Limbaugh: Harry Reid Family Cashing In

Newsmax ^ | Thursday, April 14, 2005

[John Lenin]

Thursday, April 14, 2005 10:19 p.m. EDT

Limbaugh: Harry Reid Family Cashing In

When it comes to cashing in on family connections, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's relatives can't hold a candle to the clan of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who's sponsored legislation that netted his son hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.

So says top radio talker Rush Limbaugh, who first unearthed the dirty details on Reid's nepotism last week - a story that has the mainstream press feigning ignorance as they pull out all the stops to nail DeLay.

Story Continues Below

In recent days, the top House Republican has been accused of having his family work on his campaigns - a charge that has Democrats clamoring for his scalp.

But there's been nary a peep of protest about a report that Reid's sons and daughter cashed in on Daddy's connections - a story first reported by the Los Angeles Times two years ago that was unearthed by Limbaugh last week.

For instance, the Nevada Democrat once sponsored an environmental bill that he touted as a bipartisan measure to protect the ecosystem and help the economy in America's fastest-growing state.

But as the LA Times reported:

"What Reid did not explain was that the bill promised a cavalcade of benefits to real estate developers, corporations and local institutions that were paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbying fees to his sons' and son-in-law's firms, federal lobbyist reports show."

Turns out that the Reid family gravy train relied on some of America's biggest corporate names.

The Howard Hughes Corp. alone paid $300,000 to attorney and son-in-law Steven Barringer to push a provision allowing the company to acquire 998 acres of federal land near booming Las Vegas.

According to the Times, other provisions of Reid's legislation were intended to benefit a real estate development headed by a senior partner in the Nevada law firm that employs all four of the Senate minority leader's sons.

Seldom have so many close relatives directly profited off their familial connection to a powerful politician.

But as the Times noted, there's more:

"The governments of three of Nevada's biggest cities — Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson — also gained from the legislation, which freed up tens of thousands of acres of federal land for development and annexation. All three were represented by Reid's family members who contacted his staff on their clients' behalf."

Reid's response to the obvious conflicts of interest?

"Lots of people have children, wives and stuff that work back here," he insisted. "It is not as if a lot of cash is changing hands."

Hundreds of thousands of dollars - not a lot of cash?

One wonders how journalists would have reacted had Tom DeLay said that.

[Two-Bits]

Rush has been at his absolute BEST EVER. He is on a roll like a steamroller and I hope it continues......Divorce suits him. Go getum Rush!

[Nathan Zachary]

There is so much dirt in the Democrat party they make Canada's Liberals look like amateurs. But they get away with it because MSM helps cover it up. You will never see them investigate dirty deeds by Democrats. Thank goodness for the Internet and the Rush Limbaugh's out there.

You are right, these dirty Dem's need to be going to prison. We will never get corruption out of government until there is a deterrent strictly enforced

[Lexinom]

I got friends in high places,
Where corruption flows and cash chases....

[CyberAnt]

Well .. I feel bad for Rush - he mentioned the other day that he's finding it difficult to have "real" people to hang out with. It can be very lonely at the top.

[Stormcrow]

Socialist hypocrisy bump

[Mamzelle]

How does Reid compare with other senators who get donations from trial lawyers? Nevada has a horrible tort climate.

[Born Conservative]

[OXENinFLA]

Ping.....

[mewzilla]

Hoist again....

[philetus]

and he opposed drilling in ANWAR"

Drilling in ANWAR would help the U.S..

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I always used to say that Rush was the 2nd Greatest Living American, and now he is #1. I lapse into taking him for granted at times but now I want to say "Thanks, Rush!"

I have to agree. But a couple of nights ago, I had Michael Savage on in the car for a short while.

There are times I like Savage but in this instance he was going after Rush and was predicting that he (Savage) would be around long after Rush is gone. He claimed Rush is too boring. Yea, right. That's why Rush is at the top and has been for a long time.

I changed the station. We have plenty of libs to go after, and not our own. Rush is a great American and I thank him for what he's done.

[demkicker]

Their thought was that we'd just roll over and drop Delay as was done to Lott.

Well, Lott burned many bridges with conservatives. Delay has built those bridges. If there is any doubt who controls the Republican Party there shouldn't be. When conservatives choose to exercise our power, they listen.

Very well said!

The dimwit dems and MSM haven't a clue that by unfairly picking on Tom DeLay, they've not only awakened our favorite conservative giant, Rush Limbaugh, but legions of conservative sleeping giants who are fed up with their hypocritical low-down tactics.

AND WE AREN'T GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!

[7thson]

Another thing that pisses me off is the media - including FNC - ignores what JF'nKerry did on the Senate floor this week and run/follow the pack after DeLay.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

...first reported by the Los Angeles Times two years ago

It's old news. Time to moveon.org.
*snicker*

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

There are times I like Savage but in this instance he was going after Rush and was predicting that he (Savage) would be around long after Rush is gone.

What was that all about? I can't stand Savage, but I heard the advertising spot my local station does for Savage and they played that clip. Savage seemed to be saying that *Rush* had said something about *Savage*. Is that what happened? Do you know the background?

[Jack Bull]

Huge story.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

*Rush* had said something about *Savage*.

Not that I know of. Savage didn't reference that when I heard it. I just know I was disgusted by Savage. It seems to me we have plenty to go after with the RATS in this country without going after our allies. As a matter of fact, I really don't care to listen to Savage again. I've heard him do this before.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

I have to say that when I *thought* I heard Savage say that Rush said something about him, it didn't sound right because I've never heard Rush bash any other talk show hosts. Thanks for clearing it up for me. I cannot stomach Savage. I think he thinks he's an intellectual, but all he spouts is psychobabble. He also doesn't pull off the fake braggadocio that Rush does so well. When Savage does it, you know he really thinks he's something. Rush is a riot when he does it and you know he's just trying to tweak the libs.

[NRA2BFree]

There is so much dirt in the Democrat party they make Canada's Liberals look like amateurs. But they get away with it because MSM helps cover it up. You will never see them investigate dirty deeds by Democrats. Thank goodness for the Internet and the Rush Limbaugh's out there.

Yes, the MSM definitely covers up, but they sure jump on it when they think a Republican has done something wrong. I'm amazed that the LA Times ever ran this piece on Reid to begin with.

You are right, these dirty Dem's need to be going to prison. We will never get corruption out of government until there is a deterrent strictly enforced.

It's never going to happen because our Congress critters have passed so many laws protecting themselves that they are virtually untouchable. It's time we have another "tea party" and use Congress critters instead of tea. LOL