President Barack Hussein Obama appeared on the view and discussed a wide variety of subjects from the frivolous to the serious.  When asked about his background, which includes a black father and white mother, Obama said of African-Americans: 'We are sort of a mongrel people.'  "'I mean we're all kinds of mixed up,' Obama said. 'That's actually true of white people as well, but we just know more about it.'

"The president did not appear to be making an inflammatory remark with his statement. The definition of mongrel as an adjective is defined as 'of mixed breed, nature, or origin,' according to dictionary.com."  By a strict dictionary definition, The Hill may be correct that the President's use of the term was meant to be benign. But, as with a lot of words in the English language, the term "mongrel" also has cultural and historical meanings.

Racists have often used the term "mongrel" to denounce what they consider a mixing of races, which somehow dilutes their "purity." It is meant as a derogatory term, especially when used to refer to non-whites. 

Of course, once again, because Barack Obama is African American, he will likely get a pass for using such a loaded term on national TV. But imagine what would have happened if a white politician had used the term "mongrel" to refer to African Americans, or anyone at all. One cannot doubt that said politician could measure the rest of his or her career in days.

In 2006, while running for reelection, Senator George Allen, a Republican from Virginia, used the term "macaca" to refer to an Indian American who was filming an Allen campaign stop for his opponent, James Webb. The term was so obscure that reporters had to resort to the dictionary to understand its meaning. "Macaca," it seems, is a pejorative used by French colonialists in Africa to refer to the native population. Allen apologized, claiming that he did not know the meaning of the term, a credible excuse because, until he used it, no one else did.

AAhhh the old double standard at play.  Clearly the president is a "mongrel", but don't try and lay that trip on ALL Black people and ALL White people, puhleeze barry! (associatedcontent.com)