Reid Rebuffs Idea Of Senate Majority Leader Clinton

Sen. Harry Reid on Monday brushed off the notion that he has any plans to cede his Majority Leader title once Hillary Clinton returns to the Senate full-time.

Asked by The Huffington Post about reports that Clinton may be eyeing Reid's spot if (as seems likely) her presidential run is unsuccessful, the Nevada senator at first offered some humble niceties.

"I do this job the best I can, with the full support of my senators," he said during a small breakfast with reporters. "I feel very comfortable with where I've gotten."

But Reid, the former amateur boxer, couldn't help finishing with a gentle jab.

"Keep in mind also, a senator coming back who's run for president is not a very unique one," Reid said to laughter. "Senator John Kerry ran, he's back. Chris Dodd ran, he's back. Joe Biden ran, he's back."

Those senators have been plenty busy since returning from the campaign trail, Reid added, and "Senator Clinton has some very fine committee assignments."

Comments

[Thevail]

I'm not a Hillary fan, but we do need her supporters. It's the only reason she may end up VP. But if she loses enough leverage by being nasty..and she's well on her way..then she'll end up with nothing.
As you can tell over the last few days super delegates are getting a bit wary of even being associated with anyone who acts this way.

[jpetaluma]

Why do we have to pander to Hillary's supporters? What really gets me is how many of them, particulary women, say they will not vote for Obama if Hillary doesn't get the nomination. I am a woman who supporters Obama but would vote for Clinton if she were to get the nomination. And I really dislike Hillary Clinton! What many of these women seem to forget is that the composition of the Supreme Court hinges on who becomes president. Obama even voted against the bill to outlaw partial birth abortion becase it didn't contain provisions for women who were victims of rape. That will cost him politically during the election. McCain has committed to appointing judges to overturn Roe v. Wade. How can any feminist allow this to happen just because their candidate (Hillary) didn't get the nomination. I find this attitude so selfish and disingenuious. Everything that both Obama and Clinton stand for would be obiterated if McCain becomes president. How dare Hillary supporters say they will stay home or vote for McCain if Obama wins the nomination. This truly sickens me.

[havisham]

jpetaluma--i agree with you completely--anyone who would not vote for obama because clinton didn't win is probably not thinking so clearly or can afford the luxury of not worrying about the composition of the supreme court. that said, if you read most of the commentary on this blog, you'll see an even larger number of obama supporters who hold the same position vis-a-vis a clinton candidacy (that was even before obama was the presumptive nominee). many of these people's rhetoric is scary for the way in which it suggests that the nomination belongs to one or other racial or ethnic group (see the comments below this one for many examples of this destructive and naive language). i don't think this has anything to do with obama himself or what he stands for; it has to do with the screwed up history of our country. the point is: mccain is dangerous. it would be nice if supporters of both clinton and obama took that danger seriously and were a little more careful about what they say about either of them in the interest of not guaranteeing the republican lunatic a victory in november.

[REZBOO]

With Hillary going back to the Senate she will find what it means to ostricized and isolated. Many of her colleagues are for Barack and she has, by her own doing and blind ambition, created her own living hell.

She may have plans fo '12 or even '16 based on the fact that the public has a short memory; but the Black community has a LOOOOOOOOOOOOG Memory and David Duke could get more black votes than her at this point--at least he worn his racism on his sleeve and didn't hide as she has.

[monkette]

She needs to get totally ostracized and pushed out of all involvement in politics, period, after her disgraceful behavior during this election.

I'd give an eye tooth to have her openly and loudly booed on the senate floor, just before all the senators turn their backs on her and she's escorted out of the building. Well, I can dream it anyway. But she's really earned nothing but a long exile from public life.

[wolfi101]

I like your vision of the world.

[havisham]

monkette--that's a lovely fantasy, and airing in public will go a long way in further dividing the democratic primary voters, nearly half of whom voted for clinton. if you really want to see obama elected you'd save your vitriol for a less public forum.

