Obama to Reid in 2008: “Harry, What’s John (McCain) Up to? It Sounds Crazy”
EmailThe paperback edition of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2008 book "THE GOOD FIGHT: Hard Lessons From Searchlight to Washington" has a new epilogue that the Democratic leader penned in January, with many behind-the-scenes stories and observations about President Obama. The paperback edition is set to hit bookshelves on May 5.
In 15-page epilogue, titled "The Obama Era," Reid writes that then-Sen. Obama "was in an entirely different class from the start," recalling "specific moments when Barack Obama came into focus as a national leader for the first time."
The Majority Leader recalls Obama as a freshman senator giving "an unusually fine speech" about President Bush’s war policy.
“That speech was phenomenal, Barack,” Reid said.
"And I will never forget his response," Reid writes. "Without the barest hint of braggadocio or conceit, and with what I would describe as deep humility, he said quietly: ‘I have a gift, Harry.’ In the Bible, we are told that all men are given different gifts. And we see it in every field, from art to science, academia to athletics. Some are great; others are gifted. We were all about to learn just what a gift Barack Obama had."
After Democrats regained control of Congress in 2006, Reid writes that his chief of staff Susan McCue and communications staffer Stephanie Cutter came to him and said, "We think you should put Obama out front on the ethics legislation.”
“He’s just a freshman," Reid said dismissively.
“Trust us on this,” the two women said. “He’ll be good, very good.”
Later, in 2007, Reid told Obama that the stars could align for him were he to run for the White House.
“If you want to be president, you can be president now," Reid said.
“I don’t know, Harry," said Obama. “I don’t think so.”
Fast forward to Saturday, November 1, 2008, when "the future came to town" — then-Democratic presidential nominee was in Nevada.
"That morning, Barack Obama touched down in Las Vegas for his twentieth visit to Nevada since his campaign for the presidency had begun, and made his way down to the hillside football field at Coronado High School in Henderson for one of the last rallies before the election. I would have the honor to introduce him in Henderson to 20,000 people that day, and I can say that speaking before Barack Obama is enough to give anyone a nice shot of humility."
Reid recalls talking alone with then-Sen. Obama at his hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
"The campaign was entering its chaotic final seventy-two hours, the last steps on the improbable journey he’d begun a long twenty months before. We were both too full of the moment to reflect much and fully appreciate the history that was at hand. During the campaign, he and I had spoken frequently, and especially as the economic crisis deepened in the fall, we took to talking almost every day.
"Neither of us likes to talk on the phone much, and so the conversations would usually be as brief as they were regular. Often during the long campaign, Barack would call, but on occasion I would track him down and ask him to return to Washington for a crucial vote. He did not welcome those particular calls, but without fail, he would return for the votes, though it anguished him to let up for a moment in his historic campaign."
Then-Sen. Obama returned, upon request, for a vote on the $700 billion bailout of the financial sector, Reid writes, recalling that after Lehman Brothers collapsed in mid-September Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, and then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson came to Congress and told congressional leaders that unless Congress immediately provided significant capital for the credit markets, the US "won’t have an economy on Monday."
On Wednesday, September 24, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., phoned Reid and told him, “Harry, I am suspending my campaign to come back and help negotiate a deal.” McCain explained that he was also calling upon Obama to suspend his campaign, and together they could convene a meeting at the Bush White House to help come to a deal on a bailout for Wall Street.
Reid didn’t think it was such a great idea, given that negotiations were well underway, with Democratic leaders of the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee working with White House and Treasury Department officials.
"They were on the verge of an agreement, and any such McCain stunt would cost us valuable time," writes Reid, also noting that McCain "had no standing to do any such negotiating. He was neither a member of the pertinent committees, nor did he have any particular expertise, nor was he of influence with rebellious Republicans who were openly opposing the plan."
“John, please don’t come," Reid says he told the GOP presidential nominee. "I’ve just issued a statement. I’ll read it to you. ‘This is a critical time for our country. While I appreciate that both candidates have signaled their willingness to help, Congress and the administration have a process in place to reach a solution to this unprecedented financial crisis. I understand that the candidates are putting together a joint statement at Senator Obama’s suggestion. But it would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op."
“That’s how I feel, John," Reid said.
“I hope you’ll reconsider, Harry,” McCain responded.
Almost immediately, Reid writes, he got another call, this time from then-Sen. Obama.
"Harry, what’s John up to?" Obama said. "It sounds crazy."
