Reid: GOP is “anti-immigrant party” for blocking reform

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid lashed out at Republicans as the "anti-immigrant party" in an interview aired Sunday on Univision.

"I'm frustrated; I'm upset just like the people you referred to," he said, of the lack of meaningful movement on immigration. "We are begging Republicans to join with us. This is an issue that demands our attention and doesn't demand the negativity, so irrational what is going on."

Talking with the "Al Punto" program, the Nevada Democrat refused to tell host Jorge Ramos whether he would first bring an energy or an immigration bill to the floor.

"Both of those issues, we need a Republican," Reid said.

At times testy, he avoided taking any responsibility for his failure to move either piece of legislation.

"If you follow the Senate at all I can't give you an exact date, what time we are going to come in session in the morning or end tomorrow night," he said. "The Senate is not a body that is defined by time. I'm going to move immigration as quickly as I can."

"I also want to make sure that everyone understands I need some Republicans to help me," he added. "I am out front on this issue, will continue to be, because we have to do something."

Reid became annoyed when Ramos asked him whether Democrats should be concerned about losing Latino votes in the midterm elections because of their failure to pass reform.

"What you just said is so senseless," the senator shot back. "I don't know how you can say anything like that, when Harry Reid, ninety percent of the Democrats in the Senate and Barack Obama, all want comprehensive immigration reform," he said. "I believe, as has been indicated in all the polling, that even people who are Hispanics, who identify as being Republicans, are walking away from the Republicans. This is an anti-immigrant party and (it) is very clear."

Without naming them, Reid criticized Republican senators John McCain and Jon Kyl. McCain was once a supporter of reform, but he's needed to tack right in a difficult Republican primary for reelection.

"We have Republican legislators all over the country focused on Arizona particularly, saying we are concerned about this because the federal government is not doing anything," Reid said. "The two senators from Arizona won't work with us, it's illogical to hear the state of Arizona complaining about the federal government not doing anything and the two Republican senators from Arizona won't join with us to do anything."

Reid said he'd like to pass a far-reaching energy bill, but he will have to scale it back if Republicans don't come along.

"We have an energy bill, you know we can do an energy bill this big or one this big," he said. "I can do one this big because I have a couple of Republicans who would help me on that. But the big bill that we need to do they are not helping us on that, but I can do a smaller energy bill and if I do that then I'm going... there is no reason that we can't do both."

He said both immigration and energy bills could pass this year.

"(This) is not an either or situation, there is plenty of time for us to do energy, there is plenty of time for us to do immigration. We need to do both; they are both extremely important to the country."

Reid thinks the Arizona law can help galvanize action on immigration.

"What's going on in Arizona in a negative sense is also helping us because is focusing attention on this issue, but I repeat it is illogical for those people in Arizona to complain about the federal government not doing anything and they won't let us do anything."

Reid denied that his decision to get out front on immigration has anything to do with vulnerability in his bid for reelection in Nevada and the increasing importance of Latino turnout for his political survival.

"This issue has nothing to do with Nevada politics," he said. "I have worked on immigration reform for fifteen or twenty years. I'm on front of this issue for long, long time and will continue to be. It is something that is necessary for this country and I'm going to continue working on this because it's something the country absolutely needs."

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[peejay 327]

"He (Reid) said. "I have worked on immigration reform for fifteen or twenty years. I'm on front of this issue for long, long time..."

And look at what a mess we have with this idiot working on immigration in Congress for the last 20 years. We have 20 million illegal aliens running amok in our country with impunity and demanding to be rewarded with permanent residency/citizenship while breaking a laundry list of our laws daily. No Harry...you are the last person that should be in charge of anything to do with immigration reform and enforcement. You have f*cked it up enough with your repeated amnesties disguised as "reform".

[Danno 1,228]

Bottom line is; REFORM is Amnesty with Promises.

Sorry, not interested.

[alienlovechild 75]

This is an anti-immigrant party and (it) is very clear.

It's very clear Reid's one the biggest fools in DC when doesn't know the issue isn't primarily immigration itself but illegal immigration.

[Heracles 417]

Bottom line is; REFORM is Amnesty with Promises.

Spot on there. They're misusing the term reform to push through amnesty.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Like I mentioned before. They are trying to redirect the politics from what has the people really upset and about to hand the Socialists a huge thrashing. Stay clueless and die politically.

[Danno 1,228]

Spot on there. They're misusing the term reform to push through amnesty.

Absolutely, can you imagine "immigration reform" NOT including Amnesty for nearly all ?

It's a scam on us from the get-go.