Harry Reid: Racist Idiot
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is under fire for remarks he made to reporters about then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008:
Republicans called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to resign his leadership post over remarks he made in 2008 about then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, adding to the Nevada Democrat’s political troubles.
Mr. Reid, who supported Mr. Obama’s candidacy, said in private remarks during the campaign that the country was ready for a “light-skinned” African-American president with “no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” The remarks are recounted in a new book, “Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime.”
A spokesman for Mr. Reid said the senator wouldn’t resign his leadership post. “He has no intention of stepping down,” Jim Manley said. “Unlike others who advocate moving our nation backwards and viewing this moment for political gain, he’s working…to move our country forward.”
The controversy comes at a critical moment for Mr. Reid, who is facing an uphill battle for re-election this year and is trying to shepherd Mr. Obama’s health-care overhaul through the Senate.
I’m not going to waste your time with rants about the blatant double standards of the media, Congressional Democrats or even Al Sharpton… Any sane person instinctively understands that Senator Reid’s remarks were foolish and racially insensitive, if not out right racist.
The sad reality is that, as the Washington Times points out many of the people now trying to excuse or defend Sen Reid are the same people who were calling for the Senate Majority Leader Trett Lott’s resigantion:
But several Democrats — including Mrs. Feinstein — did in fact target Mr. Lott after his remarks. “This statement casts a dark shadow over Sen. Lott’s ability to be a credible party leader,” she said in 2002, according to an Inland Valley Daily Bulletin news story.
“I can tell you if a Democratic leader said such a thing, they would not be allowed to keep their position,” Sen. Mary Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat, said of Mr. Lott in 2002.
Sen. John Kerry also called on Mr. Lott to resign, saying “I simply do not believe the country can today afford to have someone who has made these statements again and again be the leader of the United States Senate,” according to a Boston Globe article.
Bottom line our elected representatives should be held to highest standard of conduct, not the lowest. Harry Reid has shown himself to be a racially insensitive idiot and he should step down… Period.
Video: Jack Cafferty Rips Obama on Failed Openness Pledge
Ouch:
Don’t worry Jack, we will!
Most open and ethical Congress in history… Heh!
Video: America Rising An Open Letter to Democrat Politicians
Dodd, Dorgan to Retire; Won’t Seek Re-election
The 2010 mid-term elections are still months, but things aren’t looking good Democrats. Two long serving high profile Senators, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota have announced that they won’t seek re-election:
Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and a Democratic Party stalwart in the Senate, is set to announce today that he will not seek re-election this year, according to a party strategist familiar with his plans.
Sen. Dodd’s decision was the latest in a string of big-name Democratic retirements revealed Tuesday as the party struggles to contend with a challenging political climate.
Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota said he, too, would retire after this year, unexpectedly saddling his fellow Democrats with a wide-open race that could be tough to win in a Republican-leaning state.
In addition to Dodd and Dorgan at least 5 other Senate Democrats are vulnerable, among them Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.
I wouldn’t breakout the Champagne yet, at least not in Connecticut… We may finally be free of Chris Dodd, but things just got a lot tougher for us, Chris Dodd was weakened and vulnerable and ultimately beatable. Now instead of facing a weakened Sen. Dodd we’re facing Attorney General Richard Blumenthal who has announced plans to run for Dodd’s seat. Say what you want to him, but there’s escaping the fact that he’s well known and well liked in this state… My guess is the Democrats will hang on to the seat.
Of course it won’t hurt to remind voters of Blumenthal’s remarks about Sen Dodd’s sweetheart mortgage deal:
Huh??? What??? Dodd was a victim??? It’s a rarity but I’m speechless!
Related
- Colorado’s Gov. Ritter Ends Bid for Re-Election – Wall Street Journal
- Massachusetts governor race another sign of Democratic weakness – Ed Lasky, American Thinker
- Culture of Corruption casualty: Chris Dodd bows out; CT AG Blumenthal to run – Michelle Malkin
- Dodd retiring – Ed Morrissry, Hot Air
- Will Blumenthal Be Sufficient Change for Connecticut? – Jim Geraghty
Bah Humbug: Senate Passes Health Care Reform Bill
The Senate this morning voted to pass Majority Leader Harry Reid’s Health Care Reform bill… A.K.A. the single biggest crap sandwich ever foisted on Americans. The was 60-39 entirely along party lines with all Democrats for it and Republicans voting against it:
In a vote resonating with history, Senate Democrats early Christmas Eve morning passed their version of health care reform, advancing the issue further than ever before in the nation’s history and setting up a bruising stretch-run to get a final bill to President Obama next year.
