Sharron Angle: ‘I’m a Mainstream American’; Harry Reid ‘Responsible’ for Economic Mess
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle, a tea party favorite who’s locked in a tight race to oust Sen. Harry Reid, is now seeking to portray herself as a “mainstream” candidate to the broader electorate – and is attacking Reid by holding him “responsible” for Nevada’s battered economy. “I’m a mainstream American, and mainstream Nevada understands that very well — that I promote what they believe, which is lower taxes, less government regulation,” Angle said in an interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl that aired on ABC/Washington Post’s “Top Line” today. Nevada voters, she said, understand “that the true issues are our economy, our jobs, our homes, and that the person who is occupying this US Senate seat lives in Washington, D.C., and is completely out of touch and disconnected from Nevada. He’s forgotten what Nevada is all about.” Though Reid told Karl is a separate interview “I had nothing to do” with the economic woes that have visited his state, Angle said that’s not true. “Understand that Harry Reid was Senate majority leader in the Bush years,” she said. “These policies that have been coming forward, for him to say that he hasn’t been responsible — he’s been responsible through several administrations. He’s been there. He’s been voting on these policies that have really become the problem.” Angle sought to clarify some of her more controversial statements, such has her saying that Democratic policies are “in violation of the First Commandment.” “I said that? No I didn’t say that,” Angle told Karl. “Actually, that was a discussion I was having with CBN. We were talking in very Christian terms. That’s what Christian broadcast is — that’s their focus — so you speak the language of the folks that you’re communicating with. And I was speaking in their language. And the language that I used was that in our country, we have become a country that has put our faith, not ‘in God we trust,’ which is on our money — as you know. Not ‘in God we trust,’ but in government we trust, and that is what I was referring to — that we have allowed government in many ways to take the place of God.” On her saying that there are “Second Amendment remedies” to citizens’ concerns, Angle said: “We were having a discussion about the Founding Fathers and why they had put the Second Amendment into the Bill of Rights. And they felt that there were times when governments became tyrannical. That we needed to have a place for the people to be able to secure the blessings of liberty, which is what they did in the Revolutionary War, as you know.” And on her agreeing with a radio host that there are “domestic enemies” inside Congress: “Certainly people who pass these kinds of policies — Obamacare, cap and trade, stimulus, bailout — they’re certainly not friends to the free market system,” Angle told Karl. “So, so what are they?” Karl asked. “They’re not friends. You know, that is not friendly, that is not friendly to building a free market system and more jobs.” If she’s elected to Congress, Angle said, “I’ll fit in just fine.” “There are folks there that already think just like I do — Jim DeMint, Tom Coburn, Mike Pence, Michele Bachmann. There are also people who are running in this cycle who think like I do. I am not going to be the only who thinks that the answer to the problems are less government regulation and lower taxation.” Angle added, “That’s the beauty of a record. You can see who I am. And all you have to do is go to the legislature here in the state and you can see that my record has been very strongly lower taxes, less government regulation. Very constitutionally minded. And so, I in the primary even, I said don’t just believe what I say, go look at the record. You can trust the record.” You can watch Karl’s interview with Sen. Reid, which aired on yesterday’s “Top Line,” HERE. For our “Post Politics” segment today, our guest was Karen Tumulty. We discussed the looming fight in Congress over extending the Bush tax cuts, plus whether White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will run for mayor of Chicago, with Mayor Richard Daley’s surprise decision not to seek another term next year. – Rick Klein
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Good riddance Harry.
Posted by: sparko | September 8, 2010, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
There are a lot of retirees in NV. Now what’s that you said about taking away Social Security?
Posted by: apocolypse00 | September 8, 2010, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
Hey Reid, How is that Hopey Changey Obamacare looking to you now?
Posted by: Todd | September 8, 2010, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
This woman is a train wreck and if ANY senior votes for the nut I hope they stick you in Yucca Mountain along with the Nuclear waste that the idiot is sure to think is fine.
Posted by: NV voter | September 8, 2010, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Reid thinks It is still 1970. He is a lifer and rhino and needs to go just as some reps need to go and be replaced with fresh thinking minds.
Posted by: Jim Rod | September 8, 2010, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Hey Reid, How is that Franks, Dodd, Waters Fanny Freddy deal you dims cooked up looking to your constituents?
