Difference between revisions of "Harry Reid"

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|party=[[Democrat]]
 
|party=[[Democrat]]
 
|spouse=Landra Gould
 
|spouse=Landra Gould
|religion=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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|religion=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
 
|offices=
 
|offices=
 
{{Officeholder/senator
 
{{Officeholder/senator
 
|state=Nevada
 
|state=Nevada
|terms=January 3, 1987 - Present
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|terms=January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2017
 
|preceded=[[Paul Laxalt]]
 
|preceded=[[Paul Laxalt]]
|former=n
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|former=y
|succeeded=
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|succeeded=[[Catherine Cortez Masto]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Officeholder/representative
 
{{Officeholder/representative
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|terms=January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1987
 
|terms=January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1987
 
|preceded=James David Santini
 
|preceded=James David Santini
|former=n
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|former=y
 
|succeeded=James Bilbray
 
|succeeded=James Bilbray
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''Harry Reid''', born December 2, 1939 (age {{age|1939|12|2}}), is the senior Senator from [[Nevada]] and U.S. Senate Majority Leader in the 111th Congress for the [[Democratic Party|Democrats]]. He became Minority Whip (the #2 job) in 1998, and Minority Leader in 2005 and Majority Leader in 2007. He won reelection from Nevada in 2010 despite low apporval ratings and a strong challenge amid suspicions of voting irregularities.<ref>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/early-voting-irregularities-create-suspicion-of-fraud/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OTB+%28Outside+The+Beltway+|+OTB%29</ref> He is the first member of the Church of Latter-day Saints to become Senate Majority Leader. He is known for making insensitive and provocative [[racial]]ly charged comments and his far left [[liberal]] views.
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'''Harry Mason Reid''', born December 2, 1939 (age {{age|1939|12|2}}), was the [[far-left]] senior Senator from [[Nevada]] and U.S. Senate Majority Leader in the 111th Congress for the [[Democratic Party|Democrats]]. He became Minority Whip (the #2 job) in 1998, and Minority Leader in 2005 and Majority Leader in 2007. He won reelection from Nevada in 2010 despite low approval ratings and a strong challenge amid suspicions of voting irregularities.<ref>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/early-voting-irregularities-create-suspicion-of-fraud/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OTB+%28Outside+The+Beltway+|+OTB%29</ref> He is the first member of the Church of Latter-day Saints to become Senate Majority Leader. He is known for making insensitive and provocative [[racial]]ly charged comments and his far left [[liberal]] views. He is considered an idiot<ref>https://www.wnd.com/2013/01/senator-harry-reid-is-still-an-idiot/</ref> and a "mumbling gangster",<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/7/hurt-improbable-reign-harry-reid-mumbling-gangster/</ref> so he was a natural choice to lead the Democrats in the Senate.
  
==Early Life and Education==
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Since leaving the Senate, Reid has come to the reality that mainstream [[Democrats]] were becoming too radical even for him,<ref>[https://www.westernjournal.com/even-former-dem-leader-harry-reid-blasts-medicare-open-border-proposals/ Even Former Dem Leader Harry Reid Blasts 'Medicare for All' and Open Border Proposals]</ref> as well as the fact that [[Donald Trump]] is, in his words, a "very, very smart man".<ref>[https://www.westernjournal.com/harry-reid-calls-trump-smart-man-warning-democrats-trump-thanks/ Harry Reid Calls Trump 'a Very, Very Smart Man' While Warning Democrats, Trump Thanks Him]</ref>
  
Born in Searchlight, Nevada, Reid converted to [[Mormonism]] while attending [[Utah State University]] in 1960. <ref>http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_Reid.html</ref> He went on to earn a law degree from [[George Washington University]] in 1964. <ref>http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Nov-14-Sun-2004/news/25258027.html</ref>  
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==Early life and education==
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Born in Searchlight, Nevada, Reid converted to [[Mormonism]] while attending [[Utah State University]] in 1960.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_Reid.html</ref> He went on to earn a law degree from [[George Washington University]] in 1964.<ref>https://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Nov-14-Sun-2004/news/25258027.html</ref>  
  
==Political Career==
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==Political career==
 
Reid's career in politics began in 1967 when he was elected to the Nevada State Assembly and in 1970 was elected Lieutenant Governor. He unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate in 1974. From 1977 to 1981, Harry Reid was the Nevada state gaming commissioner. This led his character to be parodied in the 1995 film "Casino" played by Dick Smothers. During Reid's tenure as gaming commissioner, he allowed the [[FBI]] to videotape businessman Jack Gordon, offering him a $12,000 bribe. Then, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal account, Reid "put his hands around Gordon's neck and said, 'You son of a b-tch, you tried to bribe me!'" <ref>http://www.nndb.com/people/292/000032196/</ref> In 1979 Gordon was arrested and sentenced to six months in jail.  
 
