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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
, David McGrath Schwartz
Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010 | 2 a.m.
CATERING TO THE BASE
By embedding the DREAM Act and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” issues into the military spending bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes to motivate Hispanic and liberal voters in Nevada. But the move could further energize anti-immigration Republicans.Reader poll
Sun Archives
- Angle distorts the facts in new immigration ad against Reid (9-17-10)
- Reid abandons total immigration reform in last-ditch voter push (9-15-10)
- Harry Reid, Lady Gaga exchange tweets on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (9-14-10)
- Harry Reid wants vote on plan to let young immigrants become citizens (9-14-10)
- Senate urged to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ (9-10-10)
Sun Coverage
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks about financial reform, Wednesday, April 28, 2010, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle speaks during a Nevada Tea Party Patriots event near Durango Drive and the 215 Beltway on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010.
In close races, conventional political wisdom says it’s risky business to raise issues that might alienate centrist voters.
But just a few weeks before the start of early voting, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is making a push to address two of the most emotional — and electorate-splitting — issues out there: immigration reform, and the role of gays in the military.
Led by Reid, Democrats are hoping to advance a repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on sexual orientation, and the long-simmering DREAM Act, which would provide green cards to young illegal immigrants enlisted in the military or enrolled in college.
The issues would be considered as part of the annual defense authorization bill, which the Senate will begin to debate today.
Polls show Democratic voters are significantly less excited about the upcoming midterm election than their Republican counterparts. By attaching these contentious pieces of legislation to a must-pass measure, Reid stands to generate among his base constituencies enthusiasm that could deliver a big payoff on Election Day.
“This is for the base voters,” Jennifer Duffy, an analyst for the Cook Political Report in Washington, said.
The Republican base “is already fired up — if they were fired up any more they might implode. It’s really doing something that makes the Democratic base voters happy,” she said.
Nevada’s liberal bloc, such as it is, has always had a mixed relationship with Reid. While the right has accused him of carrying the national party’s “progressive” agenda, he is regarded by progressives as a moderate pragmatist, more interested in getting a deal done than hewing to any liberal orthodoxy. He has irked labor by opposing coal-fired power plants and environmentalists for protecting Nevada’s mining industry.
By repealing DADT, a provision already written into the base bill, Reid might help Democrats assuage hard-core liberals, who have been disappointed Congress and President Barack Obama didn’t do more for the progressive agenda with their supermajorities. With the DREAM Act, Reid potentially enables Democrats to motivate Hispanic supporters still waiting for comprehensive immigration reform — a potentially crucual cohort in Nevada, where Hispanics make up 26 percent of the state population but only 15 percent of the electorate.
But although passing such measures is potentially pleasing to some voters, it is anathema to many others who will also help decide the race between Reid and Republican challenger Sharron Angle.
“What this will do is invigorate the Republicans and the conservatives and the Tea Party people,” said Chuck Muth, a Nevada Republican strategist. “The DREAM Act will be seen as amnesty, and “don’t ask, don’t tell” as a soft one to the gay rights movement … and both are going to slow down the defense authorization, which will open him up to criticism that he’s abandoning the troops in the field. So it’s a triple loss for him.”
Angle’s campaign has leapt on the immigration issue, running spots calling Reid “the best friend an illegal alien ever had.” Angle spokesman Jarrod Agen called the DREAM Act a “cheap political ploy that’s going to backfire on Harry.”
Reid’s campaign insists the timing has nothing to do with politics.
“This is not something to play to the base,” Reid spokesman Tom Brede said. “It’s just good policy.”
But whether or not it’s intentional, politics appear to be trumping policy in Washington as these issues move forward. Many are concerned that Republicans who might otherwise have supported a vote on “don’t ask, don’t tell” and the DREAM Act will balk at handing the Democrats an apparent victory so close to the elections.
Reid and bill manager Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said they are not sure they will be able to get enough senators — 60 — to support the procedural vote on the bill necessary to push the debate forward, and open the floor to adding amendments — of which the DREAM Act is expected to be first.
That stands in contrast to positions some members have taken in the past.
The last time the DREAM Act came up for a vote, in 2007, it did not pass, but 12 Republicans supported the measure. This time, Democrats aren’t sure if they will get any Republicans to support a cloture vote on the defense authorization bill.
On “don’t ask, don’t tell,” many Republicans have said they prefer to defer to the decisions of military leaders, a position echoed by the Angle campaign. This year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates came out in support of repealing the policy.
Republicans are nonetheless expected to attempt to block the addition of the DREAM Act, and potentially even purge the existing language on repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” from the defense bill. Led by Arizona Sen. John McCain — a former champion of immigration reform who has tacked to the right on the issue this campaign season — they have been making the case against inclusion of both measures on the ground that they are not relevant to the bill.
That’s an argument that Democrats have disputed.