Posted by: Todd | September 8, 2010, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
Hey Reid, how’s that 8% unemployment you and Obama saved all those jobs for looking after your porkulus?
Posted by: Todd | September 8, 2010, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
This lady is clueless and has no idea that she’s not remotely mainstream. Moreover people should be very scared that she’s suggesting in an offhand manner that people should be shooting our representatives in Congress or advocating the use of violence to overthrow our government.
While our current government is far from perfect, especially with the Republicans stalling all meaningful legislation, this woman’s ideas border on sedition.
She’s an extremist wingnut with no clue what really is necessary to run this country. And like many Republicans running for office, she’s only a “Constitutionalist” when it comes to a very limited number of the Amendments to the Constitution…she’d abolish many of the Amendments that mainstream Americans cherish.
Posted by: nhmtnbkr | September 8, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Yeah right! Lower taxes for the wealthy, along with control over abortion, stem cell research, gay rights, and peoples personal habits, but don’t touch the big corporations,with their crooks in white collars, or you are a Socialist. Nevada’s no. 1 problem is the legalized gambling, in almost every state of the union, which has nothing to do with Reid. Las Vegas was their Mecca in the middle of a desert, and now it’s out there by itself, while the casinos, are spreading like wildfire across the country, eating up peoples mortgage payments, along with probably a lot of other bills.
Posted by: parma hts gary | September 8, 2010, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
especially with the Republicans stalling all meaningful legislation, this ?? Meaningful legislation? You mean like porkulus, and Obamacare? Give me a break, the snake oil salesman Obama and his cohorts Pilosi and Reid have not put forth any meaningful legislation for two years. Unless of course you are employed by a Union, or are on some type of government entitlement program.
Posted by: Todd | September 8, 2010, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Now what exactly is Sharron Angle’s position this week? Abolish Social Security, The Department of Education, Public Assistance and Unemployment Benefits, Oh that’s last month’s position… Senator Kerry was crucified by Republican’s for flip flopping during his Presidential bid but obviously it doesn’t apply to this Tea Party Character!!
Posted by: Martin | September 8, 2010, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
She definitely is NOT mainstream, and if she thinks she is, she’s further out there than anyone thinks. This woman is an ignorant, arrogant nutjob. Her past comments, the one’s she keeps running away from, are how she truly thinks and feels.
Posted by: Jake | September 8, 2010, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Posted by: Todd | Sep 8, 2010 2:04:44 PM…” Give me a break, the snake oil salesman Obama and his cohorts Pilosi and Reid have not put forth any meaningful legislation for two years.”… Apparently you’re suffering from amnesia or just delusional about the previous 8 years? Talk about Snake Oil Salesman, what exactly did America accomplish by going to war in Iraq? WMD’s!! Absolutely nothing; 4,500 killed, 34,000 wounded, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed, wasted nearly a Trillion Dollars, not to mention 2 tax cuts and a prescription drug bill all unpaid… Talk about Snake Oil Salesman stop drinking your product!!
Posted by: Martin | September 8, 2010, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
this woman is a complete nut job and has been exposed for insane lies that she back peddals on. It’s a shame but can’t the tea party actually back real candidates instead of these extreme half baked morons
Posted by: Daryl | September 8, 2010, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
bauck bauck, chickens anyone. She wants to hand social security to wall street. Wall Street could make that money disappear in an hour. Even if all social security taxes where stopped today it would be years before it failed. We need to fix social security. It’s going to take people with common sense. Not people who want to barter with chickens.
Posted by: rightbehind | September 8, 2010, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
It is great news that the America hating Harry Reid is going to be kicked out of law making.
I’ll take my chances with Angle, she can’t in no way do worse than Reid. If she is bad, vote her out too.
The partisan liberals are just poo pooing her because she isn’t a democrat. Well, too bad. America is sick of partisan politics and single party rule. We were sick of it 8 years ago too, hence the power change on w’s watch.
The democrats blew it big time and now they must pay the price. Shall we list all the campaign promises Obama made and has yet to do? There is tons of you tube video of them.