The White House meeting happened, of course, and Reid writes that the Democrats "entered the Cabinet Room having decided that Barack would do most of the talking on behalf of the Democrats. His presentation—eloquent, thoughtful, and commanding—was devoid of politics, and as he spoke, without notes, expertly dissecting how we had gotten ourselves in the situation, outlining the myriad problems before us and making the case for imperative action, the room was rapt. The senior staff lined the walls of the room, and the chief of staff for a senior Republican senator could be heard to whisper to a colleague: ‘He is good.’
"Obama concluded his remarks. ‘Yesterday, Senator McCain and I issued a joint statement, saying in one voice that this is no time to be playing politics,’ he said. ‘And on the way here, we were on the brink of a deal. Now, there are those who think we should start from scratch. . . . If we are indeed starting over, the consequences could well be severe.”
President Bush turned to McCain who suggested someone else should speak instead, Reid writes. "The longer I am around here, the more I respect seniority.”
"And then, as the meeting that he had called disintegrated into acrimony and disunion, John McCain remained silent," Reid writes. "I don’t think that there was a person in that room, Democrat or Republican—with the possible exception of John McCain—who came away from that meeting thinking that Barack Obama shouldn’t be the next president of the United States."
In their pre-election meeting on the Las Vegas strip, Reid and Obama also discussed the conundrum of what to do about Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., who spoke "prominently at the Republican convention, where he thrashed Obama as unfit to be president, even though he had pledged to me that he would not. Joe had fallen far from his days as Al Gore’s running mate in 2000, and I was disappointed in him for his actions against the party and its nominee. Barack was upset as well—if anyone had a right to be, it was he—but he is also pragmatic.
"Our dilemma was that we needed to hold Lieberman accountable—many Democratic activist groups were calling for him to be expelled from the caucus altogether—but as badly as he had behaved in the campaign, it was a simple fact that, apart from the war, Joe had a very solid progressive, Democratic record, voting with us more than 85 percent of the time, more than many other Democratic senators. How much sense would it make to banish him?"
Reid said, “I think I’m going to cut Lieberman some slack, Barack. I want to try to keep him in the caucus. We’ll take away his Homeland Security chairmanship, but probably nothing further.”
“That makes sense to me,” said Obama. “I support that.”
On November 6, Reid reports he had a "tense meeting" with Lieberman.
“You can be chair of the Small Business Committee," Reid said.
“I can’t do that, Harry,” Lieberman said.
“Why not?" Reid asked. “What are the Republicans going to give you?”
“They’ll give me nothing,” he said. “But I have to stand for something. I just can’t do it.”
Amidst "calls from the left for Lieberman’s head," Reid recalled former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Democrat who switched parties after years of "a few vocal and unreasonable environmental groups" who "would picket him and heckle him and generally make his life unpleasant…One faction of our party drove a very good Democrat into the wilderness. How could we be so intolerant of differences as to do something like that?"
As Reid wrestled with the decision of what to do about Lieberman, "President-elect Obama stated publicly that he would very much like to see Senator Lieberman continue to caucus with the Democrats. Here, demonstrated, was actual magnanimity, a quality that had been snuffed out in Washington some years before. Obama’s grace did not escape notice out in the country, and it made people think that maybe this Obama fellow really had been serious about ushering in a new kind of politics, a change for the better."
Talking a page of kumbaya from the president-elect’s book, Reid called McCain into his office.
“John," Reid said, "many things were said in this campaign that made me mad. But I’m not looking back. And if I said anything that hurt you, I apologize.”
McCain "thanked me warmly, said that all was forgotten, and that he was ready to get back to work."
- jpt
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Interesting trivia, but the campaign’s over. We don’t need behind the scenes clips to judge President Obama, we can look at his performance and – while it will take time for him to have impact – judge him on that reality.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 27, 2009, 11:17 am 11:17 am
Candidate Obama made it through the latter part of the campaign without weighing in on what he thought of the AIG bailout.
I can only assume he wanted to stay as far away from going on the record about the first TARP bailout as possible. But the idea that it was ‘crazy’ for two men vying to be POTUS and who were being paid to be Senators to go to DC to help determine the future is itself crazy.
This was all about Obama maintaining his ability to blame someone else if TARP went wrong (he still tries to talk about inheriting the deficit it helped create).
Posted by: MayBee | April 27, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Not sure if the White House cares for Reid dishing on so much inside info of Obama’s rise to power. The “I have a gift” quip is especially damaging…
Posted by: matt | April 27, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Obama said quietly: “I have a gift, Harry.”
OUT: “I Have a Dream.”
IN: “I Have a Gift.”
Obama has an ego bigger than that of Bill Clinton and LBJ combined!
