NEVADA-- REID & SON, INC, PROPRIETOR

I have to say I'm pretty glad to see the Fox-sponsored Democratic presidential debate falling apart. Fox is an unabashed Republican propaganda outlet. The talking heads on it use the word "we" when they're talking about Republicans and right-wing positions and use a disparaging "them" when referring to Democrats. So which idiot handed them a Democratic presidential debate? No one wants to own up to it. Fortunately, though, John Edwards was man enough to pull out yesterday. Matt Stoller over MyDD way, seems to be pointing a finger, at least partially, towards Harry Reid.

This is really quite outrageous behavior from both Tom Collins and Harry Reid.  Fox News is not a neutral news outlet, and it shouldn't be treated as such.  And it's pretty clear that these people are offering Nevada Democrats and activists nothing but bad faith nonsense.  They are willing to scuttle the opportunity for a real debate about the future of the country rather than admit that what hundreds of thousands of Democrats believe is important.

Once again, please call Reid's offices and ask him to not legitimize Fox News as a neutral news outlet.  If you are not in Nevada, use this number: 202-224-3542 / Fax: 202-224-7327

If you live in Nevada, use this number, which is restricted to 775 and 702 area codes: 1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343)

Meanwhile there's another Reid in the news, Rory. First some background. A few days ago a friend of mine at the DCCC was telling me about some of the seats he felt Democrats had an excellent shot to win next year. High on his list was NV-03, a seat Jon Porter barely managed to hold onto in November. Porter managed to garner just 48% of the vote, a percent more than Democrat Tessa Hafen. Porter spent about double the money that Hafen spent on the race, $3,036,397 vs $1,505,340. The district leans increasingly Democrat and Bush beat Kerry by 1% and lost to Gore by 1%. Porter's margin of victory has been dropping year by year. Smart money says he'll be looking for a job on K Street in 2009.

So it might come as no surprise that quite a few Democrats have been looking seriously at the district. Certainly Tessa Hafen, who came up just 4,000 votes shy on her first try, wants another shot. State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, who lost her bid to win the governor's mansion, is also said to be considering a run against Porter.

But a new name has surfaced lately. Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid-- yep his son-- says national Democrats have been asking him to get into the race. ROTFLMAO. Reid, who is Hillary's state chair in her race for the White House, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he's "thinking about it. I haven't made any decision." Acceptable answer. The next part wasn't, however. And if it reflects what kind of a congressman Reid would be, this is something that should be nipped right in the bud. He said he believed the potential candidates would decide together what was in the party's best interest. Fixing things in backrooms isn't the way we make a strong Democratic Party. Going to the grassroots and showing them why you would make a good representative of their interests is how to determine what's in the best interests of the Party and the country.

These political "dynasties" are just plum anti-democratic. It's bad enough when the Republicans have them. It's super-creepy when Democrats get sucked into this crap.


UPDATE: REID IS BACKING AWAY FROM FOX DEBATE

Chris Bowers has the unfolding story over at MyDD, but it looks like these Inside-the-Beltway power players are starting to get the idea that the days when they could call the shots for all Democrats everywhere is gone. This is a people-powered grassroots party and if they want an authoritarian top down dictatorship, they should switch to the authoritarian top down party, the way their pal Lieberman has. Fox may think they're placating Democrats by hiring reactionaries like Harold Ford to shill for them, but there will be no Fox-sponsored presidential debate in Nevada.


UPDATE: FINIS

Saving face by pointing to Roger Ailes' vicious smear of Barack Obama last night, Harry Reid and Tom Collins wrote a letter to Fox "News" today.

March 9, 2007

Marty Ryan
Executive Producer
Fox News Political Programs
202-824-6425 (fax)
400 N Capitol Street NW, Suite 550
Washington DC 20001

DELIVERED VIA FAX AND EMAIL


Dear Marty,

A month ago, the Nevada Democratic Party entered into a good faith agreement
with FOX News to co-sponsor a presidential debate in August.
This was done because the Nevada Democratic Party is reaching out to new
voters and we strongly believe that a Democrat will not win Nevada unless we
find new ways to talk to new people.

To say the least, this was not a popular decision. But it is one that the
Democratic Party stood by. However, comments made last night by FOX News
President Roger Ailes in reference to one of our presidential candidates
went too far. We cannot, as good Democrats, put our party in a position to
defend such comments.

In light of his comments, we have concluded that it is not possible to hold
a Presidential debate that will focus on our candidates and are therefore
canceling our August debate. We take no pleasure in this, but it is the only course of action.

By the way, is Air America sponsoring a debate among Republicans? I know Fox nixed the idea of co-hosting the Nevada debate with Air America. I bet Air America would agree to let Fox co-host their Republican debate.