Is Racism the same as seeing Race?

I've been brooding over Harry Reid's comment on Obama's skin for Quite some time.  Now, late as always, I think I've come to a conclusion about whether or not his comment was justified or even excusable.  In case you have been living under a rock for a few months, he said that Obama had a real chance of winning the presidential election because he was, "light skinned... with no negro dialect unless he wanted to have one."

A lot of republicans called foul on this because their former majority leader, Trent Lott, was a strong supporter of a segregationist and therefore had to resign.  The difference between the two is so striking, I don't understand why anyone would compare the two.  Lott used a type of thinking that was outdated and not at all appropriate in our society.

Reid, on the other hand, realized that black politicians who tend to win are 'more white.'  I think that this term is rather racist, because the term 'more white' tends to refer to things like using advanced vocabulary and living a bourgeoisie lifestyle. 

I think that many Americans are aware of the fact that most black representatives are 'more white' yet are afraid to say so.  Why?  Well, it is much easier to ignore racism than to try to tackle it.  Personally, I think that the real racism exists in our ideas about what is 'more white.'  So, is Reid excusable? Yes, despite the use of outdated language he was saying something that is accepted to be true. Are we? Not yet.  We consider Obama the first Black president despite the fact that he is half white.  We are so far from 'post racism' that it scares me.