LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

For Nevadans, Reid a friend in high place

Roger Witcher, Las Vegas

Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.

I was pleased to read Brian Greenspun’s Where I Stand column in Sunday’s Las Vegas Sun, “When the R-J unfairly strikes at Harry Reid, it hits Nevada.” I have been fuming about the unfair treatment of Sen. Harry Reid by the Las Vegas Review-Journal for some time, and particularly about R-J publisher Sherman Frederick’s relentless attacks on the senator. Why, it almost sounds personal.

Nevada is fortunate to have someone who is the majority leader in the U.S. Senate, and who also is in close contact with the president. What more could our small state, population-wise, ask for? If anyone thinks Sen. Reid was not influential in virtually stopping the Yucca Mountain project, he or she is not being realistic.

Sen. Reid’s staff helped my family personally. The original copy of my wife’s Naturalization Certificate was lost in a hurricane in the Caribbean in the 1990s. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to get a replacement copy from immigration officials, and paying a company in Florida to help us interact with the immigration agency, we finally contacted Sen. Reid’s office in Las Vegas.

We made an appointment, and brought supporting documentation. His staff was very professional and persistent in resolving the problem, and within a month we had a new Naturalization Certificate that had been updated with her married name.

My wife and I are Sen. Reid fans, not only because of the help we received, but because we feel he is doing an outstanding job representing Nevada. We will be campaigning for him in the November 2010 election.

Discussion: 15 comments so far…

By jlb101

9/10/09 at 5:34 a.m.

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You can't be serious. Dump Reid.
By Political_Pragmatist

9/10/09 at 6:25 a.m.

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Without Harry Reid, Nevada would be Idaho.
By Houstonjac

9/10/09 at 6:26 a.m.

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I am so pleased that you received personal assistance from Senator Reid's staff. But that does not mean that this State and all of its people need to endure the arrogance and bullying
demeanor of this nut case liberal who does not have the spine to stand up for Las Vegas in the wake of Obama's costly flippent remark about travel to Las Vegas. Reid is a wimp! Your comments about Sherman Frederick's counter attack on Reid in an attempt to defend his paper against the abuse of power by the arrogant Reid is a case of liberal crap mouthing on your part. I hope the citizens of Nevada give Reid what he deserves--the bum's rush from the Senate!
By SgtRock

9/10/09 at 6:27 a.m.

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Other than Reid getting 1,000's of people laid off as result of reducing funds for Yucca, what else has he done?

Nevada is ranked at the bottom of getting Federal tax dollars returned to the state.

Nevada is ranked at the bottom of getting stimulus funds.

Hmmmmm......Reid might be "powerful" but he ain't helping us.
By edgewise

9/10/09 at 8:12 a.m.

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SgtRock, are you saying you think Harry Reid should load more bills with pork barrel spending? What happened to being a fiscal conservative?
By LarryVegas

9/10/09 at 8:43 a.m.

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"For Nevadans, Reid a friend in high place"

How high of a place is he in? I know he likes the pedestal that he likes, but I think he would be more comfortable back in Searchlight, assisting local police ticket speeders...
By Martel

9/10/09 at 8:52 a.m.

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Edgewise,
The point has nothing to do with loading bills with congressional earmarks. The point is Harry and company say they have brought so much to Nevada when in fact it is not true. In fact, considering his seniority and position, he has been very, very ineffectual. You only need check the Federal Aid to States (FAS) report for the past 10 years if you want proof. It's really no surprise. It appears that Harry has spent so much time doing the bidding of the democratic party that he has neglected his own constituency. There's only so many hours in a day.
FYI, pork barrel spending does not increase the amount of federal money spent; it merely redistributes a bigger portion of the pot to those states whose representatives are able to negotiate and include the authorization in a bill that is passed by congress.
The only way to control pork is to grant the president a line item veto (ala Ronald Regan)...but it will never happen as long as politicians must be elected locally.
Cheers!
By rusty57

9/10/09 at 9:08 a.m.

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How would we ever get along without our career politicians???
By Future

9/10/09 at 2:33 p.m.

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Once again Sunday the LV Sun refuses to allow us to respond (Blog)to Brian Greenspun's editorial on the Fairness Doctrine

"It seems that the other day, Sen. Harry Reid was simply being Harry." LOL

While shaking down Bob Brown's of the R-J, Harry said words to the effect of: I hope you (the R-J) go out of business.

The LV Sun said Sen. Reid's words were honorable and fully American. "Sen. Reid does not need me [Brian Greenspun] to defend him against Sherm and the R-J -- I do it because it gives me some pleasure".

I suggest, however, that those who just fell for Sherm's latest ruse turn, instead, to the Las Vegas Sun for credible information and insights."

What was Sherman Frederick, the R-J publisher, great sin he accused Harry of bullying tactics toward the R-J's in an attempt to shut the newspaper down.

When Harry Reid has friends like Mark Lloyd diversity Director for the Obama FCC the R-J should be concerned.

In 2008 Mark Lloyd participated in a "media reform" conference and He spoke of Mr. Chavez's "incredible revolution, a democratic revolution," and of the "property owners and the folks who then controlled the media in Venezuela"

Reid can choke the R-J out with ownership restrictions and equal time demands.
By ksand99

9/10/09 at 6:45 p.m.

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"Once again Sunday the LV Sun refuses to allow us to respond (Blog)to Brian Greenspun's editorial on the Fairness Doctrine"

Once again, you're free to write a letter to the Editor for publication. Instead, you choose to play the victim.
By teamster

9/10/09 at 7:01 p.m.

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Great letter Roger:
Harry Reid will win in 2010.
By gnelson651

9/10/09 at 9:47 p.m.

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I've been a Nevadan for 40 years and I can tell you Harry Ried has done nothing for Nevada. Its hard to believe this guy gets elected very 6 years for such a lackluster performance.

Oh and Brian ended with "That is what newspapers are supposed to do." Yeah right and that's why you have singlehandedly turned the SUN from a viable newspaper to a Sunday insert in the RJ.

Brian you're no Hank...I should know, I worked for the SUN when Hank ran things right.
By larry5

9/10/09 at 11:05 p.m.

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"What more could our small state, population-wise, ask for?"

Hey Roger - I'll answer that. We could ask for a senator who cared for the good of the country. We could ask for a senator who listened to his constituents. We could ask for a senator who won't take advantage of his position and find ways to accumulate large amounts of wealth for himself. And finally, would it be OK if I ask for a senator with a personality?
By teamster

9/11/09 at 12:45 a.m.

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gnelson651;
Harry Reid stopped Yucca Mountain and got
President Obama elected and you call that
nothing?

larry5:
You don't need personalty when you
carry a big stick.
By Metman

9/14/09 at 12:44 a.m.

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Harry Reid will be in a low place after 2010. We'll see what kind of a friend he is then. Reid is finished.

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