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'''Harry Mason Reid''' (born December 2, 1939) is the lying, corrupt, anti-American [[Senior Senator|senior]] [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Nevada]], and has been the Senate's [[Party Leaders of the United States Senate|Majority Leader]] since January 2007. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he has been leader of the Senate Democrats since 2005, serving as Minority Leader from 2005 until the Democrats won control of the Senate in the [[United States general elections, 2006|2006 congressional elections]].
'''Harry Mason Reid''' (born December 2, 1939) is the [[Senior Senator|senior]] [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Nevada]], and has been the Senate's [[Party Leaders of the United States Senate|Majority Leader]] since January 2007. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he has been leader of the Senate Democrats since 2005, serving as Minority Leader from 2005 until the Democrats won control of the Senate in the [[United States general elections, 2006|2006 congressional elections]].


==Early life==
==Early life==

Revision as of 21:29, 29 December 2009

Harry Reid
United States Senator
from Nevada
Assumed office
January 3, 1987
Serving with John Ensign
Preceded byPaul Laxalt
24th United States Senate Majority Leader
Assumed office
January 4, 2007
DeputyRichard Durbin
Preceded byBill Frist (R)
21st United States Senate Minority Leader
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
DeputyRichard Durbin
Preceded byTom Daschle (D)
Succeeded byMitch McConnell (R)
25th and 27th United States Senate Majority Whip
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001
June 6, 2001–January 3, 2003
LeaderTom Daschle
Preceded byDon Nickles
Succeeded byDon Nickles (2001)
Mitch McConnell (2003)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1987
Preceded byJames David Santini (At-large)
Succeeded byJames Bilbray
Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
In office
1971–1975
GovernorMike O'Callaghan
Preceded byEdward Fike
Succeeded byRobert Rose
Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission
In office
1977–1981
Appointed byMike O'Callaghan
Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee
In office
June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded byPat Roberts
Succeeded byGeorge Voinovich
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001
Preceded byRobert C. Smith
Succeeded byRobert C. Smith
Personal details
Born (1939-12-02) December 2, 1939 (age 84)
Searchlight, Nevada
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLandra Gould
ChildrenLana, Rory, Leif, Josh, Key
Residence(s)Searchlight, Nevada
Alma materUtah State University, George Washington University
ProfessionLawyer
Signature
WebsiteOfficial site

Harry Mason Reid (born December 2, 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, and has been the Senate's Majority Leader since January 2007. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been leader of the Senate Democrats since 2005, serving as Minority Leader from 2005 until the Democrats won control of the Senate in the 2006 congressional elections.

Early life

Reid was born in Searchlight, Nevada, the son of a miner in the camp 50 miles southeast of Las Vegas. He attended Basic High School in Henderson, Nevada, where he played football and was an amateur boxer.[1] While at Basic he met future Nevada governor Mike O'Callaghan, who was a teacher there. Reid attended Southern Utah University and Utah State University.

Reid graduated from George Washington University Law School with a J.D. while working for the United States Capitol Police. He returned to Nevada after law school and served as Henderson city attorney before being elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1966. In 1970, At age 30, Reid was chosen by O'Callaghan as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada.

Political career: 1966–2009

Further information: Electoral history of Harry Reid

Nevada politics: 1966–1981

Reid and his mentor O'Callaghan won the race and Reid served as lieutenant governor until 1974, when he ran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Alan Bible. He lost by fewer than 600 votes to former Governor Paul Laxalt. In 1975, Reid ran for mayor of Las Vegas and lost again, this time to Bill Briare.[2]

Reid then served as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1977 to 1981, a post that subjected him to death threats. Jack Gordon also tried to bribe Reid. Reid allowed the FBI to tape Gordon's attempt to bribe him with $12,000. Reid lost his temper and attempted to choke Gordon, "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!", and was pulled off by FBI agents. Gordon was convicted in United States district court in 1979 and sentence to six months in prison.[3] In 1981, Reid's wife once found a bomb attached to one of their cars, a bomb Reid suspects was placed by Gordon.[3]

U.S. Representative: 1982–87

Prior to the 1980 Census, Nevada had only a single at-large member in the United States House of Representatives, but population growth in the 1970s resulted in the state picking up a second district. Reid won the Democratic nomination for the 1st district, based in Las Vegas, in 1982, and easily won the general election. He served two terms in the House, from 1983 to 1987.

U.S. Senator: 1987–present

In 1986, Reid won the Democratic nomination for the seat of retiring two-term incumbent Paul Laxalt. He defeated former at-large Congressman Jim Santini, a Democrat who had turned Republican, in the November election. He coasted to reelection in 1992. However, he barely defeated 1st District Congressman John Ensign in 1998 in the midst of a statewide Republican sweep.

