Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been called the “most hated” leader in Congress. This is because he is a bully that uses his position and power to influence and intimidate other members of Congress, business people and regular citizens.
Reid is also hated due to his appearance of being corrupt, making shady land deals and accepting bribes. He is also viewed unfavorably for his naked nepotism, getting cushy jobs and lobbying positions for his sons, and giving over $30k in campaign funds to his granddaughter.
In fact, Reid recently had an ethics complaint filed against him by the Louisiana GOP for allegedly using his official website and Twitter account to launch partisan attacks against Republicans and their financial backers, which is against Senate ethics rules.
With all of this against him, it is no surprise that the GOP has focused on Reid in this midterm election season. In a move reminiscent of 2010′s “Fire Pelosi” campaign, Republicans are pushing a “Fire Reid” meme this time.
(H/T: Christian Science Monitor)
By going after Senator Reid, the theory goes, Republicans will make him poisonous to Democratic senators in tough reelection battles around the country – the very Democrats Reid needs to hold onto the majority leader job.
Republicans say the tactic worked in 2010, when they made “Fire Pelosi” the rallying cry in their effort to retake the House and boot then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of the speaker’s chair. The Democrats got skunked, and Speaker Pelosi got demoted.
The Republican National Committee is calling out Reid over his latest ethics violation. They have also pointed out the hypocrisy of Reid’s obsession with the billionaire Koch brothers, who he denounces for funding the GOP, yet has received contributions from them before.
Reid’s spokesman, Adam Jentleson, ignored the ethics complaints and instead predictably railed against the Koch brothers. Democrats have also inferred that Republican’s focus on Reid means their attacks on Obamacare aren’t working.
“Republicans’ blind obedience to the shadowy billionaire Koch brothers is on full display today,” said spokesman Adam Jentleson in a statement. “Nothing says ‘Republicans are the party of the top 1 percent’ like lashing out with meritless complaints as a screen to defend the Koch brothers as they rig the system to benefit billionaires like themselves.”
Aside from the ethics complaint, Reid is also being called out for misleading and untruthful ads being run by his super PAC.
One ad goes after Rep. Bill Cassidy (R) of Louisiana, a top challenger to vulnerable Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) of Louisiana. It accused the Koch brothers of funding “the fight to let flood insurance premiums soar” and of trying to buy Senator Landrieu’s seat for Congressman Cassidy. According to Fact Checker, the ad employed “a very deceptive technique: stringing together a variety of true (or semi-true) statements in an effort to completely mislead viewers.”
It is unknown whether the focus on firing Harry Reid will be effective come November 2014.
“Will all of these charges against Reid stick? Probably not,” says Republican strategist Ford O’Connell. “But Republicans loathe Harry Reid. He’s on a par with Nancy Pelosi. It helps them put a face on another reason why they should take the Senate.”
The attacks on Reid also energize mega-donors, who may then open their wallets again, Mr. O’Connell says.
The strategy of demonizing Nancy Pelosi seems to have worked in 2010, so it is little surprise that the GOP would attempt to employ the same strategy against Reid, as he is arguably even more corrupt and out-of-touch than Pelosi is.
Reid isn’t up for reelection until 2016, and there are rumors he may retire. The people of Nevada could do the rest of America a favor and make sure that he doesn’t run again. It’d be great if Nevada would fire Reid, remove him from office and hold him accountable for his dirty-handed tactics and criminally corrupt behavior.
Read article here: http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/fire-harry-reid-movement/
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