it is a big deal because of the double standard when it comes to democrats making supposedly "insensitive racial" comments..
when the then republican majority leader, Trent Lott, said something that was perceived to be racial, dems called on him to step down, and the republicans pushed him out..Obama personally back then told republicans to dissociate themselves from Lott..
but it's not the first time dems use the word negro..their own former KKK recruiter, Byrd, said on TV, that there were also white negros (ch) ..whatever that means..
so it appears like dems ARE the party of racists..that's why the trying so hard to conceal it with their policies..kinda like на воре шапка горит..:-)