Comments (474) | Add a comment
Clinton urges voters to embrace Reid
-
K.M. CANNON/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Former President Bill Clinton, left, hugs U.S. Sen. Harry Reid during a rally at Valley High School Tuesday. Clinton is crossing the country to campaign for Democratic candidates such as Reid, who is locked in a tight race with Republican challenger Sharron Angle. » Buy this photo
Tools
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Oct. 13, 2010 | 7:23 a.m.
Joking that he was "preaching to the saved," former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday night urged a largely Democratic crowd to help return U.S. Sen. Harry Reid to Washington.
At a rally inside Valley High School's gym, Clinton said that "in a normal time" Reid would be winning his re-election bid by 25 points and his GOP challenger Sharron Angle wouldn't be a electoral threat to the incumbent.
But these are not normal times, Clinton acknowledged, addressing up to 1,600 people as Reid sat on a stage at his side after telling his backers the economy is his No. 1 concern, too.
"You and I know the only reason this is a tough race is because people are having a tough time," Clinton said. "When people are mad, it's time to think."
Clinton blamed Reid's unpopularity and the close race on negative ads that blame the four-term senator for Nevada's record high unemployment rate, flood of home foreclosures and other economic troubles. And he especially criticized the TV commercials paid for by GOP-leaning groups that don't disclose the source of their donations.
"If you knew who's giving the money, you would know that the ads weren't true," Clinton said, without citing any specific political action committee.
Clinton also criticized Angle on several fronts. He slammed her for saying it's not her job as a U.S. senator to create jobs, whereas he said Reid makes that his top priority. Angle has instead said private enterprise is responsible for job creation and government must cut taxes and regulations to help them.
The former president, who has been crossing the country to campaign for endangered Democrats such as Reid, also slammed Angle for opposing mandated insurance coverage.
"This is a woman who doesn't want women to have mammograms, who thinks autism is some sort of a flaky made-up deal," Clinton said.
Actually, Angle voted for mandating insurance coverage for mammograms when she was a Reno assemblywoman. But in general she opposes mandates because she says they increase the cost of insurance for everybody.
The crowd, which got invitations through the Democratic Party and from other Reid-friendly groups, stood and applauded when the senator and later Clinton took the stage.
Holding Reid signs, people applauded warmly several times when Clinton or Reid made a point -- and booed whenever Angle's name was mentioned. But people began to politely stream out of the gym as Clinton went on about the economy and the hour-long event was wrapping up just after 10 p.m.
"I assume you all are going to vote," Clinton said, knowing Democratic turnout must be high for Reid to win. "You've got to vote for Harry Reid."
Clinton's visit was the third time he has traveled to Las Vegas to fire up Democrats, who are expected to lose Senate seats and possibly control of the House come November.
Clinton most recently campaigned for Reid's son Rory, who is running far behind Republican Brian Sandoval in the gubernatorial race. The Reids have not campaigned together, both fearing they'll hurt one another's chances of election.
Clinton's visit comes more than a week before President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Las Vegas on a rescue mission to save Reid's re-election chances and to raise money for the Democrats.
The president's Oct. 22 Las Vegas stop will be part of a five-state swing through the West, including stops in California, Washington and Oregon.
In Las Vegas, Obama plans to attend a rally sponsored by the Democratic National Committee and a fundraiser for Reid in coordination with the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.
The Obama rally will be a public event, aimed at boosting voter turnout and shoring up support for Reid and Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., locked in tight race with GOP challenger Joe Heck.
No details have been released by the Democrats about the location or time of the rally.
A White House official said chances are that Obama will stay overnight in Las Vegas before hitting the road again the day after the Friday rally.
Obama was last in Las Vegas in July .
The Republicans dismissed Clinton's visit as a useless attempt to save Reid from defeat.
"Other than a nice photo-op, it won't change the fact that Senator Reid's failed policies have made Nevada the leader in unemployment and the foreclosure capital of the country," said Jahan Wilcox, spokesman for the Nevada Republican Party. "With the election a mere three weeks away, voters are anxiously awaiting their opportunity to replace Harry Reid with Sharron Angle."
Stephens Washington Bureau reporter Peter Urban contributed to this story. Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.
Trending topics:
Comments
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The Review-Journal does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please use the Report Abuse button.
Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 24 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.











RSS

Ok Mr. Editor, I read the paper on line and have been looking at this story since October 13th. Give It a Rest!!
BTW: that campaign slogan about its not your money is really nonsensical. The money and opportunity and freedoms we are fortunate to have by living in this great country is not just from our own efforts but the result of the efforts and sacrifices of countless millions now and throughout our history. Investments in our military, our infrastructure, our schools and all the rest are what has helped enable the people of this nation to achieve all that we have. To say that money is simply ours without any responsibility to make this a better, stronger nation is the kind of simple minded thinking that is driving us to ruin. Thanks to this attitude people and the big business that is backing the repubs don't care what happens to the nation or where they send jobs so long as the can make more profit for themselves.