“As members of the military community have pointed out, that bill could be a real stimulus to recruiting,” Levin said.
Despite the growing fever pitch of the debate, it is unlikely it could derail the defense authorization bill, which has passed the Senate for 48 consecutive years. But it likely won’t happen before the election.
Reid said last week that he does not expect the Senate to complete its work on the defense bill until Congress returns after the election for a lame duck session. But Democratic strategists hope an opening cloture vote on the bill and a vote on the DREAM Act amendment could be enough to deliver to their base.
Bob Fulkerson, executive director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, said he’s seen excitement over the DADT repeal and DREAM Act in phone banking over the past few days.
“I think both of these things will do wonders in putting more fire into the base,” he said. “We’ve seen a huge sense of excitement about the DREAM Act and Sen. Reid in the Hispanic community.”
Karoun Demirjian reported from Washington. David McGrath Schwartz reported from Carson City.
poor republican taliban, couldn't come up with the balls to deal with gays, shiver, whine, cry, run-n-hide, cower before the thoughts;
geeze would have been nice if they put their mouth on immigration asspect. but no, cowards,
we already know reid is dismal and the reps are the same
what the heck, maybe we can get a pee party to represent us
we have been under the zipper for sooo long
Thank you Senior Reid !
Mr. Reid and his fellow travellers are going to beat the drum over this bill's defeat. Rather than blame themselves for "playing politics" with defense authorization, by adding on gay rights issues and huge giveaways to illegal aliens, they are going to suggest that opposition to the bill was somehow aimed at one issue or another and that opposition was "playing politics".
I believe we might be better off and more transparent politically--oxymoron?--if legislators write single issues as legislation and debate the merits of their passage so as not to distort their position or intent about a myriad of other issues. There would be a Dream Act we could all get behind--well, at least we citizens.
You people will do anything to help Reid, he will lose anyway
Pleas hurry and get me verified, I got a lot to say.
DREAM Act failed...Repealing don't ask, don't tell failed.
What's his next campaign trick? We can't wait....
It's hard to believe that Harry Reid could make a bigger fool of himself than he already has. But, with Sen. Reid, anything-- except common sense -- is possible
I love the headline! Reid "stirred the base" alright---the CONSERVATIVE base! Thanks, Harry. Keep up your foolish clamoring to posture yourself. But, we already know who and what you are.
Can you believe how Senator Reid Voted on Illegal Immigration: doe's this sound like a Man who cares about his country?
Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
Voted NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax. (Apr 2009)
Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program. (May 2007)
Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade. (Apr 2009)
Voted YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Aug 2009)
Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
Voted YES on Congressional pay raise. (Jul 2009)
Voted NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
Voted YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
Voted NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
Reject photo ID requirements for voting. (Sep 2005)
Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998)
Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare. (Feb 2008)
Voted YES on blocking medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)
Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)
Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006)
Voted YES on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998)
Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)
Rated 0% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)
Liar "Republican Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION" Insisted that they Are not REPUBLICAN But look at them, they are the ones that are Electing Republicans Poppets that are Extreme Agains most Americans.
Liar "Republican Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION" Have Strings Attached to Their "Head", Hands, "Feet", "Mouth", witch is CONTROLLED BEHIND CURTAINS By Republican and their Media Owned, news papers Owned , Pollsters OWNED
'"""" Exactly JUST LIKE CUBA Does IT """"
Liar "Tee Party" POPPETS with Strings Attached , Witch Have Republicans Behind Curtains Strings Attached to Them " Do Not Want to Debate Democrats" Because POPPETS wants REPUBLICAN MEDIA, Republican NEWS Papers, and Pollsters to "Win" Congress and Senate Seats For them,
''"""" Exactly JUST LIKE CUBA Does IT """"
Liar "Tee Party POPPETS with String Attached " , they Filed Application For Senate & Congress Of The American People Houses, But "POPPETS with Strings" Have Rejecting """JOB INTERVIEW"" Or Debate, Because Republican owned Media,Republican Owned NewsPapers And REpublican Pollsters SHOULD WIN JOBS FOR THEM
'"""" Exactly JUST LIKE CUBA Does IT """"
Sara Palin quitter, quit her Governor JOB.
Republican Republican Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION See Sara is only an Empty Republican Republican Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION Power Media Air Inflated Ballon, Palin her past is nothing more than quitter.
So she is Empty Ballon hero for nothing
Republican Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION Sharron Angle" Christine O'Donnell "Ron Paul" Ask Where are the JOBS???????????
Republican JOHN McCAIN on American JOB DESTRUCTION Outsourcing Offshore, Helped Outsource 2.3 Million American Jobs To China
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/20...
Republican Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION Sharron Angle" Christine O'Donnell "Ron Paul" Ask Where are the JOBS??????????