[OsamaBushLadin]

Let them try ostracize Clinton. Unless their constituents are eggheads or blacks, it would be a stupid move on their part for themselves and the democratic party.

[tiredofhillary]

You are right, the black community has a long memory and I am a part of that community. Let her try her best.

But like dems know, just like she has all those "hard work, white people", she can't win without the support of the "hard working, black folks". And right now, she couldn't buy a black vote.

[havisham]

it's been a long time since she couldn't buy a black vote, but that has more to do with her own race than it does anything she ever said.

[bigironal25]

AS much as I detest Hillary, she would be light years ahead of Harry" the puke" Reid because she does posses one thing that Harry does not,and that is, a backbone!

[BeyondTheBull]

Just because Hillary barks loudly, does not mean that she is effective at getting legislation passed (legislation that benefits US citizens). Hillary is grossly lacking in substance and integrity. And, that should be obvious to all thinkers by now.

[campgranata]

it is not a back bone that MRS Clinton possesses but the ability to back stab.

[havisham]

campgranata--do you ever write anything that requires any complexity of thought?

[Lisette]

Hillary is a horrible politician!

[fourex]

Harry it's time for you to rebuff Lieberman, Hillary can wait.

[eej]

I feel Hillary only wanted to be a Senator as a stepping stone toward being the first woman President.

I doubt she has any interest at all in any of it, not even in being a Senator any more, now that the Big Payoff has fallen through.

[useyourbrain]

What the fuck do you think Obama came to the Senate for? He started running for President before he was sworn in and hasn't stopped. Get real.

[havisham]

useyourbrain...of course obama went to senate with other aspirations, and why shouldn't he have? so did clinton. but when a woman has a career goal she's a ruthless, calculating opportunist. when it's a man, he's a smart go-getter.

[OsamaBushLadin]

So what. Probably the same with Obama. Except that jerk didn't give us a full term in Illinois before abandoning his constituents.

[wolfi101]

Many of us in New York feel utterly used by her.

( If she'd done something for our state or even tried to uphold one of her campaign promises, that'd be something at least. But she didn't. She just ignored us. )

[CocteausTwin]

But hasn't she tried to make it more of a police state? Shouldn't that count for something?
;^}

[JiminNC]

Didn't she bring the promised 800 bazillion new jobs to New York?

[ohiodem250]

I think John Kerry would make a fine Senate Majority Leader but he is the junior Senator from Mass. - that sort of thing goes against Senate decorum. Chris Dodd would also make a fine Senate Majority Leader. If I was going to pick the Senate Majority Leader I would pick Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. He is very well respected in his state as well as in the Senate, he is a great legislator, he will be winning his seat back this year so his seat is not in jeopardy for at least six years, and he is not very high profile or overly ambitious. It would be a great way to bring Republicans to the table on many bills and would be a great reward for someone who has worked very hard in his career and has kept his head down and put his constituency first. All that being said, I wouldn't mind giving Reid a go when he actually has a real majority of party Democrats - not a majority of caucus Democrats.

[ManyColored]

After her behavior, I hope she IS marginalized. The next time the Democrats find a woman presidential candidate, I hope she doesn't have the policy issues and the Machiavellian character that Clinton does. Then I'd be happy to vote for her.

[eej]

I really believe Hillary has hurt the chances of the next woman who gets close to the presidency.

[skepticalindenver]

I don't think she has. Although I despise what her campaign has stood for, I welcome a competent and sincere woman candidate in the future. I think most people will see her fro what she is, a power hungry narcisist, and not ahng that moniker on ANY woman contender.

[CocteausTwin]

I wouldn't think so, but hey about the only shortage we don't have is one of idiots. She hasn't changed my mind about choosing the right candidate for the time, regardless of ethnicity or gender. But hey I'm just another one of those "egg heads."

[disgustedbyitall]

And why would Reid want to allow the campaign battle to translate into a Capitol Hill vs White House battle all within the same party?

Anyway, Reid doesn't hand it out. It's an elected position and Hillary's just losing those. Unless they're moving the Capitol to West Virginia.

