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

[lighthorseharry]

Reid is incompetent and presents the very kind of wimpy image that the Dems need to overcome. He needs to be replaced. We need real leaders in the senate.

[ShinjiIkari]

Senator Reid, the GOP have not yet conceded that they lost, and they'cve been taking the fight to you for the past 2 years, and you've done nothing but cave in time and time again. For the good of the nation, either step down or grow a pair.

[BatedBreath]

The republicans haven't conceded because they haven't lost. They're counting on the Dems to cave in just like they have for the last 8 years.

[ProgressDon]

You Sir, may not think you work for him. But, without Obama I'm pretty sure you would be a weak 'minority leader' today trying to suck up to your old pal, the 44th President John Sydney McCain of the Panama canal region. People like Reid don't know how to win a single thing. They wait till others like Obama, Emmanuel, Schumer and Webb work hard enough to win so he can pull his balls up and make the comment; "I DONT WORK FOR OBAMA"
Well, Ya aint gonna be working as 'Majority Leader' much longer if we don't start seeing some real results. And next time Sen. Reid sees Obama he ought to thank him for saving his behind.

[marc1antony]

Chayney's lapdog has a bark

[SwingingFromCenter]

Wait....Reid basically worked for W. So why wouldn't he work for Obama?

I mean, the Dems have been completely spineless since taking control of the legislative branch. Why the tough talk all of a sudden? :P

Oh and Harry--read up on government. NOBODY works for Obama. Obama is a servant of the people. He works for every person in the country, or at least that's the way it's supposed to be. Obviously, that's sorta gone out the window in the last century.

[timothyone]

I am beginning to wonder just who Reid and Pelosi do work for. They bent over for Bush, and now declare themselves independent and strong enough to stand up to a president???? WTF is that all about??
Why didn't they stand up to BUSH!! We need to get them both out NOW!!

[wildervine]

My thoughts exactly.

[FrankFurter]

yep

[Cowboylove]

Good point. Neither wanted to make trouble for the President or Vice-President the last two years. They were all about cooperation, but not, they find their backbones? Disgusting!

Since Pelosi and Reid wouldn't impeach Bush or Cheney, maybe we should impeach them!

[plymkr]

Sorry Mr. Reid but Obama OWNS YOU and the sooner you understand that the better.

Do what the Big O says and be quiet!

[sippewissett]

Harry Reid also said today about Ted Stevens, ""My personal feeling, you guys, I don't know what good that [would do]... He was a real war hero too, you know. He's been punished enough." Members of Congress, he added, had long been used to not disclosing gifts until the rules had been tightened. And he said the 85-year-old Stevens simply did not adapt to those changing rules. "It's a different world we live in, and Stevens did not understand that," Reid said.
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Now we owe a "get out of jail free" card to a senator who makes laws but doesn't understand that he lives WITHIN the laws he makes? Shouldn't Stevens understand that as a senator he doesn't accept gifts, let alone where there is clear indication of conflict of interest? He knew what he was doing.

SHAME on Harry Reid. If he thinks it's okay that Stevens not be punished for his misdeeds, then where is Reid drawing the line in the sand between "okay to do" vs. "not okay"? I need clarification because I thought that if you do something illegal, you pay for it. Apparently not so for politicians. Reid has made a grievous error in judgment on this one, especially given the temperament of the incoming administration. Reid may not work for Obama, but don't expect Obama to like this kind of stupidity and self-serving sentiment at a time when he's trying to change how D.C. works.

[cheeriogirl]

Excellent post! Its time ( actually, well past time) for Harry Reid to go when he doesn't think a Senator should have to follow the law.

What is it with these older gentlemen in politics, like Reid and McCain, who think that serving in the war allows one to break laws without consequence?

[dst1]

"Out, Out Damm Spot" And every other spot that thinks they don't work for the people that voted for them and expect them all to "play nice" together to get 'our business done. Young or old we still expect their best work.

[souris]

.............somebody needs to yank on Harry's magic Mormon underwear and give him a "wedgie"!!!

[CaptainStormfield]

Who the hell does Reid work for? Some rich guy in Nevada?

[MontereyDean]

After his sorry performance today trying to lay the Burris mess on the Illinois Secy of State, showing a complete inability to tell anything like the truth, I say, get rid of him. It's not government that's the problem, as that nitwit Reagan said, it's people like Harry Reid and, sadly, I have to add Dick Durbin (and of course Nancy Pelosi and Dianne Feinstein and so on). Now that we've made a dent in the number of Republican Pod People in Washington, perhaps we can start to work replacing the spineless, lying Democrats.

[GrkAm]

Just think how much would get accomplished in the country if people checked their egos at the door!

[xargaw]

C'mon Democrats. There are so may better choices for Majority Leader than Reid.

[BatedBreath]

At least we hope there are. The Party is in bad shape if there aren't.

[YouDisgustMe]

of course not, harry.....he's black, remember? (jk everybody)

[beherenow54]

Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi really need to be voted out of Congress completely. They are an embarrassment to the party, in my opinion.

[ethancorso]

Agreed. Murtha, too. He is the Ted Stevens of the Democratic Party. I will always be thankful to him for leading the way with his criticism of GOP Iraq policy...but he is corrupt beyond belief.

Feinstein needs to go, too.