Reid's career in politics began in 1967 when he was elected to the Nevada State Assembly and in 1970 was elected Lieutenant Governor. He unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate in 1974. From 1977 to 1981, Harry Reid was the Nevada state gaming commissioner. This led his character to be parodied in the 1995 film "Casino" played by Dick Smothers. During Reid's tenure as gaming commissioner, he allowed the [[FBI]] to videotape businessman Jack Gordon, offering him a $12,000 bribe. Then, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal account, Reid "put his hands around Gordon's neck and said, 'You son of a b-tch, you tried to bribe me!'" <ref>http://www.nndb.com/people/292/000032196/</ref> In 1979 Gordon was arrested and sentenced to six months in jail.  
  
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===Reelection 2010===
 
===Reelection 2010===
Reid is facing a tough reelection in 2010. The "Cook Political Report" in September 2009 rates the contest as "Toss Up". His status weakened in summer 2009, as discontent with President Obama and the Democrats' health plan mounted, and as the Recession of 2008 continues to batter Las Vegas and the entire Nevada economy, with no relief in sight from the stimulus bill Reid pushed through the Senate. Reid's inability to improve his standing in the polls, coupled with the deteriorating political environment for Democrats nationally, are clear indications that his political problems are deep and will be difficult (though not impossible) to fix, says Cook.  
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Reid faced a tough re-election in 2010, with The "Cook Political Report" in September 2009 having rated the contest as a "Toss Up". His status weakened in summer 2009, as discontent with President Obama and the Democrats' health plan mounted, and as the Recession of 2008 continued to batter Las Vegas and the entire Nevada economy, in addition to no relief in sight from the stimulus bill Reid pushed through the Senate. Reid's inability to improve his standing in the polls, coupled with the deteriorating political environment for Democrats nationally, made clear indications that his political problems were deep and will be difficult (though not impossible) to fix, said Cook.  
  
 
After receiving the endorsement of the [[Tea Party Express]] and [[Club for Growth]], former Assemblywoman [[Sharron Angle]] defeated former State Senator [[Sue Lowden]] by 14 points and businessman [[Danny Tarkanian]] in the Republican primary by 17 points.
 
After receiving the endorsement of the [[Tea Party Express]] and [[Club for Growth]], former Assemblywoman [[Sharron Angle]] defeated former State Senator [[Sue Lowden]] by 14 points and businessman [[Danny Tarkanian]] in the Republican primary by 17 points.
  
Reid eventually defeated Angle by a 50.3% to 44.6% margin.
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Reid eventually defeated Angle by a 50.3% to 44.6% margin.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/results/nevada.html Nevada - Election Results 2010]</ref>
  
==Political Views==
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==Political views==
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[[Image:HarryReid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] (left) and Senator [[Chris Dodd]] (right)]]Harry Reid has voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues 94.8% of the time during the current [[Congress]].<ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/r000146/</ref> He has been a key spokesman for liberal positions on taxes, health care, government bailouts, unions and immigration. In 2009 Reid called opponents of [[universal health care]] "evil-mongers." He later explained "I maybe could have been less descriptive, I doubt you’ll hear it from me again." <ref>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/harry_reid_protesters_evil-mongers/</ref> Reid voted to authorize military force in [[Iraq]] in 1991 and again in 2002. However, he later became a proponent of troop withdrawal.
  
[[Image:HarryReid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] (left) and Senator [[Chris Dodd]] (right)]]Harry Reid has voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues 94.8% of the time during the current [[Congress]]. <ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/r000146/</ref> He has been a key spokesman for liberal positions on taxes, health care, government bailouts, unions and immigration. In 2009 Reid called opponents of [[universal health care]] "evil-mongers." He later explained "I maybe could have been less descriptive, I doubt you’ll hear it from me again." <ref>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/harry_reid_protesters_evil-mongers/</ref> Reid voted to authorize military force in [[Iraq]] in 1991 and again in 2002. However, he later became a proponent of troop withdrawal.  
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His major [[accomplishment]] has been to block the use of Yucca Mountain in Nevada for the safe storage of nuclear wastes from around the country.
  
His major accomplishment has been to block the use of Yucca Mountain in Nevada for the safe storage of nuclear wastes from around the country.
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At one point Reid described himself as [[pro-life]], saying "Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered." <ref>http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=53320#408</ref> Reid voted to express opposition to [[Roe v. Wade]] <ref>https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00048</ref> and supported the ban on [[Partial birth abortion]].<ref>https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00402</ref> However, since being elected to his leadership position he has proven himself to be a staunch pro-Abortion advocate and has even voted to use taxpayer dollars to fund overseas abortions.<ref>https://www.lifenews.com/state4369.html</ref> From 2007–2008, the [[National Right to Life Committee]] gave Harry Reid a 28% rating.<ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=4321</ref>
 
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Reid describes himself as [[pro-life]], saying "Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered." <ref>http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=53320#408</ref> Reid voted to express opposition to [[Roe v. Wade]] <ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00048</ref> and supported the ban on [[Partial birth abortion]]. <ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00402</ref> However, since being elected to his leadership position he has received criticism from the pro-life community for voting against the nominations of [[John Roberts]] and [[Samuel Alito]] to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], supporting Embryonic Stem Cell Research and voting to use taxpayer dollars to fund overseas abortions. <ref>http://www.lifenews.com/state4369.html</ref> From 2007-2008, the [[National Right to Life Committee]] gave Harry Reid a 28% rating. <ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=4321</ref>
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Reid cosponsored a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. He opposes environmentalists on mining issues. He is a strong supporter of the gaming industry, which forms the basis of the state's economy.
 
