Reality Check: Reid blames Angle for ad urging Latinos not to vote
New York (CNN) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came out swinging against GOP opponent Sharron Angle over a Spanish-speaking ad urging Hispanics not to vote.
"Listen to her latest – running ads on Hispanic television telling people not to vote," Reid said to a booing crowd at University of Nevada at Las Vegas. "She's trying to keep people from voting."
The bruising accusation was carried live on CNN.
But Angle isn't the one running the ad Reid was talking about. It was produced and paid for by Latinos for Reform, a group headed by conservative Robert Deposada.
Angle spokesman Jarred Agen called Reid's allegation a "a blatant, desperate lie."
Deposada purchased time on the Spanish speaking network Univision. Before Reid spoke, both Deposada and Univision told CNN that the network decided to pull the ad before it even aired on television. A Univision spokeswoman said the ad's message runs counter to the network's efforts to encourage Hispanics to vote.
Still, Reid not only suggested Angle was responsible for the ad, he called on her to denounce it.
"Can you really think of anything less patriotic or more offensive than telling people not to vote?" Reid asked the crowd.
"How could she possibly not speak out against what they are doing? But she hasn't said a single word. What she has done, recommended, is despicable and she should denounce it," said Reid.
Reid spokesman Jon Summers defended the remarks about Angle, telling CNN, "She doesn't get a pass on this one."
"With her silent support, she owns the ads as much the people who produced them. She's the only one who hasn't condemned them," said Summers.
Angle's spokesman told CNN, "We encourage all Nevadans to vote, and they should vote for Sharron Angle."
Agen also called Reid a "hypocrite" since the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is running a television ad encouraging people to take their anger out at the gym, rather than voting for Sharron Angle.
"It implies to all the frustrated voters (and there are many) to go to the gym instead of voting their mind," said Agen in an e-mail.
Multiple Reid sources say they are hoping that the specter of an ad encouraging Hispanics not to vote, coupled with Angle's comments telling some Hispanic students they look Asian, will help the Senate Democratic leader lure votes from the Latino community.
"It helps drive Hispanics into our open arms [and] helps drive Hispanic turnout" said one senior Reid adviser.
Hispanics make up about quarter of Nevada's population. It's a fast growing group in the state with new voters Reid advisers hope he can bring on board.
"It hits a community that Reid desperately needs to show up," said a second source close to Reid, who said his camp is "fishing for every vote they can."
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Angle is full of it! I saw the ad Senator Reid is referring to and it out-and-out tells Latino voters to not vote on November 2.
And just who would benefit from Latinos not voting? Angle – who is running anti-immigrant ads, all of which depict illegal immigrants as Latinos.
The group that's running the ad is a supported of Angle and a proxy for her campaign. Only an ignoramous would deny that!
The economy is bad all over and I know Nevada has an unemployment rate of 14%, but if you Nevadans vote out Harry Reid for this nut job, your unemployment rate will be in the high 20s because you wont get anymore pork from your Majority Leader in the US Senate.
It's a fact, Republicans don't want Hispanics to vote for Democrats, but they do want their vote. Hispanic voters are legal citizens and have the right to vote just as any other citizen and with that comes their right to choose who gets their vote. Furthermore, all Hispanics aren't Democrats and Republicans need to stop stereotyping them as well as others.
Desperate times call for desperate measures but more desperate is a good research assistant!
Of course, there's nothing in there about what the ad actually purports. A nice effort by CNN to continue to keep the electorate int the dark. I'd rate it a 7 out of 10. It would be highter rated, if it wasn't so blatant.
People should automatically vote for Reid knowing full well that the stature that Angle enjoys is created solely by corporate media conglomerates in this country. She wouldn't have stood a chance at any other time, but thanks to the current political climate, and the SCOTUS Citizen's United case, we are in a different age. I fear it. I fear the lack of choice that the consumer – extended to citizen – faces.
Quite frankly I believe it's up to each individual Hispanic voter to decide. If you don't think Democrates have your best interest in mind then, don't vote for him; It's just that simple. However in my opinion, they would be making a huge mistake. Good luck in getting the GOP/Tparty to do anything for you. Hispanic along with all voters for that matter need to realize the President/Democratic Party are not going to solve all the problems in two years. This country is clearly headed in the right direction and it's ridiculous to act like nothing is getting done. Don't waste your vote, vote smart.
There are so many unregulated groups spending on a candidate's behalf without any actual ties to that candidate, that it's hard to pin it down as black-and-white as Harry does here. But the principle is the same. The group funding the 'Latinos shouldnt vote' message are the exact same groups that are supporting Sharron Angle. That's more than guilt by association, it's downright complicit. Harry's right to call her on it, and the wishy-washy snarky response (that people should go vote – for her) just shows how much contempt she has for the hispanic people in her state. As if THAT werent obvious enough with her nonsense about 'they all look the same to me' and wanting to build a taller wall around Mexico, etc etc, etc. This lady is a frontrunner in a race to the bottom of the IQ charts with O'Donnell, Palin, and Beck hard at her heels.
Oh, it's OK then, if your supporters run your ads for you.
Sen Reid has such a wonderful paternal feeling for Latinos. He cares so much for them that he can't imagine them voting for anybody other than a Democrat like him. Where would the Hispanic population of Nevada be without Sen Reid to tell them what to do. His complaint is rediculuous when you consider that the next Governor of the State of Nevada is going to be a Latino! Why would Republicans not want Latinos to vote? Latinos should consider that Sen Reid's gift to their state is the highest UNEMPLOYMENT rate in the nation and impacting Latinos more than many other groups. If Sen Reid goes back to DC you can count on more of the same!
"Senator Reid must pound one point into the minds of Nevada voters..... Who do you think will accomplish more for your state in the next seven years? A first term, junior senator, with no experience, or a man with 24 years seniority who also holds the most powerful position in that chamber? Need he say more?"
The tea Party and their crazy candidates who know nothing about governing or government need to be judged for what they are. NUTS!
It is almost painful to watch a career liberal elitist wallow in self desperation, my God he may actually have to move back to Nevada amongst the common folk and no longer enjoy the fruits of OUR labor.. I did say almost.
Hey good job reid. You can't tell me she would not have used it if given the chance. Vote the repos out
Reid make lots trouble blame s angle so he is better stop blame on her smile
Good job burying the lead on that one. The accusations are false but that wasn't the message you wanted to send. The real story is Deposada, not Reid's desperate grandstanding.
Reid needs to go!