Lindsay Lohan Calls Obama "Colored" (Video)

In a move that inspired forehead smacking that could be heard across the country, Lindsay Lohan, America's favorite (little g) gossip girl, called Barack Obama "colored." In an interview with Access Hollywood's Maria Menounos, Lindsay said, "It was really exciting. It's an amazing feeling. It's our first colored president."

I have two questions: First, why is anyone asking Lindsay freaking Lohan's opinion on politics? (I'm not saying she can't have opinions, I just don't know why anyone would waste live interview time asking her about them.) And second, which is the question being asked around the blogosphere today, is "colored" an acceptable descriptor of a black person?

There are many terms that people have used to describe differences in skin tone but, rappers notwithstanding, only a few are generally used in polite society today. In the media one generally hears "black" or "African-American." Occasionally there is a reference, often in legal terms, to "a person of color" but that is often used to describe almost any skin color besides the peachy-pink we call "white." The last time I heard the phrase "colored" was by my nutty-as-the-Planter's-guy and admittedly racist grandmother. I will not repeat her statement here except to add that it resulted in no less than three family members launching across the room to put their hands over her mouth. And that's a lot for an 86-year-old woman.

But even if it were a generational issue, Lindsay is definitely not in the same demographic as my grandmother. Though they do share a strange penchant for leggings and muumuus.