Reid cosponsored a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. He opposes environmentalists on mining issues. He is a strong supporter of the gaming industry, which forms the basis of the state's economy.
  
Reid opposes gun control, and in 2007 Gun Owners of America gave Reid a grade of ''F''. <ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53320&type=category&category=37&go.x=4&go.y=5</ref>
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Reid supports gun control, and in 2007 Gun Owners of America gave Reid a grade of ''F''.<ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53320&type=category&category=37&go.x=4&go.y=5</ref>
  
 
==Controversies==
 
==Controversies==
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As a United States Senator Harry Reid has been the subject of Controversy and Criticism. In 2006 he was ranked the 10th most corrupt person in Washington by Judicial Watch.<ref>http://www.judicialwatch.org/printer_6091.shtml</ref> Reid was investigated by the FBI in 2008 for illegal campaign donations.<ref>https://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/fbi-reid-campaig-finance/2013/04/17/id/500006</ref>
  
As a United States Senator Harry Reid has been the subject of Controversy and Criticism. In 2006 he was ranked the 10th most corrupt person in Washington by Judicial Watch. <ref>http://www.judicialwatch.org/printer_6091.shtml</ref>  
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===Romney's taxes===
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Reid ludicrously claimed in 2012 that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney hadn't paid taxes in 10 years - without, of course, offering any substantiation. [https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/07/politics/reid-romney-taxes/index.html] The IRS may have illegally leaked Romney's tax information to Reid.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2013/05/16/did-the-irs-give-romneys-tax-returns-to-harry-reid/</ref>
  
 
===Connections with Jack Abramoff===
 
===Connections with Jack Abramoff===
 
 
Reid has received over $60,000 from groups that are related to convicted lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]], including about $50,000 from [[Native American]] gaming interests. Several times, Native American tribes that were clients of Jack Abramoff donated money to Reid after Reid's votes produced favorable results for the tribes. However, Reid described the Abramoff affair as "a Republican scandal."  
 
Reid has received over $60,000 from groups that are related to convicted lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]], including about $50,000 from [[Native American]] gaming interests. Several times, Native American tribes that were clients of Jack Abramoff donated money to Reid after Reid's votes produced favorable results for the tribes. However, Reid described the Abramoff affair as "a Republican scandal."  
  
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Reid has accepted free tickets valued at hundreds of dollars for boxing matches between 2003 and 2005 from the Nevada Athletic Commission. Senate ethics rules permit gifts from such governmental agencies.  
 
Reid has accepted free tickets valued at hundreds of dollars for boxing matches between 2003 and 2005 from the Nevada Athletic Commission. Senate ethics rules permit gifts from such governmental agencies.  
  
===Las Vegas land deal===  
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===Las Vegas land deal===
 
Senator Reid came under fire in 2006 for failing to properly report to Congress a $700,000 land deal. Harry Reid's member interest in limited liability company (LLC) was allocated $1.1 million of the gross proceeds attributable to the sale of a parcel of land. In 1998, Reid bought a plot of land for $400,000, fair market value at the time. One of the sellers was a developer who arranged a land swap that Reid supported.
 
Senator Reid came under fire in 2006 for failing to properly report to Congress a $700,000 land deal. Harry Reid's member interest in limited liability company (LLC) was allocated $1.1 million of the gross proceeds attributable to the sale of a parcel of land. In 1998, Reid bought a plot of land for $400,000, fair market value at the time. One of the sellers was a developer who arranged a land swap that Reid supported.
  
