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Sherman Frederick
Enough is enough, Harry
Updated: Sep. 1, 2009 | 12:14 p.m.
This newspaper traces its roots to before Las Vegas was Las Vegas.
We've seen cattle ranches give way to railroads. We chronicled the construction of Hoover Dam. We reported on the first day of legalized gambling. The first hospital. The first school. The first church. We survived the mob, Howard Hughes, the Great Depression, several recessions, two world wars, dozens of news competitors and any number of two-bit politicians who couldn't stand scrutiny, much less criticism.
We're still here doing what we do for the people of Las Vegas and Nevada. So, let me assure you, if we weathered all of that, we can damn sure outlast the bully threats of Sen. Harry Reid.
On Wednesday, before he addressed a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Reid joined the chamber's board members for a meet-'n'-greet and a photo. One of the last in line was the Review-Journal's director of advertising, Bob Brown, a hard-working Nevadan who toils every day on behalf of advertisers. He has nothing to do with news coverage or the opinion pages of the Review-Journal.
Yet, as Bob shook hands with our senior U.S. senator in what should have been nothing but a gracious business setting, Reid said: "I hope you go out of business."
Later, in his public speech, Reid said he wanted to let everyone know that he wants the Review-Journal to continue selling advertising because the Las Vegas Sun is delivered inside the Review-Journal.
Such behavior cannot go unchallenged.
You could call Reid's remark ugly and be right. It certainly was boorish. Asinine? That goes without saying.
But to fully capture the magnitude of Reid's remark (and to stop him from doing the same thing to others) it must be called what it was -- a full-on threat perpetrated by a bully who has forgotten that he was elected to office to protect Nevadans, not sound like he's shaking them down.
No citizen should expect this kind of behavior from a U.S. senator. It is certainly not becoming of a man who is the majority leader in the U.S. Senate. And it absolutely is not what anyone would expect from a man who now asks Nevadans to send him back to the Senate for a fifth term.
If he thinks he can push the state's largest newspaper around by exacting some kind of economic punishment in retaliation for not seeing eye to eye with him on matters of politics, I can only imagine how he pressures businesses and individuals who don't have the wherewithal of the Review-Journal.
For the sake of all who live and work in Nevada, we can't let this bully behavior pass without calling out Sen. Reid. If he'll try it with the Review-Journal, you can bet that he's tried it with others. So today, we serve notice on Sen. Reid that this creepy tactic will not be tolerated.
We won't allow you to bully us. And if you try it with anyone else, count on going through us first.
That's a promise, not a threat.
And it's a promise to our readers, not to you, Sen. Reid.
Sherman Frederick (sfrederick@reviewjournal.com) is publisher of the Review-Journal and president of Stephens Media.
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Diogenes of Sinope wrote on November 03, 2010 03:11 PM:
It looks like Senator Reid went through you, Sherm.
