Harry Reid Wonders How A Hispanic Could Ever Be A Republican (VIDEO)

With the size of Nevada's Hispanic voting bloc on the rise and the issue of immigration front and center in the national spotlight, it should come as no surprise that Reid was quick to weigh in on the matter.

"I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican, OK," said the ranking Democrat at a campaign event with Latino supporters earlier this week. "Do I need to say more?"

After some in the politically conservative Latino community reacted unfavorably to the assertion, Reid's camp issued a statement signaling the Democratic incumbent stands by his remarks:

"Sen. Reid has long enjoyed the support of many Hispanic Republicans in Nevada and he appreciates that support. Sen. Reid's contention was simply that he doesn't understand how anyone, Hispanic or otherwise, would vote for Republican candidates because they oppose saving teachers' jobs, oppose job-creating tax incentives for small businesses, oppose investments in job-creating clean energy projects, and oppose the help for struggling, unemployed Nevadans to put food on the table and stay in their homes."

"I do a call with Hispanic media every three or four weeks, just with Hispanic media," explained Reid to local CBS affiliate 8 News Now earlier this week. "I include Hispanic media in every event that I do. Why? Because they're a part of modern day media. Why shouldn't I."

WATCH:

Comments

[rickroland]

10:44 AM on 08/16/2010

Oh, great! Now the leader of the Senate, Harry Reid, is wearing the race baiter mantle. Mr. Jackson, Mr. Sharpton, Mr. Farrakhan and the like must be very proud.

And, with that, Harry should have his mormon card revoked, if they do such a thing.

[CaliforniaScreaming]

03:22 PM on 08/15/2010

So people are allowed to vote their conscious and when they vote their conscious they get questioned for having a conscious.

GROUPTHINK KILLS, KILL GROUPTHINK.

[RichardEC]

07:17 PM on 08/14/2010

As a left leaning person, I definitely think Reid should not say this. It's racially inflamatory and stupid. How does this help him win reelection? If you're going to take on the GOP or Tea Party candidates, beat them on the issues and policies, not race baiting statements.

Besides, isn't this offensive to Hispanics? It essentially says they ought to all be the same and vote as if there were no independent thought among them.

I'm disappointed he would say this. I still want to see him reelected, but somebody close to him has got to say lay off this talk.

[Brian OHara]

02:38 PM on 08/14/2010

It isn't George Constanza who is Can'tstandya, it John McCain, the biggest phony I've ever seen.

[Maurice Cobbs]

09:06 AM on 08/14/2010

I can't ever vote for Democrats. Not ever. Look at the comments posted here. The arrogance, the snide presumptuousness -- and yes, the blatant racism.

I've never met a Democrat (or a leftist of any sort, for that matter) who saw me as a free, capable, thinking individual. Never. Not one. To the Democrats, I have always been a tool, a voting block. To Democrats, I have no inherent worth or ability -- my skin color is proof enough of that, I can't buy a house without government help, I can't get a job unless you bring racism to heel with noble affirmative action laws, I can't feed my kids without government welfare. If I don't vote for Democrats, you say, my entire race will come to ruin, because without government handouts and assistance, we're just too stupid, too unskilled, too incompetent to survive as individuals. And the smug self-righteous manner in which Democrats express their inherent racism! As if it's some sort of noble ideal! As if you should be proud of treating minorities as inferiors who need your assistance to survive. And in return, all you ask is obedience.

The worst part: how you label those who do not want the eternal dependence you're selling. They're dupes, hate themselves, lazy and uninformed. Why else would we would vote against our 'interests'? you ask -- without ever considering what our interests are. Without considering that the economic prisons that you create to secure minority votes may cause long-term social

[giatny]

12:38 AM on 08/14/2010

Just when I think my opinion of Harry Reid couldn't go any lower, another outrage appears. I'm sure it won't be covered on this site, but a bill from l993
has been exposed that called for clarification of the 14th Amendment. Harry
Reid argued AGAINST birthright citizenship. What a guy!

[CTtransplant]

04:44 PM on 08/14/2010

Opinions change over time...it's called growing.

[nomadsborker]

10:00 AM on 08/13/2010

Reid is funny. And senile. Bye bye...

[CTtransplant]

04:43 PM on 08/14/2010

I was at a SS celebration with him Thursday...the man's not senile and knows his stuff! Most of us Nevadans appreciate our Senior Senator Reid!

[Cacey]

06:44 PM on 08/12/2010

The Republican outrage over Reid's comment are about as phony as the Cheney's outrage when Gore mentioned that Mary Cheney was gay duirng the debates in 2000. Everyone knew but the Cheney's claimed Gore was outing her. Well everyone knows Reid is correct.