 
===Iraq "lost"===
 
===Iraq "lost"===
 
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On April 19, 2007, representatives of 50 Iraqi Sunni tribes announced the formation of a new democratic political party called [[Iraq Awakening]], with the aim of fielding candidates in elections at all levels of government, including the parliamentary elections in 2009. In the predominantly [[Shiite]] country, a large scale political organization among the [[Sunni]]  is precisely what [[al-Qaeda]] insurgents have opposed. Later the same day, Sen. Reid demanded the pullout of American forces, on the basis that Iraq had been "lost".<ref>[http://www.therealitycheck.org/StaffWriter/dclark_NMA053107.html Reid The Reaper: Dems plan Iraq Awakening's wake], by Daniel Clark, ''New Media Alliance.  Retrieved 06/04/07.</ref>  In May, Majority Leader Reid voted to fund the "lost" cause anyway.  In a scathing rebuke [[MSNBC]]'s liberal [[Keith Olbermann]] said,
On April 19 2007, representatives of 50 Iraqi Sunni tribes announced the formation of a new democratic political party called [[Iraq Awakening]], with the aim of fielding candidates in elections at all levels of government, including the parliamentary elections in 2009. In the predominantly [[Shiite]] country, a large scale political organization among the [[Sunni]]  is precisely what [[al-Qaeda]] insurgents have opposed. Later the same day, Sen. Reid demanded the pullout of American forces, on the basis that Iraq had been "lost". <ref>[http://www.therealitycheck.org/StaffWriter/dclark_NMA053107.html Reid The Reaper: Dems plan Iraq Awakening's wake], by Daniel Clark, ''New Media Alliance.  Retrieved 06/04/07.</ref>  In May, Majority Leader Reid voted to fund the "lost" cause anyway.  In a scathing rebuke [[MSNBC]]'s liberal [[Keith Olbermann]] said,
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{{cquote|'''Mr. Reid, Mr. [[Steny Hoyer|Hoyer]], and the other Democrats... have failed us. They negotiated away that which they did not own, but had only been entrusted by us to protect: our collective will as the citizens of this country....Mr. Reid has failed.''' <ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18831132/ The entire government has failed us on Iraq], Keith Olbermann, MSNBC ''Countdown'', May 24, 2007.</ref>}}
 
{{cquote|'''Mr. Reid, Mr. [[Steny Hoyer|Hoyer]], and the other Democrats... have failed us. They negotiated away that which they did not own, but had only been entrusted by us to protect: our collective will as the citizens of this country....Mr. Reid has failed.''' <ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18831132/ The entire government has failed us on Iraq], Keith Olbermann, MSNBC ''Countdown'', May 24, 2007.</ref>}}
  
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===Rush Limbaugh Phony Soldier Incident===
 
===Rush Limbaugh Phony Soldier Incident===
On October 2, 2007, Senator Reid wrote a letter to Mark P. Mays, Chairman-of-the-board and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, who are [[Rush Limbaugh]]'s chief patrons. In it Senator Reid essentially demanded that Mr. Mays order Mr. Limbaugh apologize for certain remarks that Mr. Limbaugh allegedly made, to the effect that soldiers who opposed the prosecution of the war in [[Iraq]] were "phony soldiers."<ref name=ReidText>Reid, Harry, ''et al.'' "[http://reid.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=284699 Letter to Mark P. Mays of Clear Channel Communications]." [http://reid.senate.gov/ Electronic Office of US Senator Harry Reid], October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> In composing his letter and his later remarks, Reid relied heavily on a presentation and alleged analysis by [[Media Matters for America]]. In fact, the only soldiers that Mr. Limbaugh ever alleged to be "phony" were certain persons who falsely claimed to have served in Iraq; some of those persons were in fact tried for and convicted of misrepresentation of service and drew prison sentences for their conduct. Nevertheless Mr. Reid obtained the signatures of forty of his Senate colleagues on his accusatory letter and read the letter aloud on the floor of the Senate.
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On October 2, 2007, Senator Reid wrote a letter to Mark P. Mays, Chairman-of-the-board and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, who are [[Rush Limbaugh]]'s chief patrons. In it Senator Reid essentially demanded that Mr. Mays order Mr. Limbaugh apologize for certain remarks that Mr. Limbaugh allegedly made, to the effect that soldiers who opposed the prosecution of the war in [[Iraq]] were "phony soldiers."<ref name=ReidText>Reid, Harry, ''et al.'' "[http://reid.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=284699 Letter to Mark P. Mays of Clear Channel Communications]." [http://reid.senate.gov/ Electronic Office of US Senator Harry Reid], October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> In composing his letter and his later remarks, Reid relied heavily on a presentation and alleged analysis by [[Media Matters for America]]. In fact, the only soldiers that Mr. Limbaugh ever alleged to be "phony" were certain persons who falsely claimed to have served in Iraq; some of those persons were in fact tried for and convicted of misrepresentation of service and drew prison sentences for their conduct. Nevertheless, Mr. Reid obtained the signatures of forty of his Senate colleagues on his accusatory letter and read the letter aloud on the floor of the Senate.
  