Debbie wrote on May 01, 2010 05:21 PM: Michael and robin....clearly work for Harry Reid! You still think Amercans are stupid...too bad money and power through your mentor is your selfish motive. You pathetic and Stupid imbiciles!! robin wrote on April 18, 2010 08:15 PM: Don't believe the hype! Check facts people! Palin Mangles Obama’s Quotes To Paint Him As America-Hater We should probably resign ourselves to the fact that every utterance Sarah Palin makes is widely going to be treated as news until she declares she isn’t running for president. And quite possibly beyond. So all we can do is try to fact-check what she says and hope others do the same. The latest: In a new Facebook missive, Palin butchered Obama’s quotes at the nuke summit in a strikingly dishonest (even for her) way, tearing them out of context to suggest he’s uncomfortable wielding American power and is hostile towards American exceptionalism: Mr. President, is a strong America a problem? Asked this week about his faltering efforts to advance the Middle East peace process, President Obama did something remarkable. In front of some 47 foreign leaders and hundreds of reporters from all over the world, President Obama said that “whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower.” Whether we like it or not? Most Americans do like it. Here’s what the President actually said: But what we can make sure of is, is that we are constantly present, constantly engaged, and setting out very clearly to both sides our belief that not only is it in the interests of each party to resolve these conflicts but it’s also in the interest of the United States. It is a vital national security interest of the United States to reduce these conflicts because whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower, and when conflicts break out, one way or another we get pulled into them. And that ends up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure. Michael.York wrote on April 12, 2010 12:00 PM: The LVRJ has attacked Senator Reid for as long as I can recall. This idiot publisher is outraged by an off-handed humorous wisecrack made by Senator Reid to a newspaper employee. Rather thin skinned, are we Sherman? I am surprised that a devout Christian such as Sherman Frederick did not write an article condemning the Republican Senator from this state for his adulterous affair with his wife's best friend and his subsequent cover-up via payoffs and coerced employment for his lover's spouse. Where was your moral outrage, Sherman? Your politics trumps your morality and religion? Christian morals seem to be flexible with Mr. Frederick Dan wrote on April 11, 2010 08:14 AM: Everyone who thinks Obummer is doing a great job for America should vote for Harry Reid. GOBAMA wrote on March 28, 2010 08:53 PM: GO HARRY! Thank You HARRY! Just Elect me wrote on January 31, 2010 02:41 PM: President Barack Obama plans to zero out funding for Yucca Mountain and "take steps" to withdraw the project's pending license application, On Friday, the administration took a critical step toward assuring the nuclear industry it was seeking a viable Plan B by establishing a commission headed by Lee Hamilton and Brent Scowcroft to study alternatives. This is necessary to allow Obama to show up this month to support Harry Reid’s 2010 re-elect. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "take steps" hum "take steps" hum "take steps" TO VIOLATE the LAW. To VIOLATE the NWPA. Would that be another Commission like the “Close Gitmo Now” Commission? The only outcome will be the Nuclear Industry sues and take over the project or the court orders DOE to complete it. The States holding FAAs will also sue. While Reid may use this to win in 2010 this will not go away any more then the Terrorist will Eric Holder better hire a lot of Lawyers to defend DOE from the NWPA Breach of Contract for Failure to Performance lawsuits! When the Federal Courts have to decide that Obama and Reid refused to allow the Yucca License Application to be adjudicated to establish to merit of the Sound Science they will not be laughing any more – since the only reason provided in court will be it is pulled is to support Harry’s re-election. The Commission cannot produce a viable Plan B because the Commission’s Charter will not result in a new LOCATION or DESIGN based on sound science, it will not result in a new License Application which would met NRC Regulations, and it would not result in a new NWPA. Leslie Sallek wrote on December 16, 2009 12:45 PM: This mornings paper noted the two senators from Nevada voted no on letting lower cost medications be available to US citizens. When Reid started bombarding us with his commercials they were paid for by the pharmaceutical industry. They quickly changed names. Another ad about Ensign said follow the money. We know who pays these guys. Reid runs his ads during the evening newscasts which contridict everything he says. Not too bright, is it? Reid exempted congress and staffers from the health care bill that he wants to force on all Americans. Since we have a senatorial election coming up next year why can't a recall Ensign be added to the ballot. Would not cost that much more. Then we could get rid of both of our so-called representatives. Connie Armstrong wrote on December 10, 2009 06:18 AM: Mr. Frederick-you said it like it is-thank you!!! Harry Reid and his group of Bullies aim to take our country down!!! God help us all!!! God help the future generations of what use to be a great nation!! I am afraid the silent majority has been bullied into remaining silent way too long (polical correctness)...how sad except for the fact I do believe the silent majority has awakened and we will not retreat...the bullies of Washington, DC must go!!! They need to remember they only got to Washington because of votes - I do believe we still have that right - to vote or will that be taken from us also?? I guess if you vote Democrat that will be ok?? Thanks Mr. Frederick we need more folks like you who are not afraid to speak up to the bullies!!! Deanne Grace wrote on December 10, 2009 03:12 AM: Thank you! Read More Comments |
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