"Leader" Reid Must Lead

(Harry Reid responded -- more below.)

Last night, Rachel Maddow reported that thousands of people have signed the Progressive Change Campaign Committee's new petition to Senator Harry Reid -- and read the petition aloud on national TV:

Any Democratic senators who support a Republican attempt to block a vote on health care reform should be stripped of their leadership titles. Americans deserve a clean up-or-down vote on health care.

In a little over one day, 38,000 have signed this petition -- and we're aiming for 50,000 before our news conference and petition delivery to Harry Reid next week. If you haven't already, you can sign the petition here.

Another big piece of news happened yesterday: Harry Reid issued his initial response.

Unfortunately, Reid showed that we need to keep pushing him to live up to his title of "Leader."

A Reid aide told Talking Points Memo:

Ultimately this is not a decision for Senator Reid to make. This is a decision that's going to be made by the caucus as a whole.

But...our whole point is: Harry Reid needs to lead.

Harry Reid led the fight for Joe Lieberman to be let back into the Democratic Caucus after Lieberman endorsed John McCain for president. From Salon:

Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders argued for punishing him, but it was clear that Reid and his cohorts in leadership wanted to keep Lieberman in the caucus. When Reid opened talks with Lieberman immediately after the election, the apostate Democrat had said losing his committee chairmanship was "unacceptable."

So, this week, when Lieberman said he "hasn't decided" whether he will help Republican block a vote on health care, why can't Reid say, "That's unacceptable"?

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pass a public health insurance option -- but only if Harry Reid makes sure that his Democratic super-majority does not side with Republicans on basic procedural things like allowing or denying a vote.

If Reid calls himself Majority Leader, he needs to lead. Please sign our petition telling him that today. Let's keep the pressure on!

Follow Adam Green on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Adamgreenonline

Comments

[bioluminescence]

Actually, Reid can do a lot more. He can name names.

Max Baucus is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. That committee voted against a public option. Why? He says some Democrats in the Senate would join with Republicans to filibuster such a bill. If he's right. Those rogue Democrats are the only roadblock to a public option in the Senate. There are, after all, 60 Democratic Senators.

If they exist, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should know who they are. And if he knows, he's got to come clean with Democrats and the American people by naming names now.

[MajorKong]

Even if the Dems had won a 100 seat majority in the Senate, Harry Reid would still have to sculpt a Republican statue out of paper mache just so he could ritually cave in to it.

[JackNasty]

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Harry Reid is a really old (blue) dog.

[humanbeing-rick]

Harry Reid is supposed the lead the Senate, yet he cowers under platitudes when it comes to a real fight. Maybe Mr. Reid is just too old and worn out to continue the good fight, that we need in the Senate. If he is unwilling, or unfit to lead, then he should turn the mantle over to a younger and stronger person. This is not a time to dither. We need effective leadership on this issue now!

[humanbeing-rick]

"when Lieberman said he "hasn't decided" whether he will help Republican block a vote on health care, why can't Reid say, "That's unacceptable"?" - says it all.

How dare the disgraced Lieberman try to block this major pillar of the Democratic party platform!
He should immediately be removed from any position of authority or leadership title.
This is a fight down to the last man or woman. We must not wallow in emotional symapthy for a recalcitrant member of the Democratic party. Throw the bum out now! There are plenty of eager Democrats willing to step in and fill those positions for him.

[FirstShirt]

Lest you forget, Lieberman was your vice presidential candidate. And if your own party had not turned against him he would still be a democrat. But, in their haste to advance to the rear, democrats tried to get rid of him and he got p***ed. Wonder why? So who was being disgraceful?

[Awake-and-Sing]

LIEberman turned against the party first.

[sabredance]

Is that "Whip It" or "Wimp It" above Harry Reid's head?

[RedneckDem]

Reid and Pelosi out now! The two worst "leaders" during a time where we should be dominating the entire message. You think Boehner, Newt or Delay would take any of this c rap from fellow repubs, let alone the other party?

[NCIndependant]

I've begun to think Pelosi might be ok, as much as any politician can be ok. But Reid needs to be gone. He has done little but waffle, and waffles don't make good leaders.

[ECBA88]

Pelosi's been fine on health care--listened to the Progressives when they took a stand, speaking out for a the public option regularly, putting pressure on the Blue Dogs without entirely ignoring them. I'll hold a final judgment on Reid until I see the bill he creates, but I fear he'll make one with no public option and use the amendment excuse... sounds like typical slimy cr*p that comes from him.

[wonketteRAWKS]

Actually, the head of the Democratic Party, President Obama needs to lead on advancing the public option.

[marignymitch]

Mr Green,

The insurmountable obstacle here is that Sen Reid doesn't support the Democrats in procedural matters. Reid has neither the desire nor the guts to vote for cloture on the health care debate. Plus leadership in his book means asking permission of the GOP first.

But thanks, anyways.

[ECBA88]

[citation needed on Reid's cloture position]