 
The letter was delivered, and Mr. Limbaugh ultimately obtained it. Mr. Limbaugh publicly exhibited it to an audience in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], on October 11. The next day he placed the letter for sale at public auction at eBay.com.<ref name=eBay>[http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Harry-Reid-Rush-Limbaugh-Smear-Letter_W0QQitemZ260170172469QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4105QQcmdZViewItem Auction listing of original of Harry Reid letter]. [http://www.ebay.com/ eBay.com]. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> The letter was sold for $2.1 million. Rush donated the entire proceeds to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, and included a matching contribution of his own. In his remarks on the air on the day that the auction ended, and for several days before that, Mr. Limbaugh speculated that Senator Reid probably never imagined that his letter would even be made public, much less set a record for the most expensive charity auction in the records of eBay.com.<ref name=Limbaugh>Limbaugh, Rush H., remarks heard on his radio program on October 19, 2007, at about 12:15 p.m. EDT, or 16:15 p.m. UTC</ref>
 
The letter was delivered, and Mr. Limbaugh ultimately obtained it. Mr. Limbaugh publicly exhibited it to an audience in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], on October 11. The next day he placed the letter for sale at public auction at eBay.com.<ref name=eBay>[http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Harry-Reid-Rush-Limbaugh-Smear-Letter_W0QQitemZ260170172469QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4105QQcmdZViewItem Auction listing of original of Harry Reid letter]. [http://www.ebay.com/ eBay.com]. Retrieved October 19, 2007.</ref> The letter was sold for $2.1 million. Rush donated the entire proceeds to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, and included a matching contribution of his own. In his remarks on the air on the day that the auction ended, and for several days before that, Mr. Limbaugh speculated that Senator Reid probably never imagined that his letter would even be made public, much less set a record for the most expensive charity auction in the records of eBay.com.<ref name=Limbaugh>Limbaugh, Rush H., remarks heard on his radio program on October 19, 2007, at about 12:15 p.m. EDT, or 16:15 p.m. UTC</ref>
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Image:Reid_Limbaugh_Letter_Sig3.jpg|Eleven signatures
 
Image:Reid_Limbaugh_Letter_Sig3.jpg|Eleven signatures
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
===Remarks about slavery and race===
 
  
A month after Reid compared Republican opponents of [[government health care]] to supporters of [[slavery]],<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/07/reid-compares-health-care-reform-foes-slavery-supporters/</ref> it came to light that
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===Remarks about slavery and race===
Reid had made remarks referring to [[Barack Obama]]'s race during the presidential campaign.<ref>Reid's comments were included in the book ''Game Change''. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100109/ap_on_el_se/us_obama_reid]</ref>
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A month after Reid compared Republican opponents of [[government health care]] to supporters of [[slavery]],<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/07/reid-compares-health-care-reform-foes-slavery-supporters/</ref> it came to light that
 +
Reid had made remarks referring to [[Barack Obama]]'s race during the presidential campaign.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100109/ap_on_el_se/us_obama_reid Reid's comments were included in the book ''Game Change'']</ref>
 
Reid had called then-Senator Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries "light skinned" and "with no [[Negro dialect]], unless he wanted to have one."
 
Reid had called then-Senator Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries "light skinned" and "with no [[Negro dialect]], unless he wanted to have one."
  
* The authors describe Reid assessing Obama's strengths as a candidate. Reid, they write, "believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama -- a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,' as he said privately. Reid was convinced, in fact, that Obama's race would help him more than hurt him in a bid for the Democratic nomination."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/09/AR2010010902141.html Washington Post] - January 10, 2010 </ref>
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* The authors describe Reid assessing Obama's strengths as a candidate. Reid, they write, "believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama -- a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,' as he said privately. Reid was convinced, in fact, that Obama's race would help him more than hurt him in a bid for the Democratic nomination."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/09/AR2010010902141.html Washington Post] - January 10, 2010</ref>
  
 
After that, political commentators began "arguing over whether those comments by Reid constitute racism".<ref>[http://spectator.org/archives/2010/01/12/bigots-and-the-press Bigots and the Press] - Mark Hyman</ref>
 
After that, political commentators began "arguing over whether those comments by Reid constitute racism".<ref>[http://spectator.org/archives/2010/01/12/bigots-and-the-press Bigots and the Press] - Mark Hyman</ref>
 
On January 9, 2010 Reid apologized for his "poor choice of words"
 
On January 9, 2010 Reid apologized for his "poor choice of words"
  
A Boston Globe op-ed said Senator Reid "said nothing wrong".<ref> [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/01/13/whats_wrong_with_negro_anyway/ What’s wrong with ‘Negro,’ anyway?]</ref>
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A Boston Globe op-ed said Senator Reid "said nothing wrong".<ref>[http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/01/13/whats_wrong_with_negro_anyway/ What’s wrong with ‘Negro,’ anyway?]</ref>
 
[[Ann Coulter]] wrote, "[[Democrat]]s regularly say things that would end the career of any [[conservative]] who said them." [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=35188]
 
[[Ann Coulter]] wrote, "[[Democrat]]s regularly say things that would end the career of any [[conservative]] who said them." [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=35188]
  
In August 2010, Reid tries some [[racial politics]] and told a crowd of supporters that he doesn’t know "how anyone of [[Hispanic]] heritage could be a Republican."  
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In August 2010, Reid tries some [[racial politics]] and told a crowd of supporters that he doesn't know "how anyone of [[Hispanic]] heritage could be a Republican."  
  