“It’s about people, it’s about life and death in America. It’s a question of morality, of right and wrong,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat. “It’s about human suffering, and given the change to relieve this suffering, we must take this chance.”
The party-line 60-39 vote is the midway point for the bill. It must now be reconciled with a very different House measure. Major sticking points remain, including how to treat federal payments for abortions, whether to force insurance companies to compete with a government-run public health plan and which taxes to raise to pay for the changes.
The good news is this turkey is still has hurdle or two to clear before becoming law, the bad news is I don’t think it matters… The Democrats have invested far to much time and political capital in jamming their so called reforms through Congress. If liberals in the House have to, they will roll over and vote for the Senate bill in toto. Never mind what the White House is saying Democrats in Congress can not let this, um, debate drag into February, or worse, March… The closer they get to election day the less likely passage becomes.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer will do whatever they have to do to get health care reform the House as quickly as possible… Even if that means bribing they’re caucus into voting for the Senate bill in toto.
Related
- What Doctors and Patients Have to Lose Under ObamaCare – Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Wall Street Journal
- A Democrat’s view from the House: Senate bill isn’t health reform – Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, CNN.com
- Surprise! Gaming CBO rules masks how healthcare reform may actually make deficit worse – James Pethokoukis, Reuters
- Senate passes Reid bill, 60-39 – Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
Tom Coburn: Senate Health Care Bill is Scarier Than You Think
I have no doubt that critics will claim Dr. Tom Coburn’s Wall Street Journal op-ed is nothing but scare tactics… But the simple truth is if quoting from the bill scares people maybe the bill itself isn’t such good idea:
My 25 years as a practicing physician have shown me what happens when government attempts to practice medicine: Doctors respond to government coercion instead of patient cues, and patients die prematurely. Even if the public option is eliminated from the bill, these onerous rationing provisions will remain intact.
For instance, the Reid bill (in sections 3403 and 2021) explicitly empowers Medicare to deny treatment based on cost. An Independent Medicare Advisory Board created by the bill—composed of permanent, unelected and, therefore, unaccountable members—will greatly expand the rationing practices that already occur in the program. Medicare, for example, has limited cancer patients’ access to Epogen, a costly but vital drug that stimulates red blood cell production. It has limited the use of virtual, and safer, colonoscopies due to cost concerns. And Medicare refuses medical claims at twice the rate of the largest private insurers.
Section 6301 of the Reid bill creates new comparative effectiveness research (CER) programs. CER panels have been used as rationing commissions in other countries such as the U.K., where 15,000 cancer patients die prematurely every year according to the National Cancer Intelligence Network. CER panels here could effectively dictate coverage options and ration care for plans that participate in the state insurance exchanges created by the bill.
Additionally, the Reid bill depends on the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in no fewer than 14 places. This task force was responsible for advising women under 50 to not undergo annual mammograms. The administration claims the task force recommendations do not carry the force of law, but the Reid bill itself contradicts them in section 2713. The bill explicitly states, on page 17, that health insurance plans “shall provide coverage for” services approved by the task force. This chilling provision represents the government stepping between doctors and patients. When the government asserts the power to provide care, it also asserts the power to deny care.
There’s much more in Dr. Coburn’s column, go read it all and share it with your family and friends.
I’m not sure what I can add, Dr. Coburn is right, most of us probably will be alright under the Reid bill, but some won’t… The practice of medicine is as much an art as it is a science; patients whose lives hang in the balance rely on the care of doctors who understand the art and science of medicine, and who are free to act in the best interests of their patients without government interference.
Related
- ObamaCare and the Liberal Obsession – Daniel Henninger, Wall Street Journal
- The mother of all unfunded mandates – Paul Mirengoff, Power Line
Wait, I thought it was Republicans Who Are Divided and Hate Moderates???
Funny how the Associated Press waits until after the election to let this story out:
Get on the health overhaul bandwagon, or don’t count on our help in your re-election.
That’s the hardball message liberal groups are hurling at moderate Democratic senators in a battle that is dividing their party. Their demands: Support a bill that offers optional government-run health coverage and oppose Republican attempts to derail the legislation.
The groups are unleashing blunt and personal broadcast ads and e-mails at moderates even as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., tries to shape a health care bill that can attract the 60 votes it needs to pass. Assuming no Republican support, Reid needs backing from all 58 Democrats and both Democratic-leaning independents – including about a half-dozen moderates who have drawn liberals’ ire.