So go ahead, repubs, do the bidding of the soulless corporations; standup with Angel to protect the oil companies, wall street and insurance companies.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The Constitution of The United States
Of course in the repubs delusional world of Sharon Angle its her money and every person is for themselves. I'm sure that attitude would have worked great to win WW2. Which reminds me, we are in two wars and an economic meltdown thanks to repubs policies and what does she want to do, give tax cuts to the richest people. Boy, isn't that patriotic.
Regarding the Debate:
More canned talking points from the repubnuts. Angel didn't put 2 sentences together in a coherent fashion. Instead of actually answering questions all she was able to do is regurgitated meaningless talking points and slogans.
Democrats have already given tax cuts to the middle class. They tried to extend the Bush middle class tax cuts but Repubs wanted tax cuts for the wealthy. In other words she wants the exact same policies that created the economic meltdown and sent millions of jobs to china. Great idea it failed once so do it again.
And just like the hypocrite she is she has government healthcare but is against healthcare for others. This woman is such a loser it really is pathetic that any repubnut would vote for her.
The notion that "business" is waiting for a 4 percent tax cut is about as nonsensical an idea as Angles notions that rape victims should be forced to have the baby or the VA should be privatized.
Yes clear lines were drawn between simple minded slogans and incoherent ideas that will take us back to the dark ages on one side and a Man who had the courage to do what was needed to save the country from a republican caused meltdown.
Angel was such a looser. Pathetic would be putting it kindly.
Lester, if you actually listened to the answer you would have heard the facts: He was a successful attorney BEFORE he was elected to office. In addition, as a high level elected and gov. official its not like they don't get paid a fair amount of money that gets saved and invested over the years.
Here's a story about him:
"Reid then served as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1977 to 1981, a post that subjected him to death threats. Jack Gordon also tried to bribe Reid. Reid arranged for the FBI to tape Gordon's attempt to bribe him with $12,000. After FBI agents interrupted the transaction as prearranged, Reid seemingly lost his temper and made as if to choke Gordon, saying "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!" – and was pulled off by the agents. Gordon was convicted in United States district court in 1979 and sentenced to six months in prison.[4] In 1981, Reid's wife found a bomb attached to one of their cars, a bomb Reid suspects was placed by Gordon."
btw: here is a little ditty on your hero Sharon Angel: In 1998, Angle won election to the State Assembly,[3] and served in the Assembly until 2005. During her time in the 42-member assembly, she voted "no" so frequently on matters of wide consensus that votes were often called as "41-to-Angle
A half truth is the same as a lie. In this case ALVINJH edited out a kep part of the article. Here's what it says:
"Kreidler [the Washington Insurance Commissioner]says the letter makes it appear that healthcare reform is to blame, when in truth Regence has made a huge policy change that makes premiums for children much more expensive.
"It has absolutely nothing to do with health care reform. It has a great deal to do with how Regence is rescheduling its business and it would have happened with or without heath care reform," said Kreidler."
Read the full article here:
http://www.nwcn.com/news/States-largest-insurer-warns-of-rising-rates-104821569.html
This is exactly the kind lies, distortions, half truths we have gotten from the big busines/insurance company rightwing mob and the likes of Sharron Angle. When you don't like the truth you just make it up to suite your dillusions
Health-care Rates to Triple: And now--it's mandatory?
Regence Blue Shield customers notified of skyrocketing rates
by CHRIS INGALLS / KING 5 News
NWCN.com
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 5:23 PM
Ralph Nilssen's five beautiful kids are about to get more expensive. Regence Blue Shield sent him a letter saying rates are going up - way up.
Regence put the blame - at least in part - on the new and controversial health care law.
"Obama care went into effect and my rates went through the roof," said Nilssen.
In the letter, Regence told Nilssen his $532 monthly premium could nearly triple next year. (that would $1600/month?)
"I just sat back and said you've got to be kidding me," he said.
"If they're angry and confused - it's easy to understand," said Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who has fielded more than 100 angry calls since Regence mailed its letter two weeks ago.
http://www.nwcn.com/news/States-largest-insurer-warns-of-rising-rates-104821569.html
VOTE THEM OUT
Say....How DID he become so wealthy ? Z.B. would you like to field that sir ?
.....in that case you would be embracing your own kind.
LOL..just got back from watching the debate...
The Church Lady b*tch*d slapped old Harry with a smelly mackerel!
Did you see the look on Harry's face when she hit him with that"where did a public servant like you get all that money Senator?
I thought he was going to have a stroke right there!
In two days time the entire world will be able to access Harry's net worth as a "practicing attorney" going into office--24 years ago--after serving on the Nevada Gaming Commission----and his net worth now.
He must have the same investment adviser Hillory had! LOL
Way to go Church Lady. You are our next Senator!
Harry's TOAST! Ahh Harry.
November is coming...early voting start Saturday.. just 2 days to go.
..but that's just me.