This may be a lousy way to start one’s day, but I want to say something about Harry Reid. If he were a conservative Republican, and not a liberal Democrat, he would be almost universally known as a McCarthyite. He would certainly not be a Senate leader. The difference between him and Mitch McConnell is vast — as a matter of character, political views aside.
In 2012, Reid said the following on the Senate floor, about Mitt Romney: “So the word’s out that he hasn’t paid any taxes for ten years. Let him prove that he has paid taxes, because he hasn’t.” The word’s out — and you know about “the word.” To reporters from his home state of Nevada, Reid said, “I don’t think the burden should be on me. The burden should be on him. He’s the one I’ve alleged has not paid any taxes.” Bear in mind, this is the majority leader of the U.S. Senate speaking, not a comedian, not a right-wing satirist.
The other day, Reid was tearing into the Koch brothers, backers of causes Reid does not like. He said these guys were “about as un-American as anyone that I can imagine.” Wasn’t Tailgunner Joe supposed to have rendered such language verboten? Have the rules changed?
There are many damning things about today’s Democrats, in my view. None is more damning than that Harry Reid is their choice to lead them in the Senate.
P.S. When it comes to McCarthys, I’ll take our Andy, and Congressman Kevin.