* In a follow-up remark, again more obsession with [[Race baiting]], ''“because the wave of immigrants we have now — their skin's a tone darker than ours — doesn't make it any different.”'' <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/11/rubio-blasts-reid-asking-hispanics-republicans/ Rubio Blasts Reid for Saying He Doesn't Understand How Hispanics Could Be Republican, FOXNews, August 11, 2010]</ref>
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* In a follow-up remark, again more obsession with [[Race baiting]], ''“because the wave of immigrants we have now — their skin's a tone darker than ours — doesn't make it any different.”'' <ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/11/rubio-blasts-reid-asking-hispanics-republicans/ Rubio Blasts Reid for Saying He Doesn't Understand How Hispanics Could Be Republican, FOXNews, August 11, 2010]</ref>
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==Quotes==
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{{cquote|Seniors love to get them — junk mail. It's sometimes their only way of communicating, or feeling they're part of the real world.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OcHmjEfSdc Harry Reid: Seniors Love Junk Mail Connection to Real World]</ref>}}
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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==External links==
 
==External links==
 
*[http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/11/abramoff_report_1.html Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others], Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, ''ABC News'', November 15, 2006.
 
*[http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/11/abramoff_report_1.html Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others], Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, ''ABC News'', November 15, 2006.
*[http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0809/House_switchboard_getting_pranked_by_Harry_Reid.html House switchboard getting pranked by Harry Reid?]. Politico. August 11, 2009.
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*[https://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0809/House_switchboard_getting_pranked_by_Harry_Reid.html House switchboard getting pranked by Harry Reid?]. Politico. August 11, 2009.
 
*[http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/08/11/dr-manny-dear-senator-reid-i%E2%80%99m-not-stupid/ Dr. Manny: Dear Senator Reid, I’m Not Stupid!]
 
*[http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/08/11/dr-manny-dear-senator-reid-i%E2%80%99m-not-stupid/ Dr. Manny: Dear Senator Reid, I’m Not Stupid!]
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Revision as of 16:43, June 8, 2020

Harry Reid
Reid- 2009 Official Photo.jpg
U.S. Senator from Nevada
From: January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2017
Predecessor Paul Laxalt
Successor Catherine Cortez Masto
Former U.S. Representative from Nevada's 1st Congressional District
From: January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1987
Predecessor James David Santini
Successor James Bilbray
Information
Party Democrat
Spouse(s) Landra Gould
Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Harry Mason Reid, born December 2, 1939 (age 84), was the far-left senior Senator from Nevada and U.S. Senate Majority Leader in the 111th Congress for the Democrats. He became Minority Whip (the #2 job) in 1998, and Minority Leader in 2005 and Majority Leader in 2007. He won reelection from Nevada in 2010 despite low approval ratings and a strong challenge amid suspicions of voting irregularities.[1] He is the first member of the Church of Latter-day Saints to become Senate Majority Leader. He is known for making insensitive and provocative racially charged comments and his far left liberal views. He is considered an idiot[2] and a "mumbling gangster",[3] so he was a natural choice to lead the Democrats in the Senate.

Since leaving the Senate, Reid has come to the reality that mainstream Democrats were becoming too radical even for him,[4] as well as the fact that Donald Trump is, in his words, a "very, very smart man".[5]

Early life and education

Born in Searchlight, Nevada, Reid converted to Mormonism while attending Utah State University in 1960.[6] He went on to earn a law degree from George Washington University in 1964.[7]

Political career

Reid's career in politics began in 1967 when he was elected to the Nevada State Assembly and in 1970 was elected Lieutenant Governor. He unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate in 1974. From 1977 to 1981, Harry Reid was the Nevada state gaming commissioner. This led his character to be parodied in the 1995 film "Casino" played by Dick Smothers. During Reid's tenure as gaming commissioner, he allowed the FBI to videotape businessman Jack Gordon, offering him a $12,000 bribe. Then, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal account, Reid "put his hands around Gordon's neck and said, 'You son of a b-tch, you tried to bribe me!'" [8] In 1979 Gordon was arrested and sentenced to six months in jail.

After serving two terms in the House of Representatives, Reid was elected to the Senate in 1986 and reelected three times. He served as Minority Whip from 1999 through 2001, again from 2003 through 2005, Minority Leader from 2005 through 2007, and was elected Senate Majority Leader in 2007.

Reelection 2010

Reid faced a tough re-election in 2010, with The "Cook Political Report" in September 2009 having rated the contest as a "Toss Up". His status weakened in summer 2009, as discontent with President Obama and the Democrats' health plan mounted, and as the Recession of 2008 continued to batter Las Vegas and the entire Nevada economy, in addition to no relief in sight from the stimulus bill Reid pushed through the Senate. Reid's inability to improve his standing in the polls, coupled with the deteriorating political environment for Democrats nationally, made clear indications that his political problems were deep and will be difficult (though not impossible) to fix, said Cook.

After receiving the endorsement of the Tea Party Express and Club for Growth, former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle defeated former State Senator Sue Lowden by 14 points and businessman Danny Tarkanian in the Republican primary by 17 points.