Posted by: carl | April 27, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am
Hmm. obama thinks mccain is crazy. so is that the view of obama of all of his opponents?
I can already see his gop opponent standing up and saying that obama thinks they are crazy simply because they oppose him.
And “I have a gift”. that is going to work so well in 2010 and 2012 against the dems
Posted by: DJ | April 27, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
I supported Barack Obama as the democratic nominee and my back up choice, who impressed me so much in the Iowa campaign, was Joe Biden. So I talked up that twofer for forever. What can I say: I too have a gift, lol.
Harry, Harry, Harry…I am amazed that this dude became the majority leader.
Posted by: Rhoda | April 27, 2009, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
That’s interesting. I remember reading reports at the time that Obama was silent in the meeting.
Hmmm.
Posted by: suziQ | April 27, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Harry Reid should be a ‘fiction writer’ – the release of this ‘tale of adoration of Obama’ is simply one more way for Reid to ingratiate himself with Obama.
Obama is certainly a gifted speaker, particularly with a tele-prompter, but he is not an ‘annointed saint’ or the Messiah as we are being led to believe.
History will prove that this ‘stimulus’ package will no more bring this nation out of the Washington/Wall Street financial chaos they initiated than the government programs did for FDR in the 30′s.
I lived thru the entire depression of the 30′s and I know of what I speak. WWII dragged us out of that depression -I only hope and pray that it does not require another world war to bail us out of this one.
We are seeing the true effects of ‘globalization’- one country is faced with financial distress and the entire world is dragged into it.
Recall Ross Perot using the illustration of the ‘sucking sound of jobs leaving the country’ if they enacted NAFTA.
Our Congress has created this mess and the truly sad part of this entire fiasco is that we, the taxpayer, are to believe they can extricate us from it.
They are, and have been, nothing more than a ‘ship of fools’ with we, the sheep, following along blissfully behind them.
Stupid on our part.
Posted by: dharper | April 27, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
“….my back up choice, who impressed me so much in the Iowa campaign, was Joe Biden.”
Posted by: Rhoda | Apr 27, 2009 12:22:52 PM
You were just about the only one impressed by Biden in Iowa, since he earned LESS THAN 1% in the Caucus.
Posted by: I Have a Gift | April 27, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
Lets see how well that gift helps him… so far its helped the rich and wall street…. yep, that helps the lower and middle class.
All this hype just for his first 100 days… build him up big time… like he did something spectacular
Posted by: not buying the bull | April 27, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Obama cast himself as the only one that could save us from our problems.
The same way he cast Geithner(the tax cheat) as the only one smart enough to fix the economy.
The same way he uses a crisis to get what he wants.
Always the opportunist taking advantage of naive people.
Posted by: nick | April 27, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
Obama/Democrats are in a frenzy to get things checked off of their wishlist.
It’s as if they expect the hero worship might end soon. It’s as if they realize Americans will only be gullibe for so long before they wake up.
Obama is unaware of the tea parties in 50 states so what’s the rush?
Are there fears Obama will only make it one term?
Posted by: max | April 27, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
the president is indeed a gifted man. his rise was meteoric. whether he can maintain at his current level only the future will tell. recent polls shows support for him at 70% (the highest in 20 years), even if support for his policies are somwhat lower (50%).
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
I think it is crazy that Obama risked our security just to please his base.
He stabbed the CIA in the back–that is crazy and unforgivable.
Posted by: paul | April 27, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
In the final year of the Bush presidency, the US economy grew by 1.1%. The IMF predicts that it will contract by 2.8% this year, and will show zero growth in 2010.
Not everyone is drinking Obama’s gifted Kool-Aid.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 27, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
This is all so imaginary. If it were so we would have heard these lovely comments before.
I may be ill from reading this, or maybe it is the swine flu that Obama failed to respond to in a timely manner.
What we need is more information of Obama’s real bio.
We knew from his time in the state senate in Illinois that he was intent on running for president and asked the leader of the Illinois state senate to position him to move up.
Obama thought he was ready for this office at birth.
It is kind of funny, if not so scary, that he can use the word arrogant in reference to anything but himself.
Posted by: MNM | April 27, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
Pelosi, Reid, Barney and Obama.
Standard bearers for mental stability.
Posted by: tommy | April 27, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
Can I vomit now?
Posted by: ProtectFreedom | April 27, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
dharper:”he is not an ‘annointed saint’ or the Messiah as we are being led to believe.”
