Reid Calls * a 'Loser'

[paineinthearse]

Harry Reid: "The man's father is a wonderful human being," Reid said in response to a question about Bush's policies. "I think this guy is a loser."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/06/AR2005050601814.html

Reid Calls Bush a 'Loser'

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 7, 2005; A05

The Senate's top Democrat, Harry M. Reid of Nevada, called President Bush a "loser" yesterday just about the time Air Force One was touching down on foreign soil. Reid immediately called the White House to express regret. The remark violated the restraint that the opposition party customarily exercises when a president is abroad and reflected the acrid environment on Capitol Hill as Republicans prepare to change a rule that lets Democrats use delaying tactics to block the confirmation of judges. Reid made the remark while discussing the filibuster issue with about 60 Del Sol High School juniors, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Web site.

"The man's father is a wonderful human being," Reid said in response to a question about Bush's policies. "I think this guy is a loser."

Reid spoke about the time Bush landed in Latvia at the start of a five-day European trip. Aides said Reid realized right away that he had overstepped. He at first tried to call Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. but when he could not reach him because the presidential party had headed to bed, the senator talked to deputy chief of staff Karl Rove. Reid later called the Review-Journal to say he had "apologized for what I said." Reid told Rove that he wanted to express his regret, and asked Rove to pass that on to the president, the aides said.

The Republican National Committee issued a statement calling the comment "a sad development but not surprising from the leader of a party devoid of optimism, ideas or solutions." Reid's aides said his Nevada offices were flooded with complaints, as a result of the GOP aggressiveness. Two weeks ago, Reid essentially called Bush a liar when Vice President Cheney said he agreed with Senate Republicans about changing the filibuster rule. Reid said that violated a commitment Bush had made to stay out of the fight. Reid said that it "appears he was not being honest." The White House referred reporters to the RNC statement.

RNC press release: http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=5433

Friday, May 06, 2005
Statement On Sen. Harry Reid’s Comment Today Calling The President A "Loser"


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracey Schmitt
202-863-8614
WASHINGTON -RNC Communications Director Brian Jones today issued the following statement on Sen. Harry Reid’s comment calling the President a “loser”:

“Sen. Reid’s comments are a sad development but not surprising from the leader of a party devoid of optimism, ideas or solutions to the issues people care about most. The President will continue reaching across party lines to save Social Security, enact an energy policy, grow our economy and support our troops.”

The RNC press release fails to mention all its acrid and devisive attacks from the January-February time period, see DU archives for the series.

[Momgonepostal]

1. Too bad Reid apologized

The more I hear about him, the more I like him.

[NVMojo]

2. heavy handed mods locked the official story on this from the LasVegas RJ

when I posted it earlier this morning but here is the story from a reporter who was there. (funny how volunteers get so heavyhanded pretending they are news editors). You will notice that the comments have been spread "out of context" by the Republican asshole National Committee for their own gain.

DEL SOL HIGH SCHOOL APPEARANCE: Reid calls Bush 'a loser'

Sen. Harry Reid went to Del Sol High School on Friday to teach students "Checks and Balances 101."

But in the course of a discussion on filibusters and Senate rules, Washington's top Democrat ended up giving the 60 juniors a good lesson in partisan politics, particularly about the commander in chief.

"The man's father is a wonderful human being," Reid said in response to a question about President Bush's policies. "I think this guy is a loser.

"I think President Bush is doing a bad job," he added to a handful of chuckles.

The "loser" comment drew a quick response from the GOP.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/May-07-Sat-2005/news/26464350.html

[FourStarDemocrat]

3. Reid should have just said, I admire the president's father, but -

I'm still waiting to see even a smidgen of awareness of the struggle that the middle and working classes go through to provide for themselves in this country, in terms of job security, wages and health care. I'm deeply concerned about the future of this great nation under the leadership of the current administration.

[GetTheRightVote]

4. All I can say about it is that the truth hurts, he is a loser

Point taken Sen. Reid, glad to see you have some fight in there against this evil man. He deserves no more respect then he has given to the People he has killed in Iraq, end of story. * sucks and that is the story of his evil life.

I called my Senator, Bill Nelson and told him to thank Sen Reid, maybe not the most tackful way to make the statement but I like to see my Dems fighting these evil men and pointing out what losers they really are, I like Sen Reid even more today then I did yesterday, thank you Harry.

:kick:

[Spinzonner]

5. Bush is a User

The country is the loser for it

[FreedomAngel82]

6. Really

All they said about John Kerry calling Bush a loser is being nice.

[paineinthearse]

7. At least we know how Reid feels.

He said it, the thought is out.