On this afternoon’s Hardball, Howard Fineman twice called RNC Chairman Michael Steele “lazy,” adding “he doesn’t work that hard.”

Now, I don’t in fact believe there was any racial overtone involved.  I am explicitly not accusing Fineman of racism.  But I mention the incident to illustrate the double standard.

Need we say it?  Imagine the cries of “racism!” that would echo through the land if a conservative commentator ever accused a black Dem politician of being “lazy.”

Here’s the exchange.

CHRIS MATTHEWS:  Is he loosey-goosey?

HOWARD FINEMAN: I think he’s lazy.  I think he’s lazy. He’s known as a terrible organizer.  He ran a terrible campaign when he ran. You know, he won this in a fluke on the sixth ballot to begin with, He’s a charming guy with some brains but he doesn’t work that hard it doesn’t seem.

For that matter, were the tables turned, imagine the way the condescension of saying a black Dem had “some brains” would be condemned.