I’m a pretty strong supporter, but I have NEVER been led to believe that. The only place I’ve heard talk like that is from the hard right. The left is excited to have Obama in power, but also quite vigorous in criticizing his compromises (such as making almost 10% of the stimulus package the Republican’s AMT tax ‘patch,’ which only helps the upper middle class and has little stimulative effect) and prioritizations (don’t ask, don’t tell will wait).
Posted by: jhw539 | April 27, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
“unaware of the tea parties in 50 states?” ROFLMFAO, there were tea parties? most americans are unaware there were any tea parties. i live in a very red state too, a sweet tea state. i read that turnout was abyssmal.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
I couldn’t read all of this.
I had to stop after Obama bragged about his “gift”.
If you have to brag you don’t have much.
I think that’s in the Bible too-but worded more elegantly.
Obama’s arrogance and pride will bring him down–and we may go with him.
Posted by: millie | April 27, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
Fascist Hyena, well i’m not crazy about the kool aid you’re drinking or selling.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
Paul Wall:
It’s no wonder you and BO didn’t know about the Tea Parties. Virtually all of the MSM is in the tank for Obama and they don’t bother to report the facts.
Hope you enjoy life in that Obama bubble.
Come out for air every now and then.
Posted by: ross | April 27, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
“I have a gift”
That must be what Obama is thinking when he strikes that pose with his nose up in the air.
Posted by: bailey | April 27, 2009, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
Paul W.
Keep repeating “Yes We Can” and all of your problems will go away.
Posted by: millie | April 27, 2009, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
Paul Wall cries racism and gives some insight about why people/press/lawmakers don’t feel comfortable criticizing President Obama.
When people don’t feel comfortable criticizing our president, we will get bad policy.
Posted by: MayBee | April 27, 2009, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm
Paul Wall:”i read that turnout was abyssmal.”
They did pull in somewhere around 300k from the best estimate I’ve seen. This is on par with a single city anti-war demonstration during Bush’s administration, but it’s not insignificant. It could be the birth cry of a relevant opposition party, or it could be a bunch of FoxNews viewer parties.
Of course, it doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t know already-McCain supporters wish he had won, and Ron Paul supporters think government should quit wasting money on pork like inventing the internet or building an interstate highway system.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 27, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
Yes.
Obama has a gift.
It’s called a teleprompter.
Everyone knows TOTUS is the one with the gift.
Posted by: riley | April 27, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
ross, my life is fine. i don’t live in a bubble. i work and pay taxes and think Obama is doing fine. maybe the radical right media (Rush, Hannity and O’Reily) tell you different, that’s cool though, we don’t have to agree with each other. but if you hate ABC so much what are you doing on their site? where you can blog uncensored? try calling Rush and disagreeing…you get chewed out and hung up on. at least here we get to read how each other feel. guess that’s the “commie MSM media” for you though, get to say what’s on your mind.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
riley:”Obama has a gift.
It’s called a teleprompter.”
The same gift sure didn’t seem to help McCain any…
Posted by: jhw539 | April 27, 2009, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
Smart people already knew he had the “GIFT”. The gift of bs! And we already knew he is a narcissist, which this article proves. He sure fooled 52% of you Americans and illegal’s with fake id’s. God show us the way to his real birth certificate so we can dethrone this socialist left dictator.
Posted by: mogo | April 27, 2009, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
“Obama has a gift.
It’s called a teleprompter.”
And where would you all be without your great gift Rush ‘the human teleprompter’ Limbaugh to tell you what to regurgitate every day? Why you wouldn’t have anything to say at all.
Posted by: Skip | April 27, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
“And where would you all be without your great gift Rush ‘the human teleprompter’ Limbaugh to tell you what to regurgitate every day? Why you wouldn’t have anything to say at all.”
Skip don’t confuse them with the irony that they are parroting talking points.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
This is alot of airing of sour grapes, even for loser Republicans. I might add vinegar to give them an extra twist.
Posted by: Pamela | April 27, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
MayBee—i’m just saying who calls a confident white politician arrogant? Obama has been called arrogant by the right from day one. and still he is called a muslim (as if that were a bad thing), a terrorist, a traitor, a commie socialist, the antichrist, just to name a few.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Bush used a teleprompter, Clinton used one, as did Bush’s daddy, as did Reagan for all the national announcements and briefings.
It is amusing watching the non-arguments spontaneously implode.
ODS is in full swing it seems.
/fail.
Posted by: johnnymags | April 27, 2009, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Warning:
Take a sip of kool-aid before you read this post.
More like Pepto-Bismol.
