If I have to think about it this hard, it probably isn't racist

Eugh, Abbot-gate. So many hypocritically Tories gleefully frothing over the "racist" black woman. So much of Labour shuffling somewhat awkwardly. So many Lib Dems unsure which way to lean. Considering how many people (herself included) have claimed that the comment made by Diane Abbot was taken out of context, it's bloody difficult to find the conversation in it's entirety. I think these were the only relevant tweets but I may certainly be wrong...

D: Norris and Dobson sentenced. Neither sentence as long as the 18 years they spent dodging justice & nothing will bring Stephen back.

D: Brian Paddick: "I think the police put more resources into this reinvestigation than.....any case in history." Good Thing.

B: This may be true. But it doesn't heal intraracial tensions and doesn't make for much useful dialogue. We can do both, surely?

D: I understand the cultural point you are making. But you are playing into a "divide and rule" agenda.

B: Diane, I truly appreciate what you say. I'm just tired of no-one listening, then speaking under umbrella of 'black community'

D: White people love playing ‘divide and rule’ We should not play their game #tacticasoldascolonialism

D:Ethnic communities that show more public solidarity & unity than black people do much better #dontwashdirtylineninpublic

The next day, Diane deleted the original tweet and posted the following:

D: Tweet taken out of context. Refers to nature of 19th century European colonialism. Bit much to get into 140 characters.

Whilst Diane's comment might be a bit racist, at least a bit unacceptable for someone in her position (i.e. representing a variety of people), it's really not that big a deal. It seems to be the result of the media wanting to put a -gate after everything and the Tories being arseholes.

What is much more of a big deal is her trying to get out of the ensuing shit-storm my claiming she wasn't talking about the here and now, I would have had a lot more respect for her if she'd said sorry for being a bit inappropriate but stated that it clearly wasn't a resigning matter and it highlights a serious issue that should be discussed - that might even start the discussion which the original tweets called for!