Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, is one of the most pathetic, transparent politicians of our time, and if he loses the upcoming election to Sharon Angle, well, I’ll be happy.
Not that I like Angle. The Republican’s shining hope is a certifiable loon, whose extreme, extreme, extreme right views make one long for the moderate outlook of Sarah Palin. But as a Democrat, I am simply repulsed by Reid, who time and time again places political self-preservation over the good of the nation.
Latest example: Today Reid came out against the NYC mosque. As far as transparent political moves go, this one’s a biggie. “The First Amendment protects freedom of religion,” Reid said through a spokesperson. “Senator Reid respects that, but thinks that the mosque should be built someplace else. If the Republicans are being sincere, they would help us pass this long overdue bill to help the first responders whose health and livelihoods have been devastated because of their bravery on 9/11, rather than continuing to block this much-needed legislation.”
Ugh.
Let me be clear: This whole mosque issue makes me ashamed to be an American. It really, truly does. Who have we become as a people and as a nation? Are we a land that values diversity as our strength, or one that cowers? For my money, there is no more powerful message to the world than the U.S. embracing the mosque; saying, “This nation accepts all faiths. Absolutely all.”
It’s just so sad. Nine years ago we were attacked on 9.11, and we vowed to keep our prinicples and ideals.
We have failed miserably.
PS: All that said, I blame the GOP for making the mosque an issue. This is such an unhealthy, unproductive debate for the nation, yet the Repubs see it as a way to win an election. Fucking depressing.
