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Reid calls GOP filibuster 'anti-American'
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CHARLES DHARAPAK/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, right, accompanied by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., speaks Wednesday in Washington about financial reform.
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STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans on Wednesday finally agreed to debate a Wall Street reform bill, but not before a frustrated Majority Leader Harry Reid charged that an ongoing GOP filibuster was "anti-American."
After a holdup of more than two days, Reid, D-Nev., protested that GOP senators "keep stalling, keep stalling," and they wanted to "nitpick" at the bill even before it was brought up for debate and amendment.
"All the talk of the Republicans about wanting to do something about this bill before it gets on the floor is really anti-Senate and anti-American," Reid said at a press conference.
Reid spokesman Jim Manley said it "was probably a poor choice of words" to say that Republicans were anti-American.
But Manley said the "American people elected them to legislate -- not to filibuster everything and prevent us from doing our job."
The Republicans abandoned their blockade several hours later.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 702-783-1760.
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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is down in the polls and fighting for re-election, so he's lucky to have a wealthy, new benefactor in his corner. The unions? The greens? Try the drug industry.
A new TV ad is up in Mr. Reid's home state praising the Democrat for creating "good Nevada jobs," expanding "clean energy" and providing "tax credits for small business." Moreover, "thanks to Harry Reid's leadership, if you change or lose your job, you can keep your health care coverage." The ad encourages viewers to call Mr. Reid's office, where no doubt they will be routed to his donation line. All this is courtesy of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, in league with the liberal health-advocacy group Families USA.
If it seems odd that drug makers are working to re-elect the Senator who passed legislation to rule the health-care industry, welcome to post-ObamaCare politics. Big Pharma and health insurance companies are betting on short-term rent-seeking from legislation that subsidizes Americans to use more of their products—so the ad is partly a thank you to Democrats for new customers. But it's also political protection. With their business model in the hands of government, the drug makers have to make sure the government doesn't squeeze them in the bottom line.
The new ad follows news that America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance trade group, has also teamed up with Families USA to promote ObamaCare. Thus do sweeping government programs produce their own special-interest advocates. Lost in this palm-greasing are the customers who ultimately will pay for ObamaCare in higher prices and politically rationed medical care. Another reminder, if one more were needed, that powerful government serves the powerful
Since when has the filibuster become anti-American? It's been used for over 200 years by all the past and present political parties. Reid is just perterbed that his favorite socialist programs are getting rejected.
I voted for Senator Reid several times in the past. I will be voting for his retirement in Nov.
Our "Second most powerful man in Washington" (when Nancy and Hillary give him permission) is SO concerned with being Senate Majority Leader, he's forgotten to be the Senior Senator FROM NEVADA.
I'd sooner vote for an any candidate other than a Reid.
The level of exagerration in these comments always kills me! :b
@ un Patriotic
"As an ex-marine, that worked in the budget department, I know for a fact the military takes more than 60% of the Gross Domestic Product."
Uh, really? What budget department was that? What did you do there? It wasn't accounting.
Gross Domestic Product is:
The total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country in a given year, equal to total consumer, investment and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports.
Projected US GDP for 2010: 14.9 TRILLION
Projected US 2010 Military Budget 663 billion.
I'm no world-class mathematical genius, but that's not 60%.
Please, Stop bragging on yourself and making Marines look foolish!
Has Reid BROKEN his Oath?
Our military, law enforcement, and ELECTED OFFICIALS need to HONOR THEIR OATH TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION!!!
oathkeepers.org
Hey Harry, it doesn't matter how many millions of dollars you send on ads, the people of the great state of Nevada are tired of your empty promises, shady backdoor deals, your arrogance, and the stupid comments that come out of your mouth. You will lose the election in November. Next time I'm quail hunting near Searchlight I'll drive by your home and give you a bird.
Hey Harry Reid,
You put your foot in your mouth again. The great people of the state of Nevada will vote you out of office in November. Next time I'm quail hunting near Searchlight, I'll drive by your house and give you a bird.
Thank you Harry!!!!
I'm getting Medicare cuts and my Social Security is getting hit again.
Thanks for standing up for we Seniors like you've been promising for so long.
You stuck up for us allright--You let the head Clown cut our benefits.
The cuts will go to the new healthcare to help out illegals that are bankrupting our hospitals and emergency rooms not forgetting other social services and schools. All these years of working and paying into the system only to get the shaft.
I for one get less than $400 a month and if I hadn't put some away I'd be on Medicaid. It pays for utilities which the clown says are going to go up because of cap and trade. Over $2000 a year according to the D.C. experts.
Thanks to you directly Harry.
JERK!