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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Good for Reid and his people!
Senator Reid will prevail. People are much more informed than the tea party group assumes. What is comical is that it is a sure bet that those in the tea party will be first in-line to take advantage of any help offered by the recently passed health care legislation. On the other hand, a good way to show the strength of their conviction is to turn down the option to keep a child on their policy until 26.
Give 'em a smile, Harry! Way to go!
I don't want to label all tea paty members as raist and uneducated. But you are making stereotypyes look pretty accurate.
I do not think that Reid will win any votes from the Tea Party crowd - they are too incensed by what their leaders say to listen to him, and I am not sure he really has anything useful to say to them, anyway.
Ironically, this sort of stunt will probably help him more than hurt him.
What is most interesting to me is how so many 'out of work' people [because of 8 years under George '3 below plant life' Bush] have the resources to attend these rallies.
I guess the republican party like the Catholic Church is so rich, they can afford to cover-up the inadequacies of their policies & politics by putting the blame on someone else for their;
Lies
Greed
Cover-ups
Infidelities
Violence
I think we are speaking here about doing things by the 'back door' .....
something both the Catholic Priests & republican Congressman are experts at.
Please don't pander to the parrots. Stick to the substantive truth instead of hate spurring talking points. This is all their leaders like Palin are able to put forth. They have nothing to offer so they spread fear and hate. It's not that hard to see.
when I first heard of the tea party movement I thought of a real grass roots movement by regular folks who wanted smaller goverment and less taxes for ALL working Americans. But now when I hear about this group all I can picture is a bunch of angry Republicans, still sour because they lost the election in 2008 and on top of that after that little stunt in DC this week also a bunch of racists intolerants that hate the president not just because he's a Democrat but also because he "doesn't look like them". And even though this is the image they are starting to project, they don't seem too interested in correcting it. They'll call it "isolated incidents" or the "actions of just a few", but it doesn't cease. So now when I hear of a Tea Party tour or rally the image of KLAN RALLY comes to mind...sad indeed.
Tea party baggers stand history on its head. A Senator that fought to have health insurance coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans is being vilified. Tea party baggers want to repeal the health care bill just passed knowing fully well that healthcare is a necessity.
Stay strong Senator Reid. The real tragedy will be if reasonable people in Nevada sit on their hands and allow these extremist tea party baggers to intimidate and defeat honorable men like Senator Reid.
Can these people in vote in this state? The Tea Party is turning into Grateful Dead fans, they just travel from one town to another without any clue what is going on around them.
Sen. John McCain is now an officially member of the Tea Party. What a joke! The Tea Party is the lap dog for the GOP. Sarah Palin is the leader of the Tea Party the Republicans are headed for trouble in November.
Face it, the Tea Partiers aren't as mad at Harry as they're just Mad.
Period. Roll Credits. Its just the "Angry Coalition" under another name. The array of litmus tests these folks are going to come up with would make Joe McCarthy go "Man, that's harsh".
Want to irritate a Tea Partier? Easy. Just look at the world ANY differently then they do. That's all it takes and is, in itself, a sad commentary of the state of the body politic in a nutshell.
Where is Howard Beale when you need him, Eh?
(and i'll bet a fair fraction of the Tea Partiers out there will have to go out and ask someone what that means).
Sighs.
Go for it Harry! We all love you for your efforts in passing health
care.
It's hard to believe there are people out there that support a party that
has never represented their interest. And Sarah Palin! Come on people.
Does she have you believing she is the second coming of Christ yet?
Get off your ignorant, lazy asses and investigate the REAL FACTS. If
your going to blindly follow someone, at least look for someone who
has a brain!
they all drove to searchlight in their very large, air conditioned RV's. hmm. just plain folk i guess.
Geniuses!
The tea party are some sorry racist people who dont have a life.
Reid is a great senator who fighting for american people who needs help from the government.
Tea party go home
I like Senator Reid and the Nevada State Democratic Party's spunk. You're great Harry. Don't let them push you around.
I don,t know who there tryin to kid they are republican,s and the problem is that there not the smart one,s
Well done Senator Reid and Staff.
It should be called the traveling red neck riviera party!
Senator Harry Reid is a true American. I salute you and wish your family quick recovery from the car accidate. God be with you Harry Ried.
Love your answer Harry...let them waste their time and money! Can't believe there are people out there who don't understand you are fighting for them and their loved ones with health reform.
I applaud the media's coverage of the conservative agenda. 10,000 people who don't pay taxes (because they are in the lower income brackets), or understand policy gather to demonstrate and protest man who voted for a health care reform bill that probably helps them the most and there is no end to the coverage. Where were you when between 150,000 to 250,000 people marched in separate anti iraq war events in San Francisco, NYC or Washington DC? The medias support of the sensationalism of the right wing agenda embodied by 10% of our population is the reason why the american dream is slipping away-
I welcome the Tea Party as well........It's a free country, and they have the right to protest. However my support goes to the DEMS simply b/c they live in reality, where issues in this country must be addressed. Perhaps the GOP, after a thrashing in November, will finally want to work at solving the tough issues facing the nation.
Welcome the Tea Partiers???? Is this the same man that said he didn't care what the American people wanted????? Looks like he doesn't want to join the ranks of the unemployed. That's OK Mr. Reid. You still get your full salary even after you leave, unlike most of us poor slobs that get no unemployment anymore. Oh yes, and now we ARE FORCED to BUY INSURANCE with our non existent paychecks. Have a great day! Vote 'em in. Vote 'em out!