Posted by: vette girl | September 8, 2010, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
What has the department of education or energy done for nay sayers anyway? Hate to break the bad news but SS and Medicare(caid) are crushing us. Oh thats right, act like nothing is wrong, print more and everything will be fine. Nevada is the worst in education, bankruptcies, forclosures, unemployment, and almost last in that oh so wonderful stimulus. So you dems from around the country spewing extreme this and crazy that, take it from a local HE IS GONE!
Posted by: stickman | September 8, 2010, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
Didn’t this nutcase say unemployment wasn’t her problem yet there are people on this site blaming Reid for that very fact. Just think, 8 percent might look pretty darn good if Angle is elected (God help Nevada).
Posted by: pamp205 | September 8, 2010, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
I want Bush back! I want Bush back!
Come on lets have another christian start another bogus war that will kill thousands. Lets keep ginving the tax breaks to the rich while the rest of us just keep working away for nothing. Lets stop any science from continuing. Stem cell research? Not on your life. That little pile of cell goop just might grow up to be a rebuplican.
Posted by: jackson | September 8, 2010, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
hey pamp205, listen to the whole quote instead of just Harry’s out of context junk. She said it’s her job to create (an enviroment) for business to be sucessful. If you haven’t figured it out yet the government doesn’t exactly have the best record of creating jobs. Bye Bye Harry!
Posted by: stickman | September 8, 2010, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
P-L-E-A-S-E VOTE REID OUT !!!! WE DON’T NEED HIM AND PIGLOSI BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ANYMORE——–THEY ARE DESTROYING AMERICA!!!!!
Posted by: countrygirl_74 | September 8, 2010, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
A lot of retirees would not bet their social security on Sharon (nut job) Angle.
Posted by: apocolypse00 | September 8, 2010, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Another fake accusation is that Angle wants to eliminate medicare. Well, correct me if I’m wrong (I’m not), but wasn’t it Harry, Barry, and Nancy that stripped 500 BILLION from Medicare advantage and other medicare programs? Get rid of HARRY.
Posted by: stickman | September 8, 2010, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
Sharron Angle…. GO SALE CRAZY SOMEWHERE ELSE..AMERICA IS ALL STOCKED UP HERE….OOoooohhhhhh…. but she is CRAZY…full of CRAZY out of the MAINSTREAM IDEAS!!! Now she thinks we are crazy enough to believe these new lies… America we are “NOT” this desperate…nor or we this Stupid!! Follow your Mind… because the Heart can be treacherous at times… Do the right thing…. Ask yourself this question: What is her “ANGLE”??? We don’t have to guess… she has been very clear on her positions … positions that are not Mainstream… Now she changes her “ANGLE” when she is told by her adviser’s that her ideas no only sounds ridiculous…. they are RIDICULOUS!!!
Posted by: LAUREN | September 8, 2010, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
This is the same woman who said entitlement programs “are built to make government our God” and that “what’s happening in this country is a violation of the First Commandment.”
That’s “mainstream”?? Anyone in Nevada who votes for Angle is endorsing this extremist’s view to tear apart Medicare and Social Security.
Posted by: Mary Robson | September 8, 2010, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
See Lauren, that rant of yours was pure emotion. Not a fact in the whole thing. Have you ever actually listened to Angle or just the hand picked soundbites from the Harry camp? I think we all know the answer to that. By the way have you guys ever listened to Harry? The war is lost, articulate and can use a negro dialect when he chooses, stink of the tourists, its not my fault we are in this crisis, on and on and on. Bye Bye Harry.
Posted by: stickman | September 8, 2010, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Mainstream my foot…you don’t think like anyone I know. We all want to keep the social security as it is, and Obama has done much for education after the failure of the “leave no child behind debaucle” and as for stem cell research..it does not use a fetus but the cord and some of the donor not the child so it should be left alone and as for immigration..we need to get serious about it and Obama wil. As for wall street..they should have their hands tied..they took money to help them survive and now they are refusing to help the little guy refinance..they should pay it all back and furthermore, Obama helped the auto industry..imagine how many more people would be out of jobs if he had not helped them. At least they are now solid and are paying us back ..it was a loan not a handout.I disagree with Angle on everything she says and she is definiately not mainstreet but on a weird street no one wants to be on.