Posted by: marly | April 27, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
paul—”stabbed the CIA in the back.” the president is complying with an order by a U.S. District Judge to release material under the Freedom of Information ACT. perhaps following judicial orders is new to Limbaughian philosophy.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
Just blame Obama’s arrogance on Bush.
They both have a healthy ego.
But for the next 4 years everything is Bush’s fault.
Posted by: carry | April 27, 2009, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm
“Harry, I have a gift. I can read from the teleprompter and look like I know what I’m actually talking about while sounding like James Earl Jones.” – The Teleprompter of the United States
Posted by: OxyCon | April 27, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
jwh539—”300k from the best estimate I’ve seen” and you compared that number to a single-city anti-war protest. what city had 300,000 show up for the tea party? there were only about 100 people in downtown Dallas (on a beautiful day to be outside). in the state of Texas, where the governor keeps parroting “we don’t like to pay taxes” (as if anybody does) hardly anyone showed up. the governor (Perry) came to Dallas for the tea party. there weren’t even enough people to constitute a family reunion. it was covered in the local press and everyone had a good laugh.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
Everyone at the top of their game, no matter how humble or what field, knows they have a gift and must work hard to maintain it.
artist, athlete, politition, musician, inventor, scientist, business – you name it – America will find a way to recognize and nourish our gifts.
Those that attack truth and reality are jealous underachievers. (to all you haters who have mastered attack blogging)
Posted by: realitycheck | April 27, 2009, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
amen. TOTUS will save our souls. he’s got barry getting worship all over the world.For TOTUS so loved the world. He is the Messiah. he will lead us out of the darkness. He hates bush and thinks cheney is the devil. master barry/totus will detroy them. Please, king barry/totus don’t let me get the pig flu amen
Posted by: dot | April 27, 2009, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
may be some of you crazy liberals should read M. Gladwell’s book outliers.
All people who are the top in their fields, got there because they worked hard. All Barry can do is read a ‘prompter real good.
Posted by: mattL | April 27, 2009, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
With deep humility Obama says “I have a gift”
That’s the kind of twisted logic that got BO elected.
Posted by: tom | April 27, 2009, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Paul Wall, the 250K to 300K estimate is for every single tea party across the country.
I think the largest a single crowd got was 5K or 8K.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
which ‘prompter is going to tell barry what to say Wed during the Barry Show? The double screen (my favorite) or the big daddy TV?
Posted by: ned | April 27, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
thanks, Ryan C. even the local FoxNews covered the tea party for Dallas. it wasn’t even on the regular news spot, but only after the weather. they just showed a handful of people downtown and some Perry sycophants. just a filler story to give people a laugh.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
i’m just saying who calls a confident white politician arrogant?
=============
If you google arrogant+Bush, you’ll see he was called arrogant many times- in LA Times editorials, by Jack Cafferty, by foreign newspapers.
Maureen Dowd wrote columns about him being a little king.
He’s not alone. What adjective would you use to describe Gavin Newsome?
Posted by: MayBee | April 27, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
Obama has confidence AND brains. Guess which quality was lacking in Bush?
Posted by: TommyTee | April 27, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
what happend to that stupid, biased cnn reporter, susan roesgen, who attacked the innocent people at the tea party in chicago? MSNBC reported that there were over 10 million people at various tea parties.
Posted by: marco | April 27, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
mattL is that book on Limbaugh’s book-of-the-month club. most of you parrot Limbaugh perfectly. which means you are just readers of a telepromter and write down what you hear from your teleprompter. why not come up with something original besides “arrogant”, “telepromter”, “traitor”, “muslim”, “extremist”, “criminal”, “foreigner” and the list, as you well know, goes on and on and on.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
What Obama meant to say is “I am a gift”.
Posted by: meg | April 27, 2009, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
MayBee, who is Gavin Newsome?
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
Paul Wall- Gavin Newsom is the mayor of San Francisco. Just announced campaign for governor of Florida. One of the most arrogant politicians you’ll ever see.
Posted by: MayBee | April 27, 2009, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
I have a gift…
DVD’s and an Ipod.
The man has no class.
Posted by: tyler | April 27, 2009, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
what happend to that stupid, biased cnn reporter, susan roesgen, who attacked the innocent people at the tea party in chicago?
“MSNBC reported that there were over 10 million people at various tea parties.”
Not even FoxNews reported such an amount.
The crowd estimates for across the country are around 300K.
Not huge but far from embarrassing.
In comparison Denver had about 5K for the tea party (1 of the larger single crowds). On 4-20 Denver saw a pot protest that had about 3K with zero media promotion.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
sorry. Governor of California obviously. I don’t know how that “Florida” slipped out of my finders.
