Any ideas why Reid will not attend the State Dinner with the Chinese President tonight?

[AlinPA]

Boehner refused to go, I didn't know about Reid until a reporter at the press conference stated it.

[CoffeeCat]

1. Maybe...

...he bloats up when he eats MSG?

;)

[Ian David]

2. Reid is a Mormon, and alcohol will be served? n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

14. Mormons aren't forbidden to be near alcohol

Additionally, it's like any other religion. Some people strictly observe the rules, others not so much.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Perhaps he had a prior engagement

[JoePhilly]

4. He hates Obama

[hlthe2b]

6. Oh, stop it....

:eyes:

[JoePhilly]

11. My sense ...

Is that this OP appears to be a counter to the discussion about why House Speaker Weeping Orange Boehner continues to decline invitations from Obama.

[hlthe2b]

12. Oh...

I think you needed one of those sarcasm thingies.

[JoePhilly]

15. my bad

[AlinPA]

17. That's not my intention with this post.

[hlthe2b]

5. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has labeled Chinese President Hu Jintao a "dictator."

Reid made his comments on a Nevada television program, "Face to Face with Jon Ralston," the day of Hu's arrival in Washington for a state visit.

Reid was asked about political compromises Tuesday and said he would be meeting with the Chinese president. Said Reid: "He is a dictator" and can do things U.S. politicians cannot. Reid then said maybe he should not have used the word.

Reid declined an invitation to Wednesday's state dinner for Hu. But House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will attend, her office said, despite her history of criticizing China on human rights.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5j6AJpSjvdIpYhds_4vCTtiT4cnYQ?docId=5696767

[AlinPA]

16. Thank you. nt

[Hippo_Tron]

21. Hu Jintao is not a dictator by any means

China is an oligarchy where power is held by influential people in the Communist Party and the military. The President has to hold these people together or he can easily be deposed.

A dictator is one who has absolute, unchecked authority, and is accountable to nobody.

[Jeneral2885]

22. China

in the long tterm is caring about human rights by investing and producing green technology unlike the US where Clinton, Bush and even Obam have done little.

[Godhumor]

24. I would never equate green technology with human rights

China's human rights record with regards to its citizens is much, much, much more laughable than the US'.

[Jeneral2885]

25. Its not equating HR with green technology.

Its not equating HR with green technology.

What's so great about HR? Has it done anything for the developing world? Are African natiosn better off with HR? Did East Asian nations usae HR to develop?

Green Technology is HR. It cares for people.

[barbiegeek]

26. Aren't we an Oligarchy, power held by Corporations & Repugs

[Bad Thoughts]

7. Must he go?

He's not the president of the Senate. He's not the leader of a branch of government. He doesn't sit behind Obama during the state of the union.

Boehner is the head of the House. He is a leader of a branch of government. He will sit behind Obama during the state of the union.

[former9thward]

8. He certainly is a leader of a branch of government.

Check your Constitution. The Senate is right in there. He is probably not going because he called Hu a dictator. Must he go? Of course not, just as no one other than Obama must go.

[Bad Thoughts]

9. No, he isn't

He's the majority leader ... he is a leader of the Democrats of the Senate, which is a partisan position.

If you check the constitution, you will see that the President of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States.

[former9thward]

13. He has the power to determine what bills get to the floor.

I would say that is the definition of what the leader is. Biden has nothing to do with bills in the Senate unless there is a tie. But who cares? Obama is the one throwing the dinner so no one else is obligated to come. When you call the leader of China a dictator you probably don't want to be toasting him at a dinner. And vice versa.

[Bad Thoughts]

23. When that's reflected in the Constitution

I'll agree with you.

[old mark]

10. Maybe he is out whoring with Boehner?

Probably not, though...


mark

[slackmaster]

18. Because Hu will be there.

And What's on second.

[onenote]

19. officially, its because of a "scheduling conflict"

Is that a real reason or an excuse? Who knows? Reid has attended some state dinners since becoming majority leader and not attended some. I don't recall it being a big deal before.

[Mass]

20. Apparently, the two only senators attending are Kerry and Lugar,

May be because the Senate is not in session, they are all in their states?

The Democratic House leadership is there, though the Republican leadership is not.

[ProudDad]

27. 'Cause he's not as big a corporate tool as

the Capitalist In Chief, Barack Obama?

[Marnie]

28. Reid called him a dictator I believe

so maybe he was politely asked to be a no show.