In 2004, Reid won reelection with 61 percent of the vote, gaining the endorsement of several Republicans.

Ensign was elected to Nevada's other Senate seat in 2000. He and Reid have a very good relationship, despite their bruising contest in 1998. The two frequently work together on Nevada issues.[4]

Leadership

From 1999 to 2005, Reid served as Senate Democratic Whip. He served as minority whip from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2003 to 2005, and as majority whip from 2001 to 2003 (except for a brief period from January-May 2001). From 2001 to 2003, he served as chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee.

Reid succeeded Tom Daschle as minority leader in 2005. He became majority leader after the 2006 elections.

Reid was re-elected Majority Leader by the Democratic caucus without an opposition on November 18, 2008, winning all 57 votes.[5]

Committee memberships

Reelection Bid in 2010

Main article: United States Senate election in Nevada, 2010

While Reid is the front runner for the Democratic nomination, he faces a competitive general election against Republican candidates Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian for the 2010 Senate Race in Nevada. Reid has engaged in a $1 million media campaign to "reintroduce himself" to Nevada's voters. However, Rasmussen polling after this effort shows Reid lagging by ten percentage points against Lowden (41% to 51%) and six points against Tarkanian (42% to 48%).[6][7][8]

Political positions

Main article: Political positions of Harry Reid
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Reid after signing the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 on March 30, 2009.
Reid speaking at the State Children's Health Insurance Program Art Exhibit press conference.

A method that some political scientists use for gauging ideology is to compare the annual ratings by the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) with the ratings by the American Conservative Union (ACU).[9] Reid has scored a lifetime conservative rating of 19% from the ACU,[10] and a 2008 liberal rating of 70% from the ADA.[11] Other independent ratings include a 27% rating from NARAL in 2003[12], and a 57% rating by Planned Parenthood in 2006.[13]

Reid has spearheaded several initiatives while in Congress. In 2006 Reid co-sponsored the "Prevention First Amendment" with Hillary Clinton, which would fund abortion prevention efforts, such as giving women broader access to contraception; however the bill faced Republican opposition and failed.[14] In January 2007, Reid brought a Senate ethics reform bill to a vote to bar congressional members from accepting gifts, meals, and trips from lobbyists and organization employing them, as well as barring Senators from borrowing corporate jets for travel and compelling them to disclose the names of sponsors, or authors, of bills and specific projects. The bill passed 96 to 2.[15]

Regarding specific issues, Reid believes that Roe vs. Wade should be overturned and in 1999, he voted against an amendment that explicitly expressed support for Roe v. Wade.[16] He has stated that he believes in a restricted right to abortion, stating that "abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered."[17] He has also voted several times to ban the "intact dilation and evacuation" or "partial-birth abortion" procedure.[18] Reid has voted against the Nelson-Hatch-Casey amendment in the Senate which proposed to ban federal funding of health care plans that cover abortion.[19] Regarding same-sex marriage, Reid has stated he believes "...marriage should be between a man and a woman." He voted in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act but against the Federal Marriage Amendment.[20] He is historically in favor of the death penalty,[21] stem cell research[22] and gun control.[23] He also supports legislation for $15 billion in tax breaks for large oil companies, aiming to put the money toward renewable energy sources.[citation needed] With regards to local issues, Reid has firmly opposed the proposed Yucca Mountain federal nuclear waste repository in Nevada.[24]

Reid called immigration reform one of his top priorities for the 110th Congress and supports the DREAM Act which would make it easier for young people who are not citizens of the United States but are permanent residents to attend college or university in the United States.[25][26] He also opposed a Constitutional amendment to make English the national language of the United States.[27] In June 2009, Reid announced his intention to enact a new guest worker program as part of a comprehensive immigration reform bill.[28]

Reid has supported the use of force in the Middle East but has called for a drastic change in strategy.[citation needed] In January 1991 he voted to authorize military force in Iraq to liberate Kuwait,[29] quoting John F. Kennedy's 1963 State of the Union speech on the Senate floor, saying "the mere absence of war is not Peace".[30][31] He also voted in support of the 2003 invasion of Iraq,[32][33] and in March 2007 he voted in favor of "redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008".[33] Later that year, however, he said, "As long as we follow [President Bush's] path in Iraq, the war is lost."[34]

