Harry Reid...Wasn't Too Far Off

Often times those in elected office put "their foot in their mouth." They say something off the cuff or might go a bit overboard. Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid criticized those who oppose Health Care; especially Republican senators. He compared the members of the Party and their opposition to health care to the individuals who are and were slavery sympathizers.

Reid said:

"At pivotal points in American history, the tactics of distortion, delay have certainly been present.' 'They've been used to stop progress. That's what we're talking about here. That's what's happening here. It's very clear. That's the point I made--no more, no less."

Reid's comparison is rooted in the opposition that this health care bill is receiving as was progress and the end of slavery. Those in favor of ensuring slavery's survival are now the one's ensuring this bill's death. The two are obviously not the same subject matter, but tactics aren't too different.

Reid would continue with:

"If you think you've heard these excuses before, you're right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, "Slow down, it's too early, things aren't bad enough."

Senator Reid would include the women's suffrage movement and the civil rights struggle that also faced heavy opposition, but were able to overcome that opposition to succeed. The want to slow things down and put this progress off is being reiterated again today with the health care legislation. Not surprisingly, several Republican Senators along with the GOP Chairman, Michael Steele, voiced dissatisfaction with Reid's comments.

It wasn't too long ago that Senator Mike Mansfield was in the same position as Harry Reid is today. There was a Democrat in the White House and they were in position to make a major change in American history. But the Republican Party rallied together to fight against that change. At the time, Medicare was voiced by opposition as a socialist program that was destined to fail.

Sound familiar? Maybe Harry might not be too far off. Medicare: http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/07/29/medicare-44/

Or Social Security: http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_13826764?nclick_check=1

This is really long, but if you have the time; it works into the argument and supports Reid's claims. Civil Rights: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-0702103-151627/unrestricted/Finley_dis.pdf

Or Women's Suffrage: http://www.johndclare.net/Women1_ArgumentsAgainst.htm

And of course, Slavery: http://www.ushistory.org/us/27f.asp

The common theme throughout all the arguments: Why change? That is the common thread. That is truly what Harry Reid meant by his comments. Opposition has been not been about legislation or laws. It is more about the concept and the ideas. Southern opposition didn't want to lose the ability to enslave blacks because they would lose their labor force and hurt their financial gain. Many men didn't think it would be wise or useful to give women a voice that they felt they didn't really want. Republicans thought that Social Security would only hurt Americans during the Great Depression and be unwise for future generations. Republicans again brought up the term "socialism" when Medicare was brought to the Senate floor. And now we see Republicans creating a wall of opposition to the aspect of change and not the words on the paper. That is where Harry Reid was coming from and anyone watching the deliberations can clearly see that. The Republicans stalled health care in the 1990s until they made big gains in 1994 and ended the debate. Reid may have been a little over the top, but it sometimes necessary when the opposition isn't doing enough to assist major legislation. So, Harry Reid wasn't that far off after all.