If you just assume EVERY cry of "racism" in politics is illegitimate, you'll only occasionally be wrong.

In the United States, there have been several controversies concerning the word "niggardly", an adjective meaning "stingy" or "miserly", because of its phonetic similarity to the racial slur "nigger". Etymologically the two words are unrelated.

D.C. Mayor Acted 'Hastily,' Will Rehire Aide David Howard (By Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post) By Yolanda Woodlee Washington Post Staff Wri...