In defense of Harry Reid..

[Fumesucker]

Why are so many people upset over Harry's statement that the Islamic community center should be built elsewhere?

The Honorable Mr Reid is just being sensible and pragmatic, doing what so many posters here at DU seem to want, take the hard and demanding triangulation route in order to please as many moderate centrists as possible and don't stand firm on left wing pony wishing.

We all know a huge percentage of Americans are going to think negatively of any Democrat who stands up for the rights of Muslims to have halal ponies in this country, it wouldn't be sensible or pragmatic to upset so many voters over such a trivial issue.

After all, we have political power to think about, the Democrats could stand to lose some of that political power if they lose too many moderate centrist swing voters and the professional left will vote for Democrats no matter what they do. I mean what are the professional leftists gonna do, vote Republican? It is to laugh.

Harry Reid needs to do some hippie punching in order to demonstrate that he's not too far to the left like all those professional leftists we've heard so much about lately, this is an ideal issue for him to separate himself from the Commie, Marxist, dope smoking Pinko hippies and show some real 'Murkin spine by standing up to those who would see our nation groaning under the shackles of Sharia law.


I recommend everyone carefully check and recheck the calibration on their snarkometers before replying to this OP.

[county worker]

1. Well if a person wants to make their judgment about Reid based on that one

statement, I don't think much of their judgment.

I don't agree with the statement but it isn't going to cause the harm that Sharon Angle can unless we let her.

[Fumesucker]

2. Exactly my point..

It's far more important to hold political power than to stand up for some silly principle like freedom of woo.

Principles can't vote, congressmen can.

[fogonthelake]

3. I saw Reid being smart in his statement.....

He challenged the Repugs to do the right thing. It was pragmatic in this sense and I applaud him for his statement of opposition.



...
"The First Amendment protects freedom of religion," spokesman Jim Manley said in a statement. "Sen. Reid respects that but thinks that the mosque should be built some place else. If the Republicans are being sincere, they would help us pass this long overdue bill to help the first responders whose health and livelihoods have been devastated because of their bravery on 911, rather than continuing to block this much-needed legislation."

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/16/reid-breaks-with-obama-opposes-mosque-near-ground-zero/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_politicalticker+%28Blog%3A+Political+Ticker%29

[wtmusic]

4. Harry didn't need to take any position at all.

"That's a local issue and something in which I don't need to get involved."

All he had to say.

[walldude]

5. I am going to continue to watch this thread...

Because I'm not sure what I am seeing. Actually I am pretty sure of what I am seeing, I just want to see it play out before I congratulate you.

[monmouth]

7. Want some popcorn?...n/t

[Goblinmonger]

6. Bravo

My favorite: "take the hard and demanding triangulation route in order to please as many moderate centrists as possible and don't stand firm on left wing pony wishing."

[name not needed]

I understand he's trying to get reelected. He's still fucking wrong on this one

As are a majority of the simple minded fools in this country

[ljm2002]

8. I think it's all about the Nevada electorate...

...and they are pretty rabid on this issue as far as I can tell.

Now Harry is hardly being a profile in courage with his remarks. Unlike Obama, I think Harry should have just stayed out of it. He was under no obligation to make any remarks one way or the other. Now he has annoyed the base, and the lunatics who are jumping on this issue don't respect his position either because they see it for what it is: pandering.

Bad move, Harry. Wrong on the issue and wrong on the politics.