Criticism

Main article: Criticisms of Harry Reid

Over the years Reid has been the subject of several criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Liberal critics argue that Reid is not doing enough to end the American military presence in Iraq,[35] and that he allowed Senate Republicans to create a 60-vote bar for passage of bills without actually a Democratic fillibuster.[36][37][38]

Reid has also been criticized for several potentially self-enriching tactics. In 2005 Reid earmarked a spending bill to provide for building a bridge between Nevada and Arizona that would make land he owned more valuable. Reid called funding for construction of a bridge over the Colorado River, among other projects, 'incredibly good news for Nevada' in a news release after passage of the 2005 transportation bill. He owned 160 acres (65 ha) of land several miles from the proposed bridge site in Arizona. The bridge could add value to his real estate investment.[39] A year later it was reported that Reid had used campaign donations to pay for $3,300 in Christmas gifts to the staff at the condominium where he resides[40]; federal election law prohibits candidates from using political donations for personal use. Reid's staff stated that his attorneys had approved use of the funds in this manner but that he nonetheless would personally reimburse his campaign for the expenses. That action notwithstanding, the conservative group Citizens United announced it had filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission to investigate the matter.[41]

In 2006, Reid was also brought under question as to his possible involvement in the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal, in that he purportedly "received more than $50,000 from four tribes with gaming interests between 2001 and 2004 after they hired Abramoff,"[42] which would have introduced a conflict of interest. However, the Senate Ethics Committee never accused Reid of violating Senate ethics rules.[43]

While Reid is pro-life, he has drawn criticism from the movement for his opposition to the Stupak amendment in the Senate.

Cultural and political image

Reid speaks during the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Part of Harry Reid's confrontation with Frank Rosenthal while chair of the Nevada Gaming Commission is reenacted in the 1995 movie Casino.[44][45] Reid had a role in the movie Traffic (2000), in which he played himself.[46] He appeared along with Senators Sam Brownback and Barack Obama in the 2007 documentary film Sand and Sorrow, which details the genocide in Sudan.[47]

Reid was elected to the Gaming Hall of Fame in 2001.[48]

National opinion polls have shown Senate Majority Leader Reid's job approval to be low or unfavorable.[49][50] Democrats as a whole in the United States Congress also receive low approval ratings. [51][52] An October 2007 Las Vegas Review-Journal favorability poll indicated 51 percent of Nevadans view Reid unfavorably, with 32 percent indicating favorability.[53] A December 2007 Las Vegas Review-Journal job approval poll showed 42 percent of Nevadans rating Reid "poor," 41 percent "excellent or good," and 16 percent "only fair."[54] A November 2009 Rasmussen poll, showed that 25% of polled voters have a favorable opinion of Reid, while 47% view him unfavorably.[55]

Family and personal life

Reid and his wife have five children, one of whom, Rory Reid, is an elected Commissioner for Clark County, Nevada, and another who recently ran for municipal office in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.[56]

Reid is a first generation member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[57] Reid and his wife, who was born to Jewish parents, converted to Mormonism while Reid was a college student.[3] He stated in an interview with Brigham Young University's Daily Universe that "I think it is much easier to be a good member of the Church and a Democrat than a good member of the Church and a Republican." He went on to say that the Democrats' emphasis on helping others, as opposed to what he considers Republican dogma to the contrary, is the reason he's a Democrat.[58] He delivered a speech at BYU to about 20,000 students on October 9, 2007, in which he expressed his opinion that Democratic values mirror Mormon values.[59]

