Harry Reid Lights Up YearlyKos

Posted by Bob Geiger at 3:10 PM on June 11, 2006.

Blogging from YearlyKos

As the Rolling Stones' 'Street Fighting Man' blared from the speakers, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid entered the massive ballroom at the Riviera Hotel to speak to 1,000 YearlyKos attendees and, it's safe to say, wasn't sure of precisely what reception he would get.

While the Senate Democratic Leader should by default feel somewhat comfortable addressing a conference filled with progressive activists and bloggers, Reid is a moderate-to-conservative Democrat and, with problems that attendees may have with some of his previous stances, the decision to appear was, to some extent, a political risk.

But the former boxer from tiny Searchlight, Nevada jumped gamely into the ring last night, played to a packed house and, by the time his 20-minute speech ended, Reid appeared to leave as a rock star, mobbed by so many well-wishers and autograph seekers that his phalanx of security could barely get him out of the room.

"As a former boxer, I know fighters when I see them -- you're fighters," said Reid to wild applause. "You're fighters for the truth. You've made a tremendous difference in our country and for the Democratic Party."

With "Give 'em Hell, Harry" signs waving throughout the audience, Reid, who was the first major Democrat to sign on as a YearlyKos speaker, stoked the progressive fires and encouraged those present to remain active and prepare for a tough fight this election year and beyond.

"It was you who were quick to stand against the Swift Boat attacks on Senator John Kerry," he said to an enthusiastic response. "It was you who defended Valerie Plame, an American spy, and Ambassador Joe Wilson against Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. And it was you who led Democrats to victory against the privatization of Social Security."

Reid also announced to the crowd that he will propose legislation next week to force stronger Congressional oversight of the White House and hold the Bush administration accountable for any future statements or intelligence claims on Iran.

"Everything they say will have to be supported by facts," Reid said. "I have no doubt the White House won't like this requirement, but after what happened in Iraq, the American people deserve nothing less."

In addition to their failure at providing oversight of the executive branch of government, the GOP was also taken to task for their lack of a true agenda and their utter failure to address real problems facing America.

"Instead of finding ways to fix health care or make progress on energy, they plan to spend the coming months stoking the fears that divide us. Look at the Senate. Where is the Republican agenda? It's flag-burning, it's gay marriage, and it's estate tax. That's an old playbook. And that playbook doesn't account for a new team on the field and that's you."

Here's a great section from the middle of the speech:

"In the coming months, America faces a great choice. And for such a great choice, the question we must answer is simple.

"Do we -- as a country -- unite and change direction toward a better future for us all, or do we continue in the wrong direction of the last six years? A direction that has resulted in three dollar gas prices, a mess in Iraq, a crisis in health care and incompetence in government.

"You and I have the answer to that question. Unfortunately, the Republicans have their answer -- that's distract and divide.

"Republicans have no interest in changing direction, or taking on the issues before us. Their only goal is for them to stay in power -- even if it jeopardizes the future for us all. You see, Bush Republicans know what we know. Karl Rove knows what we know. And that's if Americans focus on real issues, Republicans will plummet even lower than they are now."

As Reid went on with a speech that seemed to pick up momentum with every soft-spoken word, a conference attendee yelled "shut it down, Harry," an approving reference to last November when Reid used a procedural rule to shut down the Senate until the GOP began addressing the corrupt pre-war intelligence that led the U.S. to the Iraq war.

"Sadly for the American people, the Congress is shut down 24 hours a day," replied Reid.

Reid backed that up by talking about the total lack of Congressional oversight on the Bush administration's misdeeds.

"During the Clinton years, the House Government Reforms Committee issued 1,052 subpoenas to the Clinton administration and more than that to the Democratic National Committee," said the Nevada Senator. "That's a lot of subpoenas. How many do you think they've issued regarding Abu Ghraib or Haditha? Zero. How about the war in Iraq? How many subpoenas? Zero!"

By this time, it was obviously that Reid had won over the room and he parted with a rallying cry that reminded all of what to expect in the coming months.

"We know the Republicans are going to attack us with everything they have. They do it every election -- but this time it's going to be different," said Reid in closing. "Because of you, no attack will go unanswered. You tell the truth one day at a time. You tell the truth one round at a time and, come November 7, the rounds will be over and we will declare victory."

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Bob Geiger is a writer, activist and Democratic District Leader in Westchester County, NY. You can reach Bob at geiger.bob@gmail.com and read more from him at Democrats.com.