Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Saturday said the Senate shouldn't "focus on a man who has been retired for many years and writes a column once in a while."
This comment was directed at Washington Post columnist David Broder whose article to be published Sunday and already available online was harshly criticial of the healthcare bills in both chambers of Congress.
Given Broder's well-known stance as a left-leaning writer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) referred to the piece in his opening remarks to Saturday's healthcare legislation debate noting that the Post's "distinguished senior columnist, certainly not a political conservative, expresses his reservation as a citizen about the steps that we could be about to take."
This led Reid to make his disparaging remark moments later (video embedded below the fold, relevant sections at 1:00 and 8:45):
What a difference a year makes, for according to The Hill, "In 2004, Reid praised Broder as 'a long-time syndicated columnist who is nonpartisan and fair' and last year, he called him a 'moderate columnist.'"
Here's some snippets from Broder's piece that may have changed Reid's mind about the Post columnist:
The day after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) gave its qualified blessing to the version of health reform produced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Quinnipiac University poll of a national cross section of voters reported its latest results. [...]
Nine of 10 Republicans and eight of 10 independents said that whatever passes will add to the torrent of red ink. By a margin of four to three, even Democrats agreed this is likely.
That fear contributed directly to the fact that, by a 16-point margin, the majority in this poll said they oppose the legislation moving through Congress. [...]
While the CBO said that both the House-passed bill and the one Reid has drafted meet Obama's test by being budget-neutral, every expert I have talked to says that the public has it right. These bills, as they stand, are budget-busters.
Yeah, we wouldn't want the Senate focusing on such inconvenient truths now, would we?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Oh the Fearless Leader is
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 17:26 ET by bigtimerOh the Fearless Leader is bristling once again, whining and complaining...lying through is teeth as always, even when if comes from a leftist critique....
In fact Kyl and others are talking about Broder now and his article.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Gee should we rely on reid,,,whose brain is retired?
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 11:13 ET by Patriot IIReid made the blatantly stupid remark that tax is voluntary...you don't have to pay tax......yep, thats the kind of idiot we want writing bills that affect us, our kids, our grandkids and future generations in his idiotic health bill....this moron ever tried not paying his taxes? ask wesley snipes about the taxes be "voluntary" Reid is a full fledged idiot...and I am not sure about nevada voters who keep this moron in office!!!
Broder: I'm not so sure
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 17:43 ET by BKeyserBroder: I'm not so sure about this. Looks like both of these bills will cost money as opposed to save money. This is what concerns most Americans.
Reid: Grrrrrrrrr bark bark bark grrrrrrrrrrrrr bark bark growl!!!
MSM: Harry Reid, argues with Conservative Columnist Broder from a postion of strength, and the facts bear him out. Good job Harry, good bye Broder.
Harry, Chief Sell Out
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 17:40 ET by sawing battaDemocrats have sold their souls...they have no shame.
-Dr. Faustus.
Harry has the last laugh
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 17:53 ET by DelsaThis is Harry's last hoo ra but he isn't crying. He is rich for his fraudulent land deasl and more.
Retierment will not hurt one bit.
In addition, his riches will elevate him above the socialist health care plan he is happily ushering in.
Harry has the last laugh.
Delsa... So right you
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 18:08 ET by bigtimerDelsa...
So right you are.
...and he's going to be before the cameras on all the networks in about two and half hours or so....with glee.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
I won't be watching. It's
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 18:56 ET by motherbeltI won't be watching. It's bad enough we have to live with this POS legislation. I refuse to watch this other well, you know....preening over the success. There's not enough Rolaids and Prilosec in the state to cure the agita I would end up with!
I could go the rest of my life without ever hearing another word from this blowhard sourpuss. He's worse than Tom Daschle! 2010 can't come soon enough to get rid of him. If the people of Nevada don't dump him, they have grapes for brains.