References

  1. ^ http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_Reid.html
  2. ^ "Dustbusters, sex appeal and Sen. Frankie Sue". Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  3. ^ a b c Walsh, Elsa (2005-08-08). "Minority Retort: How a pro-gun, anti-abortion Nevadan leads the Senate's Democrats". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  4. ^ http://reid.senate.gov/about/index.cfm
  5. ^ "U.S. Senate Majority Leader". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/nv/nevada_senate_tarkanian_vs_reid-1099.html
  7. ^ http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/nv/nevada_senate_lowden_vs_reid-1100.html
  8. ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704240504574585921173928460.html
  9. ^ Mayer, William (2004-03-28). "Kerry's Record Rings a Bell". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "2007 U.S. Senate Votes". American Conservative Union. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  11. ^ "ADA's 2008 Congressional Voting Record" (PDF). Americans for Democratic Action. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  12. ^ http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Harry_Reid_Abortion.htm
  13. ^ "Senator Harry M. Reid". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  14. ^ "Reid, Clinton Detail Prevention First Amendment". Democratic Party. 2005-03-17. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  15. ^ Kirkpatrick, David D. (2007-01-19). "Senate Passes Vast Ethics Overhaul". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Meet the Press: Transcript for December 5". MSNBC. 2004-12-05. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  17. ^ "Senator Harry M. Reid Issue Positions". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  18. ^ Curry, Tom (2007-04-19). "Supreme Court ruling raises '08 stakes". MSNBC. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  19. ^ http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00369
  20. ^ "Harry Reid on Abortion". On the Issues. Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ "Harry Reid on Crime". On the Issues. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ Reid, Harry M. "George Bush Vetos Stem Cell Research". Give 'em Hell Harry. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ "Harry Reid on Gun Control". On the Issues. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ http://reid.senate.gov/issues/yucca.cfm
  25. ^ Deutsch, Robert (2006-12-30). "Advocates hope new Congress will act on immigration reform". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-02-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "Immigration". Reid Senate site. Retrieved 2009-02-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ "Harry Reid". On the Issues. Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Senate Democratic Leader Wants New Guest Worker Program Despite Recession and High Unemployment Rate". Cybercast News Service. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  29. ^ "Slim Senate Majority Is Expected But House Backing Appears Solid". The New York Times. Published January 12, 1991.
  30. ^ John F. Kennedy (January 14, 1963). "State of the Union Address". Infoplease.
  31. ^ Helen Dewar; Tom Kenworthy (January 12, 1991). "U.N. Chief, Europeans Discuss Peace Plan;Bush Gains Support in Senate". The Washington Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) The quote in question can be seen via a Google News archive search.
  32. ^ USATODAY.com - Bush gains more support for Iraq war resolution
  33. ^ a b OnTheIssues.org
  34. ^ Government Access Website
  35. ^ The Boston Globe "Congress Returns Ready for Confrontation"
  36. ^ Democratic retreat on Iraq? - First Read - msnbc.com
  37. ^ CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - House approves terror surveillance bill « - Blogs from CNN.com
  38. ^ Your Harry Reid-led Senate in action - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com
  39. ^ Will the Pork stop here? Los Angeles Times Newspaper
  40. ^ USA Today
  41. ^ Hill News
  42. ^ reviewjournal.com - News - Tribes gave to Reid after hiring Abramoff
  43. ^ Politicians caught in the rush to return donation
  44. ^ Stutz, Howard (2007-07-02). Las Vegas Review-Journal. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  45. ^ Suellentrop, Chris (2004-12-22). "Harry Reid Is Not Boring". Slate. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  46. ^ Traffic (2000) - Full cast and crew
  47. ^ Sand and Sorrow (2007)
  48. ^ "The Gaming Hall of Fame". University of Nevada Las Vegas. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  49. ^ Pollingreport - Political Figures: R
  50. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  51. ^ Pollingreport - Congress:Democrats
  52. ^ Pollingreport - Congress:Republicans
  53. ^ ReviewJournal.com - News - Poll: Reid's popularity falls among Nevadans
  54. ^ Reid's ratings mixed in poll
  55. ^ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_favorability_ratings
  56. ^ "About Harry Reid". U.S. Senate. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  57. ^ Tumulty, Karen (January 12, 2007). "The Democrats' Inside Man". Time Magazine. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  58. ^ Snow, Tyson (2001-02-24). "Sen. Reid explains Mormonism and liberal agenda". BYU Newsnet. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  59. ^ McFarland, Sheena (2007-10-09). "Reid tells BYU crowd that socially responsible Dems mirror Mormon values". The Salt Lake Tribune.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harry Reid.
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Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
Served under: Mike O'Callaghan
January 1971–January 1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Senate Minority Whip
January 3, 1999–January 3, 2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Senate Majority Whip
January 3, 2001–January 20, 2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
January 3, 2001–January 20, 2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Senate Minority Whip
January 20, 2001–June 6, 2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Senate Majority Whip
June 6, 2001–January 3, 2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics
June 6, 2001–January 3, 2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Senate Minority Whip
January 3, 2003–January 3, 2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Senate Minority Leader
January 3, 2005–January 3, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Senate Majority Leader
January 3, 2007–present 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nevada's 1st congressional district
January 3, 1983 - January 3, 1987 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Nevada
January 3, 1987-
Served alongside: Chic Hecht, Richard Bryan, John Ensign 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic Party nominee for United States Senator from Nevada
(Class 3)
1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic Party nominee for United States Senator from Nevada
(Class 3)
1986, 1992, 1998, 2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Senate Democratic Whip
January 3, 1999 - January 3, 2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Senate Democratic Leader
January 3, 2005 - present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Senators by seniority
20th 		Succeeded by
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