Posted by: talmag | September 8, 2010, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
If Sharon Angle is a “mainstream American”, then I’m Santa Claus. I don’t vote in her state, but if I did I wouldn’t touch her with a ten foot pole. Flouride in toothpaste is a government plot? Telling her retired constituents that she wants to dump Social Security. You people with short term memories, go back and listen to last year’s Angle quotes.
Posted by: CarolB | September 8, 2010, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
Well Carol I am in Nevada and lets take a look at the numbers. WORST in education, unemployment, Bankruptcies,and Forclosures. Come take a look at all the closed shops, illegals, and union favoritism. This place has become a joke. Even worse than Michigan. Wow! Maybe YOU should listen to Angle, instead of Harry’s little soundbites. Any of you feel free to respond if you like. Less emotion….. More facts please
Posted by: stickman | September 8, 2010, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
Yeah, mainstream, she wants to abolish Social Security, Medicare, Unemployment Insurance, the Dept. of Education among other harebrained ideas and she calls that “mainstream”, gee, what does an extremist nutcake look like?
Posted by: JR | September 8, 2010, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
Okay JR, Social Security is broke, what do you suggest? Your buddies Harry and Barry took 500 Billion from medicare for this healthcare debacle. Name one thing that the dept of edu has done(good luck). and maybe your right, lets just extend unemployment benefits for life, that way they will never run out of money. Maybe YOU are a little more exteme than you think. But hey, let’s just keep on printing!!!!
Posted by: stickman | September 8, 2010, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
Does Harry Reid ever smile?
Posted by: LongT | September 8, 2010, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
I AM SURPRISED … I didn’t know their were so many Stupid & Gullible people in Nevada!!! But I LOVE your Slogan… “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…. Well I’m praying for the sake of “Everyone” in this Country with an IQ over 40 that this Hustler of a Politician stays in NEVADA!
Posted by: LAUREN | September 8, 2010, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
Posted by: stickman | Sep 8, 2010 6:00:53 PM
“Social Security is broke, what do you suggest?”
Depends upon what we want the program to do, but certainly, there are options than Sharron Angle’s to explore.
For example, today people pay taxes on their wage and salary income up to a $106,800 cap. According to the WSJ, executives and other highly compensated employees receive more than 1/3 of all pay in the U.S. (based on SS data).
They calculate if we were to remove that income cap, the Social Security system would be safe as far as one can see into the future.
Posted by: Mary Robson | September 8, 2010, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
Wow Lauren that was insightful. I can’t match that.
Mary, I agree. But that is another tax increase with unintended consequences. I would have to see how and who it effects (business, small business, individuals and so on).
The main problem is this is all coming from one fund. The General Fund. You can raise taxes on some or all to put a bandaid on the problem, but there is no way, no matter who does the math, that we can tax our way out of this. We have to cut and change services.
The Dept of Energy and Edu are worthless. Tell me what they do. We need to retool all of these agencies.
Look at the MMS and the disaster that caused.
Tell me why schools can’t be cheaper and more productive at the state and private level.
The Dept of energy was created to get us off foreign oil, go figure.
Angle only sounds crazy because of soundbites period. I will be the first to say she does not have the “dialect” as Harry would say to get people fired up like Barrack, but this spending spree has to stop.
One more important point for everyone….. Angle will be a junior senator… She won’t ruin the world.
Please don’t point out that Nevada needs Harry for his power, there is NO statistic that shows Harry has brought more to this state because of his position. For example, we were near last in stimulis dollars and dead last per capita for federal grants for any state.
Again, we have the HIGHEST unemployment rate, the HIGHEST forclosure rates, the HIGHEST bankruptcy rates, and the near WORST education.
HARRY HAS TO GO.
Do your research, it’s not like Angle hangs out with people that blow up buildings or sends people dead fish in the mail or anything…… Just a thought.
Posted by: stickman | September 8, 2010, 9:09 pm 9:09 pm
LOL…LOL…Just what I want. To be led by a “main street American”, no smarter than any of the rest of us? Makes me really wonder if our education system in this country is even half as good as our pathetic current world ranking. Unbelievable that this person is even “in the race” at all.
Posted by: CND FOX | September 8, 2010, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
What has the department of education or energy done for nay sayers anyway? Hate to break the bad news but SS and Medicare(caid) are crushing us.. Posted by Vette Girl
Given the fact without medicare many older people such as those suffering form chronic dementia would be on the streets.