His facia bruta always reminds me of THIS
(You know I'm really pi**ed off when the Italian starts spurting out)
And Delsa, you may be right, but at least we won't have to look at or listen to him! I can live with it!
Lol...oh yeah mb, I can
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:00 ET by bigtimerLol...oh yeah mb, I can tell your mad just saying POS...hehee,and I'm with you, nothing will make me happier than seeing him go down in flames in his reelection.
Anyway, you're link isn't working for me, I'll try again in a minute or two thoough...just curious.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Yeah, I kind of felt bad
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:09 ET by motherbeltYeah, I kind of felt bad about that, but I can't go change it now...I could have said worse in Italian, but I don't know how to spell it!!
LOL
I'm willing to bet his
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 18:45 ET by Dan DiegoI'm willing to bet his retirement health care benefits will be protected from this reform.
These democrats, aroused by
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 18:15 ET by SlyrrThese democrats, aroused by the prospect of fascist style power, have their porno-magazine health care bill in their grasp and they can't wait to run into the bathroom with it. Anyone who gets in their way, even one of their own, they must destroy. These people are corrupt, rotten to the core, and they seem to be hell bent on stampeding the country to another civil war.
I'm sure they think in their perverted minds that once they see how 'great' their running things is, we'll all repent and become good little democrat party slaves.
They just don't get it - people hate tyrants, and they hate being ruled by tyrants. After one year, Obama and the demorats have turned the entire country topsy-turvy for the sake of their own lust for power. Govt. run banks, govt. run mortgage industry, govt. run car companies, govt. waffling on the war on terror, govt. control here, there, and everywhere. And has it worked? Is the budget in balance NOW? Is unemployment low, and everyone who wants a job has one?
And they think it'll be BETTER if they just sieze control of the medical industry too?
So True
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 18:35 ET by srqvetGood summary of the dimocrat/libtard fascists!
Thank You Newsbusters
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:05 ET by HoosierEmThank you for highlighting one of the better parts of this fiasco today because I have refused to watch CSPAN today to listen to Harry Reid and his band of bandits legislating away more of our freedom and confiscating more of what we earn for God knows what. Either they are stupid or plain evil. Either way, none of them belong leading a country, especially ours.
Oh, and Obama's out playing golf again this afternoon. Wouldn't want him worrying about a little thing like Afghanistan or this farce of a congress.
Golfing ...again
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:10 ET by bigtimerGolfing ...again eh?
Where is the msm whining/screeching 24/7 about this?
Oh what a difference of party the press hypocrisy shows with their reporting/or non-reporting, just depends on agenda...always agenda.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Golfing?
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 21:35 ET by BarkerSo, it's called "playing golf" nowadays, huh? I remember when it was called "smoking crack".
Obama bandwgon
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:13 ET by Jerry MackHarry Reid is well aware that due to the loss of jobs it is less crowded on the Obama bandwagon. It terrifies him that one of the draught horses ( Broder ) might be getting out of the harness.
Nothing would give me more
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:16 ET by George S PattonNothing would give me more pleasure than to see reid being smacked across the mouth with a baseball bat and then being asked him if that was covered under is plan.
Lol...we'd have to wait
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:21 ET by bigtimerLol...we'd have to wait awhile for the answer now wouldn't we.
Not being able to speak for awhile would give him more time for his lying spin though.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
I just love harry to
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:19 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonI just love harry to pieces.
He's always angry, exceedingly bitter and it makes me feel good that some of us have helped make him that way.
Obama, the first "alleged" president
http://gjresult.com
Let me get this straight
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:35 ET by SATerpBroder is one of "the people", and Reid is a servant of 'the people' - that about right?
Shouldn't Reid be fired immediately for insubordination?
YEP! 'Doubling down on
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:37 ET by bigtimerYEP!
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
What needs to be ripped to shreds on the Senate floor is...
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 19:59 ET by R D Helm...the hideous HarryCare bill.