It’s all taking place a year out from elections in which Republicans hope to trim the Democrats’ congressional majorities. The intraparty conflict especially threatens moderates facing tough re-election fights in 2010, like Sens. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Reid himself. It could mean less enthusiasm on the part of liberal and labor groups, which supply campaign workers, contributions and votes to Democratic candidates.
Heh, I thought it was the GOP that’s divided and hated moderates???
All I can say is go ahead, make my day… Are you kidding me? I’d love to see MoveOn.org, the SEIU, ACORN, and anyone else who wants join them mount far left primary challenges against moderate Democrats in swing states… or red better still in red states!
Let’s hope this turns into an all-out shooting war! I’ve got pop-corn.
Joe Lieberman: I’ll Block Vote on Harry Reid’s Health Care Reform Plan
From Politico:
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Tuesday that he’d back a GOP filibuster of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s health care reform bill.
Lieberman, who caucuses with Democrats and is positioning himself as a fiscal hawk on the issue, said he opposes any health care bill that includes a government-run insurance program — even if it includes a provision allowing states to opt out of the program, as Reid’s has said the Senate bill will.
“We’re trying to do too much at once,” Lieberman said. “To put this government-created insurance company on top of everything else is just asking for trouble for the taxpayers, for the premium payers and for the national debt. I don’t think we need it now.”
Lieberman added that he’d vote against a public option plan “even with an opt-out because it still creates a whole new government entitlement program for which taxpayers will be on the line.”
His comments confirmed that Reid is short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill out of the Senate, even after Reid included the opt-out provision. Several other moderate Democrats expressed skepticism at the proposal as well, but most of the wavering Democratic senators did not go as far as Lieberman Tuesday, saying they were waiting to see the details.
Kudos to Sen. Lieberman, I have a sneaking suspicion that the media’s new found, um, respect for independent-minded centrists like Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins won’t be extended to Joe Lieberman… Regardless, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s Health Care Reform Plan is in trouble. When you combine Sen. Lieberman’s announcement with Sen. Snowe’s comments saying she won’t vote for Reid’s opt-out public option either and you’re looking at 41 votes to kill it. Add in still uncommitted Blue Dog Democrats like Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and it’s not looking good the Majority Leader’s plan.
TPM has a short summary on this means procedurally… In short, there’s two cloture votes coming on Reid’s plan. One to open floor debate and consider amendments to it and a second to close debate and proceed to a vote on the bill itself. Sen. Lieberman’s comments indicate he’s willing to vote yes on the first but not on the second unless Sen. Reid agrees to drop the public option. And this where it’s gets interesting Sen. Reid’s reelection effort in trouble, if he kills the public option progressives abandon him and pretty much kill his reelection chances. If he sticks with the public option he’ll run into that 41 vote problem.
Update: It look’s like the Democrats are short of the votes needed for a robust Public Option in the House too:
The House Dem leadership has conducted its preliminary whip count and has tallied up less than 200 likely Yes votes in support of a health care reform bill with a robust public option, well short of the 218 needed for passage, according to an internal whip count document I’ve obtained.
The document — compiled by the office of House leader James Clyburn — was distributed privately at a meeting between Clyburn and House progressives today where the fate of the public option was the subject of some contentious debate, with liberals demanding that House leaders push harder to win over votes.
Clyburn spokesperson Kristie Greco would only say: “We currently do not have the votes for a robust public option.”
I’m not sure what to make of this, Ace thinks the Democrat Leadership knows the Public Option is dead and that this is just some sort of elaborate political theater to pacify their base. I’m not so sure it’s as simple as that, their leadership knows this may be their last, best chance to get a government run health care plan through Congress and they’re willing to pay any price… including losing the next election to get it done.
Related
- Republicans question health care improvements – Associated Press
- House health care bill over $1 trillion for decade – Associated Press
- FACT CHECK: Health insurers’ profits 35th of 53 – Associated Press
Harry Reid ‘Likely’ to Make Entire Health Bill an Amendment to Unrelated Tax Bill That House Passed in March
CNSNews.com is reporting that Senate Majority Leader Harry is ‘likely’ to use a tax bill passed by the House in March as shell for enacting the Senate health care bill:
A senior aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told CNSNews.com that it is “likely” that Reid will use H.R. 1586—a bill passed by the House in March to impose a 90-percent tax on bonuses paid to employees of certain bailed-out financial institutions—as a “shell” for enacting the final version of the Senate’s health care bill, which Reid is responsible for crafting.
