Recommended reading

If you haven’t already, log on to yesterday’s New York Times website and check out a story by veteran snoop Robert Pear. Pear has long been known in this town for diving deeper into healthcare minutiae than any of his colleagues and uncovering some real whoppers of stories on Republicans and Democrats alike. Today’s story on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and his heavy-handed ways of influencing the health reform measure as it moves through the chamber is just another indictment of the lengths he’ll go to protect his own political hide.

What’s amazing to me isn't that Reid is pulling stunts like these. After all, he’s supposed to have the interests of the nation as a whole at the forefront on his agenda. That’s why his colleagues elected him majority leader — you’re actually supposed to lead and selflessly put the interests of the chamber first before your own narrow, parochial ones. What’s more unsettling is the response out of his shop. When asked, his spokesman happily jumped on the question, responding, “Sen. Reid makes no apologies for fighting for federal money for his constituents.” Whoa! What a tough guy this Harry is! He’s “fighting” for Nevadans! The rest of the nation’s constituents can go pound sand and pay through the nose come April 15, but those fair citizens of Nevada, they can line up at the trough and get their federal money, no napkins required!
 
C’mon. If Reid were so courageous in his actions, then why did the bill text never mention the state of Nevada by name when outlining the benefits? He didn’t want to upset his other colleagues, who took it on the chin so he can rest a bit easier on the reelection trail.
 
Some will say this is of no consequence and certainly no surprise. After all, I can’t imagine other senators in the body would vote to give Reid a pass and have their states’ constituents foot the bill.
 
It’s just sad. Sad that we have so-called distinguished members of that august body who stoop to new lows to squeeze more money out of taxpayers and feather their own reelection nests in the process. This all from a tough-talking senator who pledges allegiance to fiscal discipline. Please …
 

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