The beginning of a new year is a good time to evaluate past performance and make resolutions for the coming year. For those of us in Nevada, it’s a good time to take a hard look at our senior senator, Harry Reid. First of all, I should note that Reid is “our” senator in name only. Since he assumed the role of Senate Majority Leader after the 2006 Congressional elections, his main role has been to serve as the mouthpiece for the far left wing of the Democrat Party. He spends so much time attacking the White House, giving polarizing speeches and stumping for so-called “progressive” causes, it’s a wonder he finds time to think about Nevada at all. When was the last time you heard him quoted in the national news for something he said about our state?
How well has Harry Reid represented Nevada since he assumed his lofty national position? I’m not alone in thinking he falls short. According to a December 2007 poll taken for the Las Vegas Review Journal by a national research firm, 42 percent of Nevadans surveyed rated his performance as “poor.” I think it’s time for a report card to see how he ranks on issues important to Nevadans.
Security: F
Governments are established to ensure the safety and security of their citizens – if they can’t do that, they won’t last long. On this most basic issue, has Reid helped keep Nevadans safe from the enemies of our country? Rather than supporting the fight against the terrorists who openly plot the destruction of the United States, Reid and the far left are doing everything they can to sabotage it, including introducing a barrage of Congressional bills designed to force the U.S. to cut and run from Iraq.
You may recall that in April 2007, Reid proudly announced he had told President Bush, “This war [in Iraq] is lost.” If that doesn’t constitute “giving aid and comfort to the enemy,” I don’t know what does. His quote was immediately picked up by Al-Jazeera and broadcast all over the world.
Independence: F
Our state, like many in the West, has a reputation for valuing independence and freedom from federal interference. However, the Left has a long history of clamoring for more government influence over our daily lives (and our pocketbooks), and Reid has been supporting these efforts ever since he became Majority Leader. Apparently, he would like the government to regulate everything from universal healthcare to carbon dioxide emissions, all at taxpayers’ expense.
Financial Stability: D
Has Harry Reid helped the wage earners in Nevada? While those at the very bottom of the economic scale may take home a few more dollars because of an increase in the minimum wage, statistics show that increases in the minimum wage result in fewer entry-level jobs to go around. In addition, Congressional liberals have refused to support any meaningful effort to clamp down on illegal immigration, which also hurts those at the lowest economic levels.
On the other end of the scale, in order to pay for the social programs they propose, Reid and his cronies have pledged to raise taxes for those who have achieved some measure of financial success.
Moral Issues: F
I believe that Harry Reid is basically a decent guy, but in his position as Majority Leader, he now appears to support some pretty awful proposals. The entire “Progressive” agenda is based on the premise that there are no moral absolutes: “If it feels good, do it,” or, “If everybody else is doing it, it’s okay.”
The far left wing of the Democrat party supports removing from our schools not only the Ten Commandments, but all mention of any kind of moral code – in fact, let’s hand out condoms to middle-schoolers and show them how to use them. Gay marriage is great, and the worst kind of smut should be allowed into our homes over the public airwaves.
The Final Exam
What kind of country are we leaving for our children? A country with no moral compass? A country where financial success is punished? A country where the government takes as much as it can from the majority of its citizens to finance programs that serve the interests of a vocal minority?
Those who predict the terrible consequences of “global warming” would be better off worrying about the outcome for Nevada, and this country, if the “Progressive” agenda is adopted. It’s a lot more serious than flunking a grade, Sen. Reid. It’s flunking the future.