1. Republican Bush seem to think American jobs outsourcing, it actually sustains American jobs
Americans were better off importing it than producing product. Feb-23-2004
Source: http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/3012081
2. Republican & George Bush Promoted enforced The Outsourcing Of U.S. Jobs
Source: http://fixco1.com/bushoutsourcing.html
A. Republican Bush on American JOB DESTRUCTION $37,000,000,000 billion in tax breaks for U.S. firms' offshore companies and Replace the DOMESTIC TAX
break to OFFSHORE Companies (Senate legislation S. 1637)
Source: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy...
Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION Sharron Angle" Christine O'Donnell "Ron Paul" Ask Where are the JOBS??????????
Carly Fiorina Master of American Jobs Out Sourcing OFFSHORE to other countries check the followings.
Our outsourcing business is growing at four times the market rate today. A year ago, our outsourced business was growing about 15%. In the quarter we just announced, it's growing at 36%, so we are seeing accelerating momentum in our outsourcing.
Source: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speech...
Look At Republican Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION American Value
Shame on
Glenn Beck To Fat People: 'I Say Let Them Die'
Republican Glenn Beck To Fat People: 'I Say Let Them Die'
Do We Have to put up with "Sharron Angle" And Glenn Beck to Degrade, Put Down and Laugh at them from now on?
Republicans mostly are in bed Banks or Oil Firms And ext......... Republicans ONLY AND ONLY SEE GREEN DOLLARS and speak only the green dollars Language and NOT THE LANGUAGE OF Most Ordinary Hard Working Americans.And those Hard working Americans and families, Deserve Way Way Better than thisShame on Tea party
Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/09/15/beck.....
http://wonkette.com/421662/glenn-beck-do...
Republicans never been Good for Ordinary Americans
Most CAsinos Hate REPUBLICAN they Destoyed American Middle Class and Set Their JOB Offshore,+Companies.
Result
Middle Class no money No work Then NO Casinoes
Republican Tea-Party WITCH_CRAFTER Evil UNION Sharron Angle" Christine O'Donnell "Ron Paul" Ask Where are the JOBS economy??????????
Republicans Bush Started, with Clinton ( SURPLUS SURPLUS SURPLUS) and start giving up STIMULUS EVER SINCE 2001
Just to Republican Bush's review of " Deficits Deficits Deficits " only for six years
For Year 2001-2002: $157.800,000,000 billion (1.5% of GDP)
For Year 2003: $377.600,000,000 billion (3.5% of GDP)
For Year 2004: $412.700,000,000 billion (3.6% of GDP)
For Year 2005: $318.300,000,000 billion (2.6% of GDP)
For Year 2006: $248.200,000,000 billion (1.9% of GDP)
For Year 2007: $161.000,000,000 billion (est.) (1.2% of GDP)
Republicans Bush Feb 2008 Stimulus Legislation to Prevent Modern Depression Is (NOT COUNTED).
Iraq war estimate March 9, 2008 (est.) $3,000,000,000,000 Trillion of American Tax payer
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...
So Harry Reid found a way to work for the repeal of don't ask, don't tell and an expedited process for citizenship for illegal immigrants by attaching the totally irrelevant items to a defense spending bill. In the first case, he gets to play to an apathetic base. And the in the second he say to minority block look what I tried to do for you. But, he couldn't find the time or will to work for a tax cut for citizens of his state and the country as a whole.
The people of Nevada cannot seriously be considering returning this panderer to the U.S. Senate. He's a career politician of the highest order and the worst kind.
Senator Reid use to really care about Nevada, and the USA, it seems that he now have been bitten by the political power bug... He acts like he's running for public office in Mexico. Whether you are Democrat, Republican, or IND. We all need to come together and vote Senator Reid out of office. He is so bold with his lies that in one of his most recent TV. ads he claims Sharron Angle lied on his take of allowing illegal aliens to have access to social security, but it his voting record, he voted YES on allowing ILLEGAL aliens access to Social Security, then on border security, he voted NO on building a border fence. He cares more about what Mexico thinks of him than does about the American Citizen. Vote for Sharron Angle
stop-outsourcers = Get a grip! Why so much hate? This race is not about Bush, the Tea Party, or Sarah Palin. I use to be a Democrat, but after seeing our Unions turn into Political pawns, and the Unions selling out to illegal aliens and cheap labor, what a Joke! I use to be Pro-Union, but I will never side with anyone who cares more about a dog, than they do about innocent human life, you call Sharron Angle some pretty bad things, but one thing I do know about her, she is not a baby killer. She will tell you what she thinks, unlike Senator Reid who changes with voter demographics. He say what he think the Hispanics want to hear, the say what he thinks the Blacks, and Whites wants to hear, yes he will tell you anything your inching ears want to hear in order to get that vote.
Sharron Angle will upset Reid come November.