Reid eventually defeated Angle by a 50.3% to 44.6% margin.[9]

Political views

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) and Senator Chris Dodd (right)
Harry Reid has voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues 94.8% of the time during the current Congress.[10] He has been a key spokesman for liberal positions on taxes, health care, government bailouts, unions and immigration. In 2009 Reid called opponents of universal health care "evil-mongers." He later explained "I maybe could have been less descriptive, I doubt you’ll hear it from me again." [11] Reid voted to authorize military force in Iraq in 1991 and again in 2002. However, he later became a proponent of troop withdrawal.

His major accomplishment has been to block the use of Yucca Mountain in Nevada for the safe storage of nuclear wastes from around the country.

At one point Reid described himself as pro-life, saying "Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered." [12] Reid voted to express opposition to Roe v. Wade [13] and supported the ban on Partial birth abortion.[14] However, since being elected to his leadership position he has proven himself to be a staunch pro-Abortion advocate and has even voted to use taxpayer dollars to fund overseas abortions.[15] From 2007–2008, the National Right to Life Committee gave Harry Reid a 28% rating.[16]

Reid cosponsored a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. He opposes environmentalists on mining issues. He is a strong supporter of the gaming industry, which forms the basis of the state's economy.

Reid supports gun control, and in 2007 Gun Owners of America gave Reid a grade of F.[17]

Controversies

As a United States Senator Harry Reid has been the subject of Controversy and Criticism. In 2006 he was ranked the 10th most corrupt person in Washington by Judicial Watch.[18] Reid was investigated by the FBI in 2008 for illegal campaign donations.[19]

Romney's taxes

Reid ludicrously claimed in 2012 that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney hadn't paid taxes in 10 years - without, of course, offering any substantiation. [1] The IRS may have illegally leaked Romney's tax information to Reid.[20]

Connections with Jack Abramoff

Reid has received over $60,000 from groups that are related to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, including about $50,000 from Native American gaming interests. Several times, Native American tribes that were clients of Jack Abramoff donated money to Reid after Reid's votes produced favorable results for the tribes. However, Reid described the Abramoff affair as "a Republican scandal."

Boxing credentials

Reid has accepted free tickets valued at hundreds of dollars for boxing matches between 2003 and 2005 from the Nevada Athletic Commission. Senate ethics rules permit gifts from such governmental agencies.

Las Vegas land deal

Senator Reid came under fire in 2006 for failing to properly report to Congress a $700,000 land deal. Harry Reid's member interest in limited liability company (LLC) was allocated $1.1 million of the gross proceeds attributable to the sale of a parcel of land. In 1998, Reid bought a plot of land for $400,000, fair market value at the time. One of the sellers was a developer who arranged a land swap that Reid supported.

Iraq "lost"

On April 19, 2007, representatives of 50 Iraqi Sunni tribes announced the formation of a new democratic political party called Iraq Awakening, with the aim of fielding candidates in elections at all levels of government, including the parliamentary elections in 2009. In the predominantly Shiite country, a large scale political organization among the Sunni is precisely what al-Qaeda insurgents have opposed. Later the same day, Sen. Reid demanded the pullout of American forces, on the basis that Iraq had been "lost".[21] In May, Majority Leader Reid voted to fund the "lost" cause anyway. In a scathing rebuke MSNBC's liberal Keith Olbermann said,

Mr. Reid, Mr. Hoyer, and the other Democrats... have failed us. They negotiated away that which they did not own, but had only been entrusted by us to protect: our collective will as the citizens of this country....Mr. Reid has failed. [22]

Ironically after Reid proclaimed the war lost, sectarian violence significantly declined.

Incompetent Harry Reid.jpg

Rush Limbaugh Phony Soldier Incident

On October 2, 2007, Senator Reid wrote a letter to Mark P. Mays, Chairman-of-the-board and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, who are Rush Limbaugh's chief patrons. In it Senator Reid essentially demanded that Mr. Mays order Mr. Limbaugh apologize for certain remarks that Mr. Limbaugh allegedly made, to the effect that soldiers who opposed the prosecution of the war in Iraq were "phony soldiers."[23] In composing his letter and his later remarks, Reid relied heavily on a presentation and alleged analysis by Media Matters for America. In fact, the only soldiers that Mr. Limbaugh ever alleged to be "phony" were certain persons who falsely claimed to have served in Iraq; some of those persons were in fact tried for and convicted of misrepresentation of service and drew prison sentences for their conduct. Nevertheless, Mr. Reid obtained the signatures of forty of his Senate colleagues on his accusatory letter and read the letter aloud on the floor of the Senate.

