Majority Leader Senator Trent Lott for his statements in regards to Strom Thurmonds that if he was elected president back then things would be different today.

Mr. Obama has forgiven Mr. Reid's comment. In 2002 Obama is on record wanting Mr. Lott ousted.

In 2002 Reid said of Lott:
"If you tell ethnic jokes in the backroom, it's that much easier to say ethnic things publicly. I've always practiced how I play."