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

[clearthinker2008]

Dude is straight trippin'

[maxfax]

Is this more evidence that the Democrats can't get along, and Reid is the reason?

Republicans stuck together no matter what, but the Dems don't seem to get it.

[tmc553]

Harry Reid is unfit for and should resign as Senate majority leader. He has no backbone, consistently takes a "stand" only to immediately back away from it and shows a remarkable propensity for opening his mouth wide before inserting his foot. He is too eager to be conciliatory and will not stand up to the Republican right. The Democrats are now the majority but he conducts himself as if they are, and should be, seeking Republican approval. He may be a very nice man but that is not what we need right now to get this country back on track. We need someone who will challenge the status quo and Harry Reid isn't that man.

[avalanch112]

Reid is a joke. he needs to go back to Nevada and stay there. He talks about the GOP rolling over to Bush, but he might as well have been a GOP'er cause he did the exact same thing. Him and Feinstein. Both are embarrassments to our system of government.

[trucap]

Time to step aside . we need strong lead.er.s . new blood . enough of wea kness. i hope he is not thinkin that his lea.der.sh­ip the reason for winning the majo.ri.ty . its because the of the repubs. failure. where were you when the excu.tive branch was taking full lead of the count.ry . huh .....where were you ?

[Vige]

That entire Capital Hill gang runs around playing the politics of power and running around flexing their vocal chords. Obama plays chess. The need to learn the difference between the two games.

Now does Harry or Diane really want to play a game of chicken with O.

[TotobiAyokoh23]

You are wrong, Reid. It is the other way round: Obama would not like tweeds and apparently sophomoric neophytes like your type to work for him. Your consistent dabbling in childhood boyism is a disqualifier.

[hjo4]

Senator Reid works for the highest bidder, he's already proven that.

[grammyR]

What a guy!! Where was the tough talk when Harry the Wuss (along with Pelosi, Feinstein, et al) was bending over for Bush/Cheney. A change of Congressional leadership is required.

[Aabby]

But Senetor Reid you acted like you worked for Bush untill now...all of the sudden you've grown a pair? LOL Glad you dusted off the Constitution.

[DanniD]

So who was he working for, for the last 8 years? It certainly LOOKED like he was working for the President of the United States, to me and the rest of the country!

Now all of a sudden, he wants to flex his little spine and declare that he doesn't work for Obama...PU­H-LEEZE!!

2015? Sorry, Harry...yo­u'll be out just as soon as you're up for re-election, count on it!

[quiviran]

Actually, he wasn't Senate Majority Leader until 2006.

Still, it would have been nice if he recognized that he wasn't supposed to work for Bush, either. He had the power to keep Bushes telecom immunity, warrant-less wiretapping and domestic spying legislative goals from ever coming to a vote, but he did not.

[DanniD]

No, he wasn't but he was IN THE Senate voting AND for whatever Bush put down. So it STILL looks to me like he was working for Bush all 8 years.

[rockyb26]

where was this moxie over the last 8 years? he certainly worked for W.

[x1soundgarden1x]

Geez, do you have SPELLCHECK? And as for Reid, how the heck did this guy become majority leader?

[WADIIAH]

*be ousted

[WADIIAH]

He needs to me ousted!