The letter was delivered, and Mr. Limbaugh ultimately obtained it. Mr. Limbaugh publicly exhibited it to an audience in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 11. The next day he placed the letter for sale at public auction at eBay.com.[24] The letter was sold for $2.1 million. Rush donated the entire proceeds to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, and included a matching contribution of his own. In his remarks on the air on the day that the auction ended, and for several days before that, Mr. Limbaugh speculated that Senator Reid probably never imagined that his letter would even be made public, much less set a record for the most expensive charity auction in the records of eBay.com.[25]

At noon EDT October 19, 2007, Senator Reid spoke again to this issue on the floor of the Senate, taking note of the astonishing auction price that the letter was sure to fetch (the auction was still running at the time). He suggested in his remarks that he had spoken to Mr. Mays personally about the prospect of the public auction and had expressed doubts that such an auction would fetch more than a trifling sum.[26] Rush Limbaugh played the recording of Mr. Reid's remarks on his radio program and scathingly suggested that Mr. Reid was now attempting to take credit after the fact for the success of the auction and the massive charitable donation that would result from it.[27]

Images of the text of the letter, and the signatures of the Senators, appear below:

Remarks about slavery and race

A month after Reid compared Republican opponents of government health care to supporters of slavery,[28] it came to light that Reid had made remarks referring to Barack Obama's race during the presidential campaign.[29] Reid had called then-Senator Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries "light skinned" and "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

  • The authors describe Reid assessing Obama's strengths as a candidate. Reid, they write, "believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama -- a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,' as he said privately. Reid was convinced, in fact, that Obama's race would help him more than hurt him in a bid for the Democratic nomination."[30]

After that, political commentators began "arguing over whether those comments by Reid constitute racism".[31] On January 9, 2010 Reid apologized for his "poor choice of words"

A Boston Globe op-ed said Senator Reid "said nothing wrong".[32] Ann Coulter wrote, "Democrats regularly say things that would end the career of any conservative who said them." [2]

In August 2010, Reid tries some racial politics and told a crowd of supporters that he doesn't know "how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican."

  • In a follow-up remark, again more obsession with Race baiting, “because the wave of immigrants we have now — their skin's a tone darker than ours — doesn't make it any different.” [33]

Quotes

Seniors love to get them — junk mail. It's sometimes their only way of communicating, or feeling they're part of the real world.[34]

See also

References

  1. http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/early-voting-irregularities-create-suspicion-of-fraud/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OTB+%28Outside+The+Beltway+%7C+OTB%29
  2. https://www.wnd.com/2013/01/senator-harry-reid-is-still-an-idiot/
  3. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/7/hurt-improbable-reign-harry-reid-mumbling-gangster/
  4. Even Former Dem Leader Harry Reid Blasts 'Medicare for All' and Open Border Proposals
  5. Harry Reid Calls Trump 'a Very, Very Smart Man' While Warning Democrats, Trump Thanks Him
  6. http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_Reid.html
  7. https://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Nov-14-Sun-2004/news/25258027.html
  8. http://www.nndb.com/people/292/000032196/
  9. Nevada - Election Results 2010
  10. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/r000146/
  11. http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/harry_reid_protesters_evil-mongers/
  12. http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=53320#408
  13. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00048
  14. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00402
  15. https://www.lifenews.com/state4369.html
  16. http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=4321
  17. http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53320&type=category&category=37&go.x=4&go.y=5
  18. http://www.judicialwatch.org/printer_6091.shtml
  19. https://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/fbi-reid-campaig-finance/2013/04/17/id/500006
  20. https://dailycaller.com/2013/05/16/did-the-irs-give-romneys-tax-returns-to-harry-reid/
  21. Reid The Reaper: Dems plan Iraq Awakening's wake, by Daniel Clark, New Media Alliance. Retrieved 06/04/07.
  22. The entire government has failed us on Iraq, Keith Olbermann, MSNBC Countdown, May 24, 2007.
  23. Reid, Harry, et al. "Letter to Mark P. Mays of Clear Channel Communications." Electronic Office of US Senator Harry Reid, October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  24. Auction listing of original of Harry Reid letter. eBay.com. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  25. Limbaugh, Rush H., remarks heard on his radio program on October 19, 2007, at about 12:15 p.m. EDT, or 16:15 p.m. UTC
  26. Reid, Harry M. "Remarks on the Floor of the United States Senate regarding Letter to Mark P. Mays." Captured and published by Breitbart TV. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  27. Reid, Harry; remarks on the floor of the United States Senate on October 19, 2007, at 12:00 noon EDT. Played and commented upon by Rush H. Limbaugh on his radio program, beginning 12:35 p.m. EDT.
  28. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/07/reid-compares-health-care-reform-foes-slavery-supporters/
  29. Reid's comments were included in the book Game Change
  30. Washington Post - January 10, 2010
  31. Bigots and the Press - Mark Hyman
  32. What’s wrong with ‘Negro,’ anyway?
  33. Rubio Blasts Reid for Saying He Doesn't Understand How Hispanics Could Be Republican, FOXNews, August 11, 2010
  34. Harry Reid: Seniors Love Junk Mail Connection to Real World

External links