[Rainbo Culpepper]

05:30 PM on 08/12/2010

Brian Sandoval, Hispanic Republican, with a 13.5 pt lead over Rory Reid. Poor Rory. What a time you picked to run.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/governor/nv/nevada_governor_sandoval_vs_reid-1137.html

Harry Reid in a toss-up against Angle. He still appears to have the edge and I have my concerns about Angle. But Reid has reminded me that I should never give up faith in his ability to ram his foot into his mouth.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/nv/nevada_senate_angle_vs_reid-1517.html

[Mad Jack]

04:28 PM on 08/12/2010

How could Harry Reid ever get to be a senator?

[whispurr]

07:04 PM on 08/15/2010

It's called Majority Rules.

[Deschris]

04:01 PM on 08/12/2010

Harry Reid is absolutely correct but did not go far enough.No African Americans,Native Americans,Gay,Lesbian or Trans gender Americans,No Handicapped Americans,No non racist White Americans,No Asian Americans,No Hispanic or Latino Americans,No Unemployed Americans,No Female Americans and last but not least No Smart and Intelligent Americans should ever...ever vote Republican.It's a non inclusive divisive party that thrives on War,Hate,Bigotry and Racism.

[suemj]

04:35 PM on 08/12/2010

I have to agree.

[whowhatwhywherewhen]

04:53 PM on 08/12/2010

ditto

[Gramiam]

03:28 PM on 08/14/2010

Don't forget those of us on Social Security and Medicare that we paid into for many years and what the GOP wants to destroy for the future.

[therealslimshady]

03:59 PM on 08/12/2010

don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican, OK," said the ranking Democrat at a campaign event

OK with me if the GOP wants to pretend that they don't have issues with monoritys. faux news has been racebaiting every since the President took office. I could just as easy replace the word Hispanic heritage with
Policeman
Fireman
School teacher
Blacks
Gay people
Union workers
The unemployed
Muslims
Poor people
Smart people
Unwed woman
Who did I leave out? The GOP seems to have issues with all of the above, they may be in for a bit of a surprise come November.

[seanj]

04:02 PM on 08/12/2010

What about the people listed who are conservative? They hate all those people also? Wow. You win the dunce prize. A conservative fireman hates firemen. Wow.

[Mad Jack]

04:38 PM on 08/12/2010

An amusing post, but it does point out the many groups all seeking to feed at the federal trough courtesy of the American taxpayer (and the Chinese and others who are now funding our de facto bankrupt nanny state). Republicans and both conservative and moderate independents (and even some Democrats) reasonably question the necessity of the federal government to subsidize in perpetuity some (not all) of these groups. Lumping the poor and unwed mothers is just the usual liberal tactic. Many of the others are not despised, disliked or disdained by Republicans; in fact Republicans are traditionally harder on crime and more supportive of law enforcement officers than are Democrats. What Democrats support are unions, who subsidize their campaigns, and other organized special interest groups who'll vote to perpetuate federal subsistence by keeping Dems in office.

[alicam]

03:47 PM on 08/12/2010

I wonder the same thing Harry. They are probably the poorest and least educated of any major ethnic group in this country yet they vote alongside the richest and most educated. There is NO WAY the Rethugs (or any party, for that matter) can serve such a wide spectrum. Somebody's issues are gettin the shaft and you best believe it isn't the white bread, WASP living in Dallas in a McMansion and an autography photo of W. on his desk.

[ruallthere]

03:16 PM on 08/12/2010

Who on Gods Green Earth needs Arizona to racially profile when you have Harry Reid?

[LeftLeanWing]

04:31 PM on 08/12/2010

Ok...... What is this supposed to mean......or is this some derivative of Ann Coulter's last article.

[sull10]

03:06 PM on 08/12/2010

I'm hispanic, I ask my uncles, who vote republican, why they vote against their own interests? They don't have a real answer. They are home owners and tax payers. When I expect an answer they just drink more beer and they say because they keep the gays at bay.

[seanj]

03:16 PM on 08/12/2010

Your hispanic family should not be so homophobic.

[den1953]

03:23 PM on 08/12/2010

Funny thing how Republicans keep the minorities segregated after all these years of so called freedoms, they still seem to hate anyone that don't look or act like they do?

[seanj]

03:26 PM on 08/12/2010

Dumbest post of the day. People are free to live where they want. The dems like to pen the blacks up in HUD housing.