Monday, Jan. 28, 2008 | 4:15 p.m.
Washington — So it seems presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama isn’t the only Democrat unafraid to say something nice about former President Reagan.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this afternoon welcomed five Nevadans who will be his guests tonight in the gallery for President Bush’s state of the union address.
In telling them about his own appreciation of watching the event live, he reflected on listening to Regan deliver the address 25 years ago.
“The way Reagan could deliver a speech was unbelievable,” he told the Nevadans. “I would have to wake myself up … from being mesmerized by his speaking ability.”
Obama, remember, was taken to task by rival presidential contender Sen. Hillary Clinton for having said that Reagan was a transformational figure in American politics.
Reid, like Obama, made sure to insert that he didn’t agree with what Reagan had to say. He just appreciated the president’s oratorical abilities.
Reid hasn’t missed a state of the union since. Better than the Super Bowl, he said, or the World Series.
The five Nevadans Reid invited include two Republicans, two independents and one uniformed Army lieutenant who is not allowed to offer his political preference. They are: Melanie Teemant, the state Teacher of the Year from Bob Miller Middle School in Henderson; Army Lt. Jesse Tafoya, a Valley High School graduate, who just returned from a 15-month tour in Iraq running a medical clinic outside of Baghdad; Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck; Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley; and Kari Frilot, the CEO of the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce.
They said they would be listening to hear Bush’s thoughts on issues important to them from infrastructure in Pahrump to renewable energy in Mesquite. The sheriff wants to hear how Bush will balance civil rights protections for domestic surveillance subjects and the teacher has concerns that schools are getting punished under Bush’s No Child Left Behind law.
Other members of the Nevada delegation also invited guests tonight. Sen. John Ensign hosted Steven Hill, a prominent Nevada Republican and president of Silver State Materials. Republican Rep. Jon Porter invited Marine Cpl. Daniel Nicholson, who served in Iraq. Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley did not invite anyone this year.
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