Harry Reid: Tea Party 'Will Disappear' (VIDEO)

In an exclusive interview set to air on NBC's "Meet the Press" this weekend, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid predicts that once the nation's economy improves, "the Tea Party will disappear."

The Nevada Democrat shared his take on the future of the conservative movement in response to a question touching on the tough fight he waged to defeat Tea Party-backed contender Sharron Angle in the 2010 midterm election season.

Here's an excerpt of the exchange:

DAVID GREGORY: Do she and others, as part of this Tea Party, represent a lasting force in American politics?

HARRY REID: The Tea Party was born because of the economy. The economy is probably the worst it's ever been except for maybe the Great Depression. The Tea Party will disappear as soon as the economy gets better. And the economy's getting better all the time.

According to a survey released by Public Policy Polling earlier this week, 68 percent of Republican voters in the Silver State say they wish a candidate other than Angle had emerged the GOP nominee to take on Reid.

WATCH: Harry Reid Predicts Tea Party 'Will Disappear'

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Comments

[ampdem]

11:18 PM on 01/10/2011

Harry Reid's the man, Sharon Angle was not. Good work sir. Guess the batalax hid under her rock, maybe she's in man up boot camp.

[Ryan Magdangal]

05:47 PM on 01/10/2011

Just like that! Yoda speaks!

[OutAtFirst]

04:03 PM on 01/10/2011

They've already dissapeared because the fat cats that were suppporting them behind the scenes have no further use for them, until the next election.

[Cranmer1549]

03:54 PM on 01/10/2011

Much as I would like Harry's assertion to come true, I'm not so sure. As long as there are unintelligent, bitter and bigoted people in this country there will be a Tea Party (or something similar).

[dmezz1962]

03:23 PM on 01/10/2011

The Tea Party has been around forever in one form or another and in truth the main objective is to get spending under control and if that is their true meaning then it will be here forever so deal with it harry

[WierdWookie]

03:06 PM on 01/10/2011

I love Harry Reid's honesty and appreciate his effort to make government better. He's right about the Tea Party. No thinking person will want to be seen as a tea-partier now. Keep up the good work, Harry.

[Which]

03:11 PM on 01/10/2011

You're assuming the Tea Party has ever involved thinking people.

[Janskats]

11:46 PM on 01/10/2011

Claiming that anyone in the Tea Party is "thinking" is, in the first place, an absurd conjecture!

[ronkw]

02:50 PM on 01/10/2011

Harry, Teaparty is not a party, but an idea. An idea of a Gov. living within it's means.
But you wouldn't know anything about that.

[ronkw]

02:45 PM on 01/10/2011

The Tucson massacre ghouls who are now trying to criminalize conservatism have forced our hand.
They need to be reminded. You need to be reminded.
Confront them. Don’t be cowed into silence.
They want to play tu quo que in the middle of a national tragedy? They asked for it. They got it.
http://michellemalkin.com/2011/01/10/the-progressive-climate-of-hate-an-illustrated-primer-2000-2010/

[greatalaska]

02:30 PM on 01/10/2011

The Boston tea party came about in 1773, Thanks to them we are not a part of the British Empire. This Tea Party thing will never go away, it's part of our history.

[PukkaDemocrat]

01:40 PM on 01/10/2011

First of all, I am a very loyal democrat and always vote straight democrat every election every year, and I love Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, but his comments are very concerning to me.

I may disagree with them, but I believe that the Tea Party is as American as apple pie. Anybody saying publicly that the tea party should be wiped off the map is very deeply concerning to me and I hope they look into their heart and soul and see it's wrong and change their moral direction.

[catmandootoo]

03:03 PM on 01/10/2011

When did he say the tea party "should be wiped off the map"? If you're referred to his comments to David Gregory, all he said is that the tea party will become obsolete or irrelevant once the economy recovers.

[human2008]

03:04 PM on 01/10/2011

Everyone loves a slice of apple pie time to time. Apple pie is sweet and smooth, it does not scream and shout on the face.

[Dave A]

12:51 PM on 01/10/2011

As much as I would like to agree with Senator Reid that the TEA Party is the Crystal Pepsi of politics I think they've taped into a hatred that has made rac.ism "cool" again in some parts and that will not go away for a long time

[FACTISFACT]

10:06 AM on 01/10/2011

I contribute with the view and would like it to happen not only by words but by decent legal actions and or politically for if found having any connection with Arizona shooting incident.

[Blufftonian]

01:44 PM on 01/10/2011

You contribute with the view?

[ejreed]

10:05 PM on 01/09/2011

The no nothing party disappeared with the coming of Lincoln. I don't see a Lincoln in the GOP Stable.
The Role of Political Rhetoric in the Tucson Shooting
The Tucson shooting is raising the issues of gun rights and the polarizing level of political rhetoric. It is also shining a light on Sarah Palin and Tea Party members whose rhetoric that is considered by many to be incendiary. http://www.newslook.com/videos/281168-the-role-of-political-rhetoric-in-the-tucson-shooting?autoplay=true

[NickTAZ]

08:40 PM on 01/09/2011

The Tea Party is full of people who are easily disillusioned by the high expectations that they put on others. They will disappear when they lose faith in the "Tea Party" name, which will happen when none of their representative affect any real change. They'll never disappear completely, of course. Like the libertarian party (which they largely are, in disguise), they will always hold their own little place.

[DSAldridge]

08:34 PM on 01/09/2011

The Tea Party will disappear when Obama is no longer President. You may think it's about the economy, and they may want you to believe it's about the Constitution, but we all know what the Tea Party is really about.

[Blufftonian]

01:45 PM on 01/10/2011

Tea?