Then it needs to be burned, its ashes packed into radio-active metal box that is booby-trapped with a tactical nuke, then surround it with a 50'W x 50'L x 50'D block of monolithic, steel-reinforced 4000 psi concrete, then have it towed on a barge out to the deepest part of the ocean and dumped, then the entire surrounding area should be littered with nuclear armed sea mines.
-Dave
Our elected representatives have failed us.
Harry Reid, let's change
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 20:05 ET by ThisnThatHarry Reid, let's change your words a bit to reflect the truth. I don't think we should "focus on a man who should have retired from the Senate many years ago and should simply STFU."
__________
"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Øbama↓." - The liberals coolaid drinking song
Broder just got a huge compliment
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 20:24 ET by cajun2To be trashed by the far left and called names means Broder got the FACTS right.
Reid is wrong. The
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 20:31 ET by Mitchell BlattReid is wrong. The healthcare takeover bill won't help America.
→ BOHICA
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 20:37 ET by Cool ArrowIf this bill passes (and it will), hundreds of thousands of people like myself will weigh the advantages of early retirement while the jobs we leave will not be backfilled.
Corporations suffering from the brain drain will look beyond the borders to relocate manufacturing.
Sure, it was coming anyway, but this serves as an accelerant.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
RO... Yep...power/control,
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 21:51 ET by bigtimerRO...
Yep...power/control, that's all there is to it.
We're going to watch more of our once strong nation crumble right before our eyes...we've already seen enough, we ain't seen nothing yet.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
I worry how this will effect
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 09:26 ET by msh1973I worry how this will effect my husband's job, you see he works for a profit hospitsl (evil I know). He says no one is even talking about the possibilty of a Gov. take over. Please enlighten me, thanks.
In this corner we have....
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 21:43 ET by BarkerHarry "Lefty" Reid versus David "Broken Clock" Broder
ding ding
Payment
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 23:08 ET by nadadhimmiHey Broder, how do you like your repayment from Reid and the Dems? After years of a$$ kissing you are dissed in the well of the Senate. You are a useful fool Broder, used by the enemies of our country and then shat upon. Oh the irony is just to rich. You now know how McCain feels. McCain is so stupid he still can't figure out why the WAPO and NYT just don't LIKE him anymore.
Yeah...but you see, McC was
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 23:26 ET by bigtimerYeah...but you see, McC was barking on the Senate floor today, bet he growls about Cap and Trade soon enough as well, why he's changed his spots now that he's up for reelection, he's a conservative again for bit...you know McC, just depends on which way the wind blows...too bad it wasn't about ANWR again, something he fought to stop on the 'R' side of the aisle, and got that done to a good extent, since we lost by one vote in '05.
...they think we all forget...in fact they depend upon it, and it usually works...every-time.
Also too bad McC/Kennedy Amnesty Bill isn't coming up again as well, wonder how he'd vote now.
Majority of them are all the same, thank goodness for about a third of repubs that are conservatives and don't change their spots, in both chambers.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
nadadhimmi and bigtimer
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 00:27 ET by BarkerThank you two for two powerfully profound posts.
A must read.
Sad to say, but it appears
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 00:33 ET by ConservativeRexSad to say, but it appears that our Senate have taken on the airs of Royalty. Where they can send down edicts against the commoner and we, playing the part of commoners, are not supposed to say a peep about anything. Wrong.
Our ancestors handled one set of royals pretty handily and I'll be damned if we'll put up with any more. Reid is soon to get his comeuppance, so he had better get his licks in while he is able. Because it's soon to come back on him in spades, with nowhere to run.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
Yup, Broder is the
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 09:41 ET by TenebrousYup, Broder is the Democrat's poodle. Roll over, Broder. Good dog! What, you peed on my bill? Bad dog!
As for this health care monstrosity -- it will SLAUGHTER jobs. The unemployment rate will worsen and I suspect we'll see 20% unemployment.
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