Harry Reid: 'I Don't Work For Obama'

In an interview with The Hill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would not roll over for the new president the way Republicans did for Bush.

Reid stated, "I don't believe in the executive power trumping everything... I believe in our Constitution, three separate but equal branches of government."

"If Obama steps over the bounds, I will tell him. ... I do not work for Barack Obama. I work with him," he said.

The Nevada Democrat gave a similar quote to Politico. "I like Barack Obama very much. He won a classic election, never have we had a better one," Reid said. "But I don't work for him, I work with him."

Reid went on to criticize Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for bucking the party on seating Senate appointee Roland Burris. Feinstein argued that not seating Burris would threaten all gubernatorial appointments. "That's not valid, her statement," he said. "I told her that. OK?"

Reid also said that he planned to lead the Senate Democrats until at least 2015. However, he downplayed his own importance as Majority Leader. "I understand how close I've come to failure a number of times. I've done OK," Reid said. "I've never considered myself Johnny Unitas or anything like that. I am just someone the [Democratic] Caucus has selected and they feel comfortable with."

Comments

[takeusaback]

01:45 PM on 01/12/2009

The time is long past due that Harry Reid be replaced as Senate Majority Leader. He has been ineffective at best. It may well be that coming from a red state makes him a little too eager to soothe the ruffled feathers of conservatives. Both Reid and Pelosi have shown that they are weak and ineffective as leaders and too easily intimidated by the mouthy minority. We need leadership!
Barack Obama needs Democtcratic leadership in the House and Senate that he can rely upon and, very important, that he, and we can trust.

The current Reid and Pelosi do not fit that description and should step aside or be forced aside.

[peter777]

09:50 PM on 01/09/2009

Harry Reid has yet to prove that he deserves any following in "making sure Obama does not overstep his bounds" paraphrased. We are watching the Congress and are holding you, Senator read responsible for lifting the Congress from 15% approve to something respectable. Now is a good time to start.

[Carsy]

06:03 AM on 01/09/2009

I really felt that Reid looked like a little bit of a wimp on MTP.

[davispty5]

02:53 AM on 01/08/2009

"If Obama steps over the bounds, I will tell him. ... I do not work for Barack Obama. I work with him,"

Mr. Reid needs to be reminded he does work for someone and that would be WE the people, epecially the people that voted him into office. I think it's fair to say that WE the people expect him to work with PE Obama and not against him. If he can't do that, he may find himself out of a job come the next election.

[Soniafaye]

02:25 AM on 01/08/2009

Reid has bad timing to be picking this kinda playground fight now. Maybe he's GOP in disguise.

[ched]

01:37 AM on 01/08/2009

Harry had the highest ranking Democratic position all to himself for two years, and managed to accomplish , , , absolutely nothing.
Now, after two years of getting whupped by the minority party, Harry has managed to get manhandled by a soon to be ex governor and another guy who's been out of office for years, after attaining the lofty rank of state attorney general.
When will Harry's colleagues figure out that Harry is out of his depth? Get with the program, Harry, or get out of the way.

[billw8017]

01:11 PM on 01/08/2009

The Senate is not designed for vigorous activity. In the words of a founding father, it is the saucer that you pour the coffee to cool it down. True, for two years Reid did lead 49 Democratic Senators, as one of our bloggers says, a majority, and with all those independents more than enough to sway any vote supposing he gets the blue dog Democrats to go along. The poor helpless Republicans could only mount a hundred plus fillibusters in futile obstruction. If Reid were Superman, he could have leaped over the capitol, flown between Nevada and DC by flapping his arms, and filled a shelf with Nobel prizes for his humanitarian deeds. He is, instead, a weak man and a weak leader. Therefore, we should all lay down and give it up to a Republican leadership. We can all see now how well that works though mere control of both houses of Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court does not stop all our troubles being the fault of Democrats.

[Seattlelite]

01:25 AM on 01/08/2009

First Feinstein, now Reid, strutting around with their chests puffed out. These people have WAY to much ego. Just have to steal the lime light. Please do us a favor sit down and shut up, let us ENJOY Obama's inauguration without your drama.

[twocrows]

01:17 AM on 01/08/2009

My response to Reid's statement, "I don't work for Obama" :

No, Mr. Reid, we know that. You have, however, been working for Bush.

One day, you may wake up to the fact that you actually work for _us_. But, probably, by that time, you will no longer be in office.

[PengieP]

01:50 PM on 01/08/2009

TwoCrows, you are so right about Reid. Let's hope Harry gets primaried out by a real Democrat with a spine and some guts.

[dessertsfirst]

01:06 AM on 01/08/2009

Somebody needs to inform Harry Reid that the American people expect him to work WITH President Obama, in getting the work of the people done.
Being the clown he has become makes him a joke... Majority leader, indeed!

[StrongEagle]

12:10 AM on 01/08/2009

Reid needs to read the Constitution... what he is attempting to do, for whatever reason, is blatantly unconstitutional.

[wpiv926]

11:02 PM on 01/07/2009

Harry, you've done enough damage already. Just follow Obama's orders and keep your mouth shut.

[AxelDC]

09:57 PM on 01/07/2009

So Reid, who never stuck his neck out to block anything Bush wanted, now wants to show some spine and stand up to Obama?

Harry, please. Just do what Obama says, because you obviously have no idea what you are doing on your own.

[thepoliticalcat]

09:55 PM on 01/07/2009

Gee, Harry, I wish ya'd told Bush and Cheney that some years ago.

[nanton29]

11:51 PM on 01/07/2009

Harry Reid the house majority WIMP.....

[shastaman]

09:44 PM on 01/07/2009

YES!!!!!!!!

RUSS FEINGOLD

DEFINATELY a superiior choice for majority leader

[abbeyroad]

09:41 PM on 01/07/2009

Reid says that Ted Stevens shouldn't have to go to jail because Stevens is a war hero.

What the ..... ???????!!!!!!!!!!!