Under the procedure, the substance of House Resolution 1586 would be removed and replaced with the entire Senate health care package. The maneuver would initially require the support of 60 senators to vote for cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 1586 (i.e., end debate on the congressional procedure and move forward).
If Reid wins 60 votes, then debate begins on his health care package. Reid could then decide to block all amendments and attempt to get a vote on the entire package.
However, a senator could filibuster the final vote, requiring another 60-vote majority to move forward. But if Reid decides to allow any amendments, each amendment could be filibustered, requiring a 60-vote majority to move to a final vote on each of them. An amendment that has the support of more than 50 but less than 60 senators could end up stopping the bill if neither side backs down. But if Reid is able to structure the debate so that all 60 senators who caucus with the Democrats stick with the party on cloture votes, he can pass the bill and send it to back to the House–where it originated as an entirely different bill in substance.
This isn’t the only trick Harry Reid has up his sleeve the Washington Examiner is report that Sen. Reid is considering a using tactics that would allow Democrats to slip the public option back into the Senate health care reform bill:
Senate Democrats desperate to find a way to pass a health care bill that includes a federal insurance plan may have come up with a way to do it without putting moderate members who oppose it in political jeopardy.
Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is weighing a plan to bring the final health care bill to the floor without a public option — making it much easier to get the 60 votes needed to prevent a Republican filibuster — and then adding the provision later as an amendment.
The public option amendment would be there waiting, but the 60-vote test would technically be on a bill without the government plan. Then moderate Democrats could drop out for the vote on the public option, which requires just 51 votes for passage.
“It’s brilliant,” said a top Senate Republican aide. “It gets you your votes on cloture for a package that does not include a public option.”
Reid has not revealed whether he will use this tactic, but he’s considering it.
“We haven’t made any decisions yet,” his spokesman, Jim Manley, said. “We have different options — that is one.”
I have to hand it to Harry Reid, even though he’s up for re-election next year and trailing all of his likely Republican challengers in the polls not giving on efforts to get the most radical agenda through the Senate.
Anyway, before any of this can happen the non-public option bill has to pass a filibuster. I’m not sure Democrats have the votes right now to cut off debate… Especially with this trick getting public attention. Even if the bill does pass the Senate I’m not sure it’ll through the House.
In short the House would then have to approve the Senate bill outright rather then pass their own… All the Republicans would line up against it and House Democrats aren’t wild about some of the tax provisions of the Senate Finance Committee bill… 154 of them have sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her “to reject proposals to enact an excise tax on high-cost insurance plans that could be potentially passed on to middle-class families.”
Bottom line, the next few weeks are going to be very interesting… I doubt Sen. Reid’s underhanded tactics will work but it shows how desperate Democrats are to placate the “progressive” wing of of their party.
Related
WSJ: Democrats Try Tougher Tone on Health Plan
This isn’t really news to political junkies like me but it is a page A3 above the fold story in today’s Wall Street Journal:
A top White House adviser said Tuesday he doubts two Senate Republicans at the center of health-care talks are negotiating seriously, as Democrats adopted a new, more confrontational tone accusing key Republicans of blocking change.
Senior adviser David Axelrod, responding to recent broadsides against Democratic health plans by Republican Sens. Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, said Democrats would reach out to other Republicans to finish a deal this year. He added that President Barack Obama is considering laying out a more detailed vision of what he wants in a health-overhaul plan.
Democrats are shaping a strategy in response to the public pounding they took over the summer from some voters angry about proposed health-care changes. They are also responding to the troubles of the Senate Finance Committee, the only panel in Congress seeking a bipartisan bill.
Lets not bullshit each other Democrats aren’t interested in a bipartisan bill… if they were they would have incorporated at least a few ideas from any of the three (3) alternative health care reform proposals offered by Republicans into the bills current before Congress. The simple truth is Democrats are trying blame Republicans to cover their own leadership failures. Democrats have filibuster proof 60 majority in the Senate and 256 to 178 seat Majority in the House of Representatives… They have the vote to pass health care reform without a single Republican vote. The fact that they can’t get it done has more to do with the unwillingness of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to work with moderates within their own caucus than Republican objections.
Bottom line, regardless of what David Axelrod claims, Republican don’t have the votes to stop health care reform, it’s the failure of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to rally their own troops that is derailing the presidents agenda.
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