Letter: Like Truman, Reid is honest

Monday, May 16, 2005 | 9:17 a.m.

The recent controversy over Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., calling President Bush a loser reminds me of another Harry who, like Harry Reid, always spoke his mind. This man was not only a senator but was also later elected president.

I'm talking, of course, about Harry Truman. In the 1948 "whistle stop" campaign for president, Truman often gave the Republican opposition a piece of his mind. One day, at literally one of the hundreds of "whistle stops" that characterized the 1948 presidential campaign, a man said to President Truman, "Give 'em hell, Harry!" President Truman replied, "I'm not giving them (Republicans) hell. I'm just telling the truth and the Republicans think it's hell." Enough said!

Keep up the great job that you are doing, Sen. Reid. The state of Nevada re-elected you by giving you more than 60 percent of the vote. Nevadans are proud of you and the job you are doing in Washington. You have served Nevada extremely well. Keep speaking the truth.

The people need to hear the truth. It's refreshing to hear an elected official speak both the truth and what is on that elected official's mind at the same time.

LARRY BURGESS