Reid touts NRA tie, reaches out to activists as Tea Partiers rally
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/27/art.reidsign0327.gi.jpg caption="The hometown of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the site of a Tea Party rally Saturday."]
Searchlight, Nevada (CNN) - As thousands of Tea Party activists rally in his hometown of Searchlight, Nevada, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is burnishing his Second Amendment credentials.
Reid’s re-election campaign describes National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre as "one of the senator’s supporters." The two are at a $60 million Clark County shooting park which, according to the Reid campaign, wouldn't have opened without the senator’s help.
In a statement to CNN regarding Saturday’s Tea Party rally in his hometown, the Senate’s top Democrat said: "I'm happy so many people came to see my hometown of Searchlight and spend their out-of-state money especially in these tough economic times. Ultimately though this election will be decided by Nevadans, not people from other states who parachute in for one day to have a tea party."
Related: Tea Party protest goes to Reid's hometown
Reid’s camp is trying to welcome the Tea Partiers. The Nevada State Democratic Party and the Reid campaign have set up a hospitality tent not far from the Tea Party rally site. "We are serving Tea and donut holes in recognition that Senator Reid just passed health care reform and we're closing the Medicare donut hole," says Zac Petkanas, deputy communications director of the Reid campaign. He adds it’s staffed, "with real Nevadans from Nevada and folks from Searchlight who support Reid."
The Nevada Democrats hold their big Jefferson Jackson dinner Saturday night where former Vice President Al Gore will be the keynote speaker.
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Leave it to Harry Reid to find a smart way to handle the tea baggers. I love the tea and donut hole ideal.
I am watching Sarah Palin on television right now, although she is speaking in Searchlight, about 30 minutes from my home in Las Vegas. And, I am listening to her speak to Nevadans about getting rid of Harry Reid.
Well, Sarah & Friends, please get out of here. Get out of our state.
We'll decide for ourselves who we'll have represent us.
We don't need outsiders coming into our state and telling us to oust our most senior senator – who happens to be the SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.
As a true independant, I DO NOT AGREE with everything Harry Reid has ever done or voted on. But, it is insane and ridiculous to think that my home state of Nevada would be any better off electing some nobody and ousting the Senate Majority Leader from Nevada's leadership.
Nevadans will make our own choices. We do not need a traveling band of retirees coming in and telling us what we need.
Sen. Reid, there is no need to try to appease these people. They hate you, and seem to hate America. Don't grovel- Don't give up your high standards for these haters.
Thinkless Point Nuts are still blowing hot air. Maybe they all will float to Mars and think it's American.
The article on the Tea Party rally in Searchlight mentions 1,000 people. Compare this number to the rally in Hyde Park when Barack Obama was elected President and you will have done a reality check on the real people of America versus these nutjobs. Also, one does not see many black or asian tea partiers-hmmm. Klan rally anyone?
Senator Reid, please point out to your constituents in Nevada that without the help of the Federal Government, Las Vegas would not have water or electricity (same could be said for McCain's Arizona). Also, a huge number of jobs in Nevada are government related, including mining on federal land.
"Ultimately though this election will be decided by Nevadans, not people from other states who parachute in for one day to have a tea party"
Mr. Reid - that's awesome! You are so right - parachute groups don't count.
Nuff said.
What a good welcome for the visitors Bye Hon Reids.Keep your good work for the Nevadas.It is certain you will be re/elected.Let Palin mock herself as champion of rich to her failur.
If Tea Party people wish to live in the past, why not compare the republican party to the Nazi Party.
1. They both used fear to push their agenda.
2. They both condone violence against everyone, every idea & every political issue if it doesn't fit their agenda.
3. They both lied by pretending someone attacked them (Cantor's office) when in reality they probably staged the event themselves.
4. Should the republican party (with the help of a small number of Jews, Blacks & Gays) ever take control of the Presidency, Senate & House [the Supreme Court is already in their backpocket], then watch out minorities because they will first annihilate your rights, then imprison you on trumped up charges before executing you as an enemy of the state.
I rest my 'case' which is not the same as a republican 'gun case'.
No ranting, no threats of violence, sounds like an adult. Obviously Reid is not a wingnut, Tea Partyer or Republican.
Serving Tea to Teapartiers and donut holes to symbolize closing medicare donut holes...simply awesome.
Look....the Republicans need to stop pulling Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln out of their asses. They are dead. The only presidents that the people remember is George Bush and what a horrid job he did to this country. Good luck with that!
Harry Reid said....
"Ultimately though this election will be decided by Nevadans, not people from other states who parachute in for one day to have a tea party."
How true. Everyone has a right to peacfully protest, but you can't vote unless you live there! lol
What an excellent idea - DNC should hold a Tea & donut hole reception where there's a tea party rally - What a great welcoming gesture to the Tea partiers!
Reid is a joke and will be unemployed in November
Just like the Democrats. Go ahead and trivialize what people think.
The ARROGANCE of this man is AMAZING!!!!
I just finished watching Sarah Palin speaking in Searchlight, Nevada. She took shots at Pres. Obama, sarcastically saying that she could not use her sunglasses because it would interfere with her use of a teleprompter. Yet you can clearly see she was referring to pages of notes on the podium DUH!
No wonder the Republican party and ‘soundbite’ Sarah only could attract a people of a certain mentality.
CNN interviewed some members of the crowd, and their responses showed that they were just as empty as Sarah….no substance.
C'mon, you Americans can do much better!
"Out of State" people ? Huh, evidently Al Gore and the other attendees will be from Nevada as well. I don't suppose we'll get to see who attends this dinner bit I'm guessing a lot of them will fly in for the gala event.
A Home Grown Extremists is what they should be called.
"Thousands?" Come on CNN isn't that a bit of a stretch?
I think this just proves who has more class and civility.
Reid needs to start packing because real soon he's getting voted out of office and this country will be 100% better off without him.
How do you run out of office because you felt people were questioning your leadership and now you are labeling all kinds of charges against all Democrats left and right? I see so much hypocrisy in all that little Sarah is doing. I hope people will wake up and realize that little Sarah is using them for money.
Go Reid go
The Tea baggers are so out-of-touch with most Americans. The "wingnuts" (religious right-wing nut jobs) are taking over the republican party. The moderate republicans (majority of the GOP) cannot get a word in edge wise over the extremist on the right
Good Strategy, give the Mad Hatters some tea.