Posted by: MayBee | April 27, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
“Paul Wall- Gavin Newsom is the mayor of San Francisco. Just announced campaign for governor of Florida. One of the most arrogant politicians you’ll ever see.”
Huh?
Gavin Newsom just announced his run for CA Governor and was raising money in FL.
Though I would agree that the mayor of San Fran running for Gov of FL would be quite a feat of arrogance.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
“sorry. Governor of California obviously. I don’t know how that “Florida” slipped out of my finders.”
Well he was just in FL raising money.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
How could anyone with the slightest amount of humility say something so egotistical?
It just shows how narcissistic Obama is and how delusional Reid is.
And this was before all the media hype which Obama seems to adore.
Posted by: bailey | April 27, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
If anyone believes this kind of thing plays in the President’s favor.. I don’t, this is just the kind of tripe (sorry to all swine) that reinforces my beliefs that these two (POTUS and Pelosi’s workhusband)are not all there.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | April 27, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
Wow.
Even the most die-hard Obama fans must have a hard time defending that embarrassing statement.
He has a gift?
Almost as embarrassing as that bow.
Posted by: bill | April 27, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
The president thinks he has a gift.
So I guess that statement will help dispel the notion that America is an arrogant country.
He needs to apologize to America for being an arrogant president.
Posted by: nick | April 27, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
‘I have a gift, Harry. I am God, Harry. I am the ONE, Harry. I am the Messiah.’
All without a hint of braggadocio.
Posted by: drjohn | April 27, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
This is what the man really thinks about himself.
Pretty disturbing.
And Reid sees it as humility!
Posted by: marcia | April 27, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
At least he didn’t say he talks to God. LOL!
Posted by: Silky | April 27, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
This is just poorly written romance fiction. Harry, let me give it a shot: “It was a dark and stormy night when a tall, lean senator named Barack Obama and I first glanced each others way in the marbled halls of Congress. He walked slowly and confidently over to me and said in a self-assured way that is reminiscent of a James Bond movie from the 1960′s, “One day I’ll be President of the United States.” It seemed that he was trying less to impress than he was simply stating a fact…something neither of us could deny would be trus one day. I could not help but be taken in by his cool, yet simmering personality. It was then that I knew he would be the greatest leader this world had ever known.” Hey, it only took me about five minutes to write that stuff. I bet it took Harry weeks to come up with his version.
Posted by: bkm | April 27, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
HE KNOWS HE’S A GOOD SPEAKER! HOLY CRAP EVERYBODY! IMPEACH HIM! IMPEACH! POOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRKK!!!
Posted by: Silky | April 27, 2009, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
better than “mission accomplished.”
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Well I wonder if he waited for God to Speak to him Like palin does And Bush!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | April 27, 2009, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
MayBee and Ryan C—what started as an error does bring up an interesting point: what is a politician running for governor of California doing raising money in Florida? on the other hand if Anita Bryant and her ilk could use out-of-state funds to further her homophobic agenda in California when she was from Florida should there be any concern? just some irony.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
bkm | Apr 27, 2009 2:50:53 PM
i’m sure we can never agree on much politically but i do agree the writing wasn’t impressive. your alternative was not only ROFLMFAO funny it also put things in perspective.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Nice writing “bkm”
You are more believable and less sickening than Reid or Obama.
Posted by: riley | April 27, 2009, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
He needs to apologize to America for being an arrogant president.
Posted by: nick
*****************************************
Should he apologize for being a competent President as well? After all, America hasn’t had one for 8 years.
Posted by: truth matters | April 27, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
bailey—if Reid is “delusional” then how can Obama be narcissistic. delusion implies hallucination. so if the quote about Obama is true then Reid isn’t delusional. if Reid is delucional then the quote probably isn’t true.
either way, who cares if the president said “i have a gift”? he does have a gift. it’s not a unique gift, many people have it. many other things make Obama who he is—his intelligence, his vision. and i know the right will call him arrogant, God, etc. (usual Limbaughian talking points and quotes). this is Obama’s (much less serious) version of Bush’s “mission accomplished.”
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
“At least he didn’t say he talks to God.”
God listens, no doubt, when the One speaks.
Posted by: drjohn | April 27, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
I just watched a video of Barry telling ‘prompter TOTUS to speed up, i already read that this morning. LOL! You can’t make stuff this funny up. A grown man talking to a teleprompter. We elected this guy to run our country? How many ‘prompters does it take to be a democrat president? LOL
Posted by: joey | April 27, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
riley—how ’bout O’Reily and Limbaugh for less believable and more sickening?
