I continue to disagree with incoming Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on some social issues, but I continue to be impressed with him as a party leader.
Yesterday, Reid was on Meet the Press, which was his first major interview since the election (and his promotion). As far as I’m concerned, he said all the right things. Reid was aggressive on Social Security privatization, he defended his new “war room” nicely, and he stood up forcibly for the intelligence reform bill.
But my favorite point was when Reid came pretty close to calling Clarence Thomas a moron on national television.
Russert: Let me turn to judicial nominations. Again, Harry Reid on National Public Radio, November 19: “If they”–the Bush White House–“for example, gave us Clarence Thomas as chief justice, I personally feel that would be wrong. If they give us Antonin Scalia, that’s a little different question. I may not agree with some of his opinions, but I agree with the brilliance of his mind.” Could you support Antonin Scalia to be chief justice of the Supreme Court?
Reid: If he can overcome the ethics problems that have arisen since he was selected as a justice of the Supreme Court. And those ethics problems–you’ve talked about them; every people talk–every reporter’s talked about them in town–where he took trips that were probably not in keeping with the code of judicial ethics. So we have to get over this. I cannot dispute the fact, as I have said, that this is one smart guy. And I disagree with many of the results that he arrives at, but his reason for arriving at those results are very hard to dispute. So…
Russert: Why couldn’t you accept Clarence Thomas?
Reid: I think that he has been an embarrassment to the Supreme Court. I think that his opinions are poorly written. I don’t — I just don’t think that he’s done a good job as a Supreme Court justice.
Sounds like our new Senate leader won’t be afraid to offer some “straight talk.” I like Reid more and more every day.