[qdog112]

I agree that her elective days are probably over. Is there a nice quaint European ambassadorship where she can live in a Medieval castle somewhere out there?

[useyourbrain]

Are you kidding. She won her second term by a landslide. You keep forgetting that she has gotten the majority of votes in the primaries (don't discount FL & MI)

[kevinmcd]

Hillary is too disliked by too many Senators to be Majority Leader. And she will be even less liked if she keeps up her egomania.

[pilgrim7]

Please, not Hillary. Her outlandish Bosnia fairy tale and other lies confirm her as a bonafide pathological liar who will say and do anything. The majority of Americans don't trust her. She is not a leader and is so polarizing and nonconciliatory that she would further divide Dems & Repubs to an even greater degree than her husband Bill did. As Majority Leader, she would also divide her own party and would rule by creating a climate of fear and retaliation. She could not get others to work with her to pass healthcare reform the first time, even with Bill as president. If the Democrats survive the election, it will be despite Hillary's overt attempts to destroy everything the party stands for in forcing them to play ball her way or no way. Her racist undertones and comments may be the beginning of the ruin of the Democratic party. She defied the DNC rules that she herself signed and approved regarding Florida & Michigan. She is coldly unethical. Can you imagine how poisonous she would be as the Senate Majority Leader? She represents the worst of dirty politics. She would bring the country to another political gridlock. And, most importantly, she would continue to do everything within her power to sabatoge President Obama's effectiveness and assure the Repubs of overthrowing the Dems in 2012 and beyond.

PS - How come the press never reported on her Peter Paul trial that the judge deferred?

[1PALady]

I like Harry Reid, but he's too soft spoken. Don't ask me what that has to do with anything, but it just seems that he never quite gets his point across as well as some that are not so soft spoken. His point seems to get lost. I really would like to see him replaced, but not with Senator Clinton. I don't trust her not to side with the Republicans when we need her not to.

[maritabox]

He did do something and really got no credit. He ordered an NIE about Iran. That NIE blew the neo-cons plans to bomb bomb Iran.

To his credit..

[qwr]

Didn't know that. Good info.

[abby4ever]

That's a very good point---she is too right-wing in her heart to not sell out the Senate, at least on some things. Actually, I think she is either a closet Republican or else a Democrat smoking some really strong stuff.

[cacique88]

The next 3 weeks will determine what the Clinton campaign will do to attempt to usurp the nomination. It is becoming increasingly clear that Hillary is prepared to split and wreck the Democratic Party if she has to in order to scrape her way to the top. We need to prepare for this with no illusion of a dignified exit.

This will require alot of focusd attention to winning and broadening the electorate and turning traditional red states into potential Obama states. The divisiveness of the Clinton campaign has caused some damage but nothing that cannot be repaired with solid volunteers. We are a movement with over 1.5 million donors and campaign volunteers. We will flex our people power to get Barack elected.

[Scytherius]

Sure as hell don't want Reid.

[drzoon]

what is everyone's problem with Reid? i don't get it!

[kellygrrrl]

once the Dems have a real majority, i think Reid and Pelosi will effect some real change.

Tear Down That Wall!!!!!

[Boadicea]

Ignorance. They just don't have all the facts.

[Barky]

Severe fence sitting and speech pattern that would invoke deep sleep in an insomniac. Wonder who and how he beat someone for the job. He probably knows the rules real well but god he is boring. Not that I think HC should get the job.

[WaspMan]

Umm..refuses to impeach the chimp maybe? Refuses to stand up tp the chimp. perhaps? Unable to stop telecom immunity bill. Unable to push anti torture bill through.

He has power, and legitimacy, yet hasn't achieved anything.

[abby4ever]

To some, he comes off as a bit indecisive, even wimpy. For a more in-depth answer, wait for someone who knows all about all his positions and decisions---or lack of the latter---over the time he's been leader.

[eurydice]

What do you get when you add Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Howard Dean?

Not even a whole spine.

[heal57]

I would not put Howard Dean in that category. He's done a good job.