Harry Reid: If Lawmakers Didn't Know About NSA Surveillance, It's Their Fault

[Cali_Democrat]

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) chastised lawmakers on Tuesday for claiming they had not been briefed on the National Security Agency's sweeping surveillance programs, saying it's their own fault if they didn't know.

"For senators to complain that 'I didn't know this was happening,' we've had many, many meetings that have been both classified and unclassified that members have been invited to," Reid told reporters at his weekly Capitol Hill briefing.

"If they don't come and take advantage of this, I can't say enough to say they shouldn't come and say 'I wasn't aware of this,' because they've had every opportunity to be aware of these programs," Reid added.

Reid's remarks came in response to complaints from numerous legislators who have said they didn't know about the programs, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the former top Senate Republican on the Homeland Security Committee.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/11/harry-reid-nsa_n_3423393.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

[kentuck]

1. You old bastard.

You waited until the last minute to bring up debate on continuing FISA courts, between Christmas and New Year, then you and Feinstein wanted everyone to know how urgent it was to get it approved again. You're fooling no one on this one, Harry.

[Tx4obama]

2. Republicans have been too busy the past few years trying to repeal Obamacare...

... bashing Obama, coming up with 'fake' scandals and then holding useless hearings, fundraising etc.

They haven't had any spare time to pay attention to the important things like doing their job.

[Major Hogwash]

3. Boo-yah!! Atta boy, Harry!!!

Kick 'em in the nutz, and treat 'em like the weasel-faced liars that they are!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Yup. Nobody wants to own it now. A collective "who me"(?) can be heard all over Capitol Hill.

They're as bad as Snowden. Own it, and take your lumps for it.

[Laelth]

8. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[BenzoDia]

5. Of course they did. All of the 'surprised' lawmakers are just trying to save their own asses

They peddle their routines to their constituents and are now in damage control since their dirty secret came out.

[Laelth]

7. They didn't know? Ha! As if.

They want to pretend they didn't know because now their constituents are mad. I am pleased that Harry Reid called them out.

-Laelth