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Opinion
Aug. 29, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: You say Ne-vah-dah ...

Teachers union tries to help Harry Reid -- oops!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's poll numbers are in the tank, which imperils not only his political career, but the ultra-progressive agenda the Democratic Party is trying to ram down Americans' throats.

Sensing that Sen. Reid could use a helping hand, the National Education Association has been airing one-minute radio ads locally, urging voters to support their senior senator and his party's budget-busting, government-growing health care reforms.

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    • Such intervention is to be expected -- Sen. Reid needs the support of the government class to keep his job when he seeks re-election next year.

    "Nevadans have a leader in Washington standing up for our working families," the radio spot begins. "Senator Harry Reid is rising above the partisan political noise in Washington, working with Democrats and Republicans toward a bipartisan solution to America's health care crisis."

    Which is completely accurate -- if the NEA considers name-calling, intimidation and attempts to limit transparency and debate "rising above the partisan political noise" and "working with Democrats and Republicans."

    Setting aside the fact that the NEA's entire self-serving premise has more spin than an industrial clothes washer, what really makes the spots stand out is the way the narrator -- a genuine Nevada teacher, we're assured -- says "Nevada." Or, more accurately, Ne-vah-dah.

    Yes, the entire spot butchers -- over and over -- the pronunciation of the name "Nevada." One call to a Nevada teacher union affiliate before the release of the ads could have avoided the embarrassment. Instead, the national office bought airtime for spots that made Nuh-vaa-dans -- even fairly recent transplants -- roll their eyes.

    Just the kind of help needed by Sen. Reid as he struggles to insist he hasn't "gone Washington," that he's still a son of the West.

    Upon being informed of its mistake earlier this week, the union immediately sent out a revised spot correcting the pronunciation.

    Maybe now the NEA can concentrate on getting its facts straight, too.

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    Outoftowner wrote on August 31, 2009 03:39 PM: Wow! Where do I get in line to get some of that taxpayer paid handout? Ain't America great!


    Humbucker wrote on August 29, 2009 09:51 PM: I called the NV state tourism on this years ago, when they came out with their condescending TV campaign with the short vowel sign over the first a.

    Like it or not, Nevada is an Hispanic word meaning "snow-covered." And there is no short "a" sound in the Hispanic language.

    Locals might wish to defiantly Americanize it, but Nev-ahhh-duh is the proper pronunciation. Or perhaps we should just shorten it to "duh."


    Idaho Spud wrote on August 29, 2009 09:14 PM: Hopefully Nevadans will realize that Reid represents no one but himself and the voters of Nevada are just useful tools to accomplish his derelict agendas.

    Dumbing down America NEA is the only communist front organization that would dare to say Reid is working for you.


    MissButterfly wrote on August 29, 2009 08:29 PM: What's wrong with Nev ah duh? I thought that's how you pronounced it.


    NDanielson wrote on August 29, 2009 08:11 PM: rg wrote on August 29, 2009 12:20 PM: Several thoughts here. To those Harry Reid haters - listen up: He and all the democrats were voted into office by a duly certified election. They (democrats) represent the will of the majority of the American people. In the USA, the majority rules regardless of what the polls are saying. ................you mean duly elected like GW Bush, who got how much respect from h reid?


    NDanielson wrote on August 29, 2009 08:09 PM: hey harry, read my first post, and believe in your heart how much i think you suck. feel it, harry. too bad kennedy didn't take you for a drive...


    Fair and Balanced Fred wrote on August 29, 2009 08:08 PM: If we look at the dictionary pronunciations of "Nevada" we see that it is properly pronounced both ways.

    Ne·vada (nə vad′ə, -väd′ə)

    http://www.yourdictionary.com/Nevada#

    http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/Nevada

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Nevada?r=66

    http://dictionary.infoplease.com/nevada

    The cons can't lead so they consistently mislead, and they surely don't consult dictionaries.


    NDanielson wrote on August 29, 2009 08:06 PM:
    John F wrote on August 29, 2009 06:45 PM: What a ridiculous editorial. Can't you guys show a little more imagination?

    Bashing Harry Reid because some third party doesn't pronounce the name of our state the way you prefer?

    For cryin' out loud. .................
    yeah stick to the facts and call him the shady land deal this war is lost seditious pelosi a$$ kisser that he is instead. 'that better, John f?


    A local yokel wrote on August 29, 2009 07:39 PM: It cracks me out that the RJ continues to ignore the fact that AMERICANS VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS in November. We knew what we were getting. Just cuz you don't like the result, don't distort the facts.


    John F wrote on August 29, 2009 06:45 PM: What a ridiculous editorial. Can't you guys show a little more imagination?

    Bashing Harry Reid because some third party doesn't pronounce the name of our state the way you prefer?

    For cryin' out loud.


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