Beat Harry Reid In Nevada In 2010

By Kathy Flynn
BeatReid.com
Thursday, December 10, 2009

“Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all Senate Republicans can come up with is: ‘Slow down, stop everything and start over.’  If you think you’ve heard these same excuses before, you’re right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said slow down, it’s too early, let’s wait, things aren’t bad enough.”

Good one, Harry.

The democratic Senate Majority Leader managed to show his elitist colors once again.   Racial bias has already been blamed for (some of the) GOP resistance to president Obama’s health care plan. Remember Jimmy Carter’s recent comment that an “overwhelming proportion” of resistance to Health Care Reform is rooted in racism?  The last thing democrats need to maintain credibility-and forward the cause of passing health care reform- is for Harry Reid to drop what is essentially the race card.

Republicans have come out swinging.  Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele responded by saying, “It was not a sober moment for Harry Reid at all. It was an ignorant moment.  I’m kind of sick and tired of the left and Democrats in this country. When they get into trouble and don’t get their way and their backs are up against the wall on legislation or whatever it is that they’re trying to do, they go to that card. They play that race card, that slavery card, that civil rights card.”

As Steele pointed out clearly, the debate over health care reform has nothing to do with the historic roots of slavery.  If democrats want success in making policy in Washington, they will have to change some minds.  Even with large democratic majorities in both the House and Senate you cannot expect to have unilateral party support over every piece of legislation that reaches the floor.  Tactics like throwing around accusations of racism, or comparing the arguments of the opposition to those made by the most egregious practitioners of racism in our country’s history only serve to divide.

Prominent Democrats in government would be wise to leave these tactics at the door when entering into political debate.  Especially when the so-called champions of civil rights, like Jimmy Carter, have a few skeletons in their own closets.  According to a book by Laughlin McDonald, director of the ACLU Voting Rights Project, Carter resisted desegregation as a Georgia School Board member by opposing a black school in Sumter county because it was “too close” to a white school.

The division, sadly, seems to be spread out on the usual party fault lines.  Another statement, from Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray said there were no critical remarks within the caucus and no discussion of Senator Reid offering an apology for the remarks he made Monday.  Maine senator Olympia Snowe was apparently outraged by the comment, which bodes poorly for Senator Reid as she is considered to be a rare and crucial swing vote in support of health care reform.  Senator Judd Gregg called the remark “foolish.”  And, the folks back home in Nevada had an equally harsh reaction.  The Las Vegas Sun made this statement:

“It is not a matter of if Reid will say something foolishly incendiary and politically damaging between now and November. It’s a case of how many times and how deep will the wounds be.”

It’s becoming increasingly dangerous to be a democrat.  A handful of republicans managed to bring up the fact that it was mostly democratic senators that filibustered the 1964 Civil rights Bill.  Among them was Robert Byrd, a former KKK member.

Meanwhile, the response from Harry Reid was “I think the point is quite clear, by this point, that at pivotal points in American history, the tactics of distortion, delay have certainly been present.  They’ve been used to stop progress. That’s what we’re talking about here. That’s what’s happening here. It’s very clear. That’s a point I made - no more, no less. Anyone who willingly distorts my comments is only proving my point.”  (Beat Reid gives the Senate Majority Leader an A+ for his use of the word “point” in a sentence.)

In all their over reactions to health care reform, calling a public insurance plan an attempt at a government takeover, etc., why hand the GOP yet another piece of meat to salivate over?  Even if they don’t believe, in their collective private thoughts, that Harry Reid is morally equating their resistance to health care reform to civil rights, slavery and racism, republicans will use this opportunity to cry foul on the part of democrats for unfair and immature tactics.

It’s impossible to expect any positive outcome from such elitist, arrogant and spiteful politicians like Harry Reid.  He continues to do and say whatever is necessary to retain power for himself.  He continues to perpetuate the alienation between the parties with incendiary comments like those made this week.  Senator Reid works the strings and switches behind the scenes to eradicate any and all competition, regardless of the venue.  And like a refractory, spoiled child, manages to get his own way most of the time.  About a year ago, Reid commented on the opening of the new Capital Visitors Center, a year behind schedule and millions over budget.  “My staff tells me not to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway,” said Reid in his remarks. “In the summer because of the heat and high humidity, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. It may be descriptive but it’s true.”

It’s hard to imagine any other politician getting away with a comment like that.