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
what started as an error does bring up an interesting point: what is a politician running for governor of California doing raising money in Florida?
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Paul Wall- If it were up to me, politicians would only be able to accept money from constituents.
Posted by: MayBee | April 27, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
joey, when you write these “telepromter” talking points from Limbaugh and Co. you are just being a little puppet reading from Limbaugh’s telepromter.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
Let’s just hope Reid wasn’t having a Hillary/Biden.. most memorable moment episode.. you know a back when I was hunkering down under enemy fire and giving the old cowboy 43 a tongue lashing. Maybe Harry Reid should look behind.. and see if anyone’s following.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | April 27, 2009, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
MayBee—i agree with you. contributions from constituents only.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
joey—to answer your questions it takes one one-hundredth as many teleprompters to be a democratic president. look into your party’s use of telepromters from GW back to Ronnie, even further back. “telepromter” is just a lame Limbaugh joke that is ironic when it’s repeated because the puppet (right wing posters) just copy what Rush says and become little teleprompters themselves.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
It’s scary that I have to tell you this joey, but he’s not talking to the teleprompter, but to the person running it. Wow.
“this is Obama’s (much less serious) version of Bush’s “mission accomplished.”"
Not even close, Paul. This was an off-the-cuff, private comment to a colleague. Bush’s thing was the most visible and bungled publicity manuever in the history of modern politics.
Posted by: Silky | April 27, 2009, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Man, I saw that video too. President Obama talking to a teleprompter!!! I mean I voted for the guy and all but I think A bunch of us messed up big time. He’s just giving my money away!!! He don’t even car. The media’s just talking about thunder and lighting hips and a dog named sue. My mamma always taught me to admit when I messed up. So a lot of people need to admit to the mistake of electing this guy. It’s time we fixed this and get us a president who can function and run the country without a telepromter.
Posted by: Capt. Louis | April 27, 2009, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
maybe barry should work on his telepromptering skills. I saw his boy larry summers go to sleep at the credit card party last week. this is funny stuff. teleprompters… appointed advisors sleeping…..so funny….castro saying not so fast barry, we didn’t promise any of that stuff. oh well, at least bush and cheney weren’t stupid.
Posted by: mikey | April 27, 2009, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
I’m not sure which is worse, that you’re aware that he’s talking to a person and you’re trying to be funny, or that you really think he’s talking to an inanimate object. Either way…it doesn’t end so good for you.
Posted by: Silky | April 27, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
Silky | Apr 27, 2009 4:00:09 PM—i agree with your post completely, Silky. i was attempting to inject perspective but failed miserably in my analogy. Bush’s statement was much more serious and Obama’s a private remark which was quite irrelevant.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
mikey—” at least bush and cheney weren’t stupid.” could you say that again? just so we can appreciate the humor. or were you being serious?
bush and cheney, one was stupid the other the face of evil in how our nation is thought of in the world.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
“MayBee and Ryan C—what started as an error does bring up an interesting point: what is a politician running for governor of California doing raising money in Florida? on the other hand if Anita Bryant and her ilk could use out-of-state funds to further her homophobic agenda in California when she was from Florida should there be any concern? just some irony.”
It does bring up an interesting point.
First should politicians be limited to their constituents when seeking political donations AND should state initiatives funding be limited to state residents.
Also how do we reconcile our feelings (I am assuming we are for local dough only) with Supreme Court rulings regarding political donations as speech?
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
good points, Ryan C. i hadn’t thought about the first amendment issues. i remember (painfully) Anita Bryant’s intrusion into California political issues (certainly funded from out of state sources). so one would have to defend her right to free speech, just as people should respect out of state donations by pro-gay citizens against proposition 8. interesting issues.
Posted by: Paul Wall | April 27, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
“i hadn’t thought about the first amendment issues. i remember (painfully) Anita Bryant’s intrusion into California political issues (certainly funded from out of state sources). so one would have to defend her right to free speech, just as people should respect out of state donations by pro-gay citizens against proposition 8. interesting issues.”
I am not sure if you can do much beyond making it a campaign issue before an election.
I know that can hurt politicians and initiatives though its not always successful. Its like the carpetbagger charge.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
Interesting that Obama said “I have a gift”…not “God gave me a gift” or even the slightly less religious “I have been given a gift.” It I didn’t think Reid made it all up, I would be appalled that someone would have such a huge ego to say such a thing.
Also, how do you think McCain feels now about Reid’s after-election apology as it sits alongside Reid’s book that refers to McCain actions as “crazy”??