So in your parallel universe spending a a trillion dollars per year on defense is okay and borrowing money from the Chinese to wage corporate wars in foreign lands is okay .
Two wars and the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy is to blame It is these policies that are crushing the US economy.
Another factor an unregulated banking industry whose single appetite for greed has caused chaos and mayhem for many middle class Americans.
Yet you and your Adam Smith disciples would turn over Social Security to the very forces that almost destroyed the US economy in 2008.
Posted by: Steve | September 8, 2010, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
Sorry Steve I wrote that not Vette Girl.
Your boys Barry & Harry took from Medicare, not the GOP, not me, or the everyday American upset with spending.
I have to say your grade school name calling is a little better than Lauren’s.
I like how the left mentions “two wars” as if 9/11 never happened and as if dems didn’t vote for the Iraq war.
Oh and Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, the CRA, Franklin Raines, Fannie, Freddie, Charlie, Jimmy, Clinton, Geithner, Boxer, Pelosi, and Reid had nothing to do with banking, unemployment, regulation, education or anything else…..Ever…… Nothing….. They are innocent…..Right?
Lastly, I certainly….. 100% do not want people like YOU managing my security…… social or not.
Posted by: stickman | September 8, 2010, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
The state governments around the country created a lot of jobs, sucking the bill money out of the pockets of a lot of people who used to have to fly to Las Vegas to lose their money. Now Las Vegas which was the biggest money maker in the state of Nevada, is going dry, while we have people all around the country giving their paychecks to chincy smaller casinos, on a more regular basis. I guess this is all Harry Reids fault. Nevada is a desert, and its oasis is drying up. BOTTOM LINE!
Posted by: parma hts gary | September 9, 2010, 7:03 am 7:03 am
Ms. Angle clearly thinks that “context” means using less inflammatory language to say *the exact same thing*. paraphrasing – Q: When you said Republicans may use Second Amendment remedies if they don’t get their way in the election, what did you mean? A: In the context, I said that the Second Amendment was intended to be used against tyrannical governments.
Where’s the follow-up question? Why not then ask her “So if you lose in November, will you be joining a militia and overthrowing the government?” That’s clearly the outcome of her position, and it’s not discounted by any of the answers she’s given to the first question.
Posted by: sfHeath | September 9, 2010, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
To hell with both parties! Republican G Bush didnt open up oil reserves when we needed it or feeze oil prices to where Americans werent spending their paychecks on gas just to go to work for another tank.Demcrat B Obama empowered known criminal acts of banks and catered to their dealings by giving money to them while they partied openly spitting on all of Americas citizens.All the while the wheels that make America go round IS its citizens giving monies daily to support Americas economy.Now they are out of money.It would have served us better to give the citizens the large amount of monies and stopping and holding banks accountable and then let the good ones stay who have actually helped America to survive.
So both are to blame.Get me fast a damn actual leader who will step up and protect its hard working citizens instead of letting them fall by the wayside to relive an age old depression.This bad management HAS to stop or we wil NOT make it!SO whats it gonna be folks?Ready to dump them both?Its time we fire those that cannot do the job as a boss would do.Who is the boss anyways?Us or them?Its our country and we should act as so.Make them shutup and quit argueing as little children and act adult and do the items we have to have accomplished.Thats Mainstream thats America and get off your ass and get this solved.Act !
Posted by: Michael | September 9, 2010, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
Reading the posts by conservatives shows again they truly do not have the information sets to make a decision on anything. They can only spout their Fox propaganda talking points. It is truly pathetic that these people are allowed to vote. They fail miserably at understanding the world, and in critical thinking. They are basically just tools aimed at something by their right wing handlers, with no concept of the subjects involved.
Posted by: enclaved | September 11, 2010, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
If there is anyone who votes for Harry then I feel sorry for you. The Dem’s are gone and the Rino’s too.
Posted by: wayne | September 14, 2010, 9:34 am 9:34 am
All incumbuntans should be voted out.They are killing this country.Who is going to pay these Trillions back? Your kids and mine, is this what anyone wants? Wake up these Dem’s and Repulicans don’t care about anything but staying in power. Join the tea party.
Posted by: wayne | September 14, 2010, 9:37 am 9:37 am