Posted on 06/13/2012 5:00:46 PM PDT by mdittmar
Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Republican extremism. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
Last week, in a moment of candor, House Republicans admitted they’ve given up on legislating until after the election.
Although there’s plenty more work to be done – especially building on 27 straight months of private-sector job growth – Republicans are lurching from one recess to another.
Last week’s unscripted moment was a window into today’s Republican Party – a party that cares more about winning elections than creating jobs.
Then this week we got another frank assessment of the Republican agenda from inside looking out.
Former Governor Jeb Bush admitted Monday that his father, George H. W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan would have had a hard time fitting in with today’s Republican Party.
He said today’s GOP is defined by “an orthodoxy that doesn’t allow for disagreement.”
Governor Bush is right. The Republican Party no longer has room for moderates – or anyone unwilling to march in lock step with the radical Tea Party.
That’s apparent every day on Capitol Hill.
It was obvious from the first weeks of this Congress that the House had been taken over by extremists with no desire work together for the sake of the economy and no concept of the meaning of compromise.
But over the last year and a half it has become clear that Republicans in the Senate are also in thrall to the Tea Party.
We see that extremism in this Chamber – where Republicans have blocked or stalled every job creation measure Democrats have brought to the Senate floor.
And we see it on the campaign trail – where Mitt Romney told a crowd he opposes hiring more teachers, firefighters and police officers.
Putting more teachers in the classroom used to be a goal Democrats and Republicans could agree on.
Sending more cops out on patrol used to be a goal Democrats and Republicans could agree on.
Hiring more brave men and women to fight fires and save lives used to be a goal Democrats and Republicans could agree on.
But today’s radical Republicans have another agenda: drag down the economy because it’s good for Republican politics.
Yesterday, Governor Bush said his father and President Reagan – neither of whom could win a Republican primary today – both “sacrificed political points for good public policy.” He’s right.
Ronald Reagan would not have put up with what’s going on in the Republican Party today. For him, country came first, not elections.
George H. W. Bush would not have put up with what’s going on in the Republican Party today. He was a pragmatist, not an ideologue. And while he was a conservative Republican, you could work with him.
But today’s Republicans aren’t interested in passing good policy.
And they aren’t interested in creating jobs.
They’re too obsessed with defeating President Obama.
That’s their number one goal. But don’t take my word for it. The Minority Leader said so himself.
This is what he said: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term President.”
America is battling its way back from the greatest recession since the Great Depression.
And although we have created 4.3 million private sector jobs, there’s more work to do.
But Republicans aren’t focused on jobs – they’ve been too busy checking the political scoreboard.
“Culture of corruption”.
Own it Pinky!
Why should the Republicans help obamma get reelected by helping him create jobs?
Though any jobs created now will not make a difference in November.
By the way Reid, who killed Keystone?
Reid’s a Slimy Lying Hypocrite ping. Thanks mdittmar.
“Pinky” Reid, calling OTHERS extreme?
What was that old saw about pots & kettles?
Glass houses?
Pinky is an eco-nut pawn, happily so.
He stuck us with SEVERAL unneeded and unwanted “Wilderness”.
He blocked construction of a much needed coal fired generating plant in No. Nevada.
But he can’t spend “Green” project money fast enough!
Damn straight!
First of all, we're sick to death of squish Republicans "working with" RATs to destroy our birthright...our country.
Second of all, the Socialist RATs have no interest whatsoever in promoting the private sector, only government jobs.
Thirdly, the democRATs need to start worrying about "working with" Teapublicans.
He is a little sleaze.
Start defunding the ones that resist. Void all of the One's executive orders then get to work on killing all of his new regulations and CommieCare. That's just for starters. Doin' right aint got no end!
the radical Tea Party.
Normal red-blooded American Patriots ARE NOT RADICALS!
However the Alinsky, Marxist, Keynesian Communist anti-American (progressives) are.
over the last year and a half it has become clear that Republicans in the Senate are also in thrall to the Tea Party.
GOOD! It's about time. (but probably a lie)
Radical?
Like Van Jones, the New Party Candidate Obama, Jeff Jones, George Soros, Rev. Wright, Rashid Khalidi, Hilda Solis, Cass Sunstein, Valarie Jarrett, John Holdren, Andy Stern, Malik Shabazz.....
FUHR, you jackass.
How can Harry Reid be such a freakshow?
Green jobs lost billions.
Keystone. GM. Unchecked Federal hiring. Open borders.
Unions slurping up pensions over current services.
Harry Reid is a unmitigaged liar, crook and jackass.
It’s kind of a Duh. But a lot of voters understand and agree with the tactic.
If you want me to lose my temper, just say, “Pinky/Dingy/Harry Reid.” Or any combination of same.
Sends me right over the edge, it does.
And his constituency I would say are a bunch of inbred, idiots who live 20 miles past the Stupid live here line
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