Posted by: bkm | April 27, 2009, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
Gift: something of value, given with grace and accepted with gratitude. Nice.
Posted by: puravidavid | April 27, 2009, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
“I would be appalled that someone would have such a huge ego to say such a thing.”
Kind of like saying one is broadcasting with talent on loan from God.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
I fail to see how recognizing a skill, or a gift if you will, is at all arrogant. Now surely it can be, depending on how it’s presented, but merely recognizing the fact that one does something well, perhaps better than others, is not arrogance.
Posted by: blah blah blah | April 27, 2009, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
It is obvious that the Bush and Rush cronies are all over this blog. Perhaps you now have more time on your hands. That said, while Obama might rely on a teleprompter somewhat more than others, at least his words and actions are progressive, logical and substantive. Bush and Rush, although they MAY rely less on a teleprompter, have NOT relied on facts or logic, only stale hot air.
Posted by: Lori | April 27, 2009, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
Also how do we reconcile our feelings (I am assuming we are for local dough only) with Supreme Court rulings regarding political donations as speech?
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They are limited somewhat now- you are only allowed to give X amount to a candidate.
I don’t think you could limit spending on advocacy ads for an issue or a candidate to only constituents. Just donations to them.
But you know me, I also think the candidate should have to pay taxes on the money they raise.
Posted by: MayBee | April 27, 2009, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
“They are limited somewhat now- you are only allowed to give X amount to a candidate.
I don’t think you could limit spending on advocacy ads for an issue or a candidate to only constituents. Just donations to them.”
Good point on contribution limits.
Hmmm I wonder if their are any local election laws that deal with this situation.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
their = there
Posted by: Ryan C | April 27, 2009, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
Harry Reid is one of the all time worst persons ever. He is just a horrible little man. His book will fail like Pelosi’s; absolutely no one cares what he thinks. Even the loony left know he is a detriment to their party.
Posted by: Jackie | April 27, 2009, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
Excuse me while I barf! Dirty Harry Reid’s book will sell about as many as the pathological liar, Nancy Pelosi’s did. This corrupt fool will be out in 2010! Good riddance!
Posted by: Peggy | April 27, 2009, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
Maybe because it was sooooooo long ago and my memory’s rusty, but I seem to remember the Congressional Dems saying that McCain was needed for that bailout and as soon as he said he was going up there, they said he wasn’t needed?
Obama pretty much said, ‘Call me if you want. I’ll be around.’
Where McCain screwed up was going up there and voting for the damn thing.
Posted by: RR GOP | April 27, 2009, 10:49 pm 10:49 pm
Yes, the President of the United States with all his duties would be consulted and have to approve a photo op for Air Force One. The same as a CEO for a huge company would approve a photo for an advertisement. Or know everything his managers do because he is a micro manager.
Geez, get real that is why you hire people to do the mundane things. Can he be held responsible for the idiot doing something dumb? Probably, but to say that he knew ahead of time and approved it. Guess some of you are not in Senior Management positions.
Posted by: CSN | April 28, 2009, 5:43 am 5:43 am
See, Liberals are already tossing their own Senate Majority Leader under the bus for inconveniencing The One.
The Cult of Personality cannot be deterred!
Posted by: I Have a Gift, Harry | April 28, 2009, 9:06 am 9:06 am
I have a Gift, please , get over your self.Harry Reid and Barack Obama setting in a tree,K-I-S-S-I-N-G,that is what it sounds like to me.We need leaders with common sense which so far the Democratic party and Obama have yet to realize this gift.
Posted by: Johnny L | April 28, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Someone on this thread needs to say, “Thank you Jake Tapper for this information.” I guess It’s up to me. So, Thanks Jake, I appreciate your work here.
I notice that you have gotten a lot of sour grapes commentary from the right wing reactionary Nattering Nabobs of Negativism. What I read left a bitter taste in my mouth, and a determination to cast my vote for people with a more Liberal outlook. McCain represents me in the Senate, his supporters have denied him even the least chance of my vote in the future.
If he represents their concept of the “best of the best,” he does not represent me or most other Americans.
Posted by: Ed E Kit | April 28, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
Haters all over—stop whining.
I am a Pres. Obama voter I will vote again in 2012–His statement is true there are those born with gifts and talents and other that are a strain on society. Those who have gifts and talents can be and probably will be great. Those who are a strain on society are called “conservatives; repubicans” we see what you people do to a great country in less than 8 years.
Obama 2012 and beyond with no regrets….
Posted by: GBR | April 28, 2009, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm