Reid Flares Over Media Coverage of Energy Proposals (Asks Reporter: Do You Speak English?)

Fox News ^ | Thursday, July 24, 2008 | Trish Turner

[kristinn]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's advice to reporters who don't get his energy agenda: Check your hearing.

Reid, D-Nev., may look like a mild-mannered man, but when he's backed into a corner, this former boxer comes out swinging. On Thursday, the object of his ire was the Fourth Estate as he lashed at reporters quizzing him over stalled Democratic energy proposals.

At a "pen and pad" — a more casual, off-camera chat with reporters — Reid attacked and scolded correspondents in attendance, telling them he's "really disappointed" in how they have been writing his energy plans, which include a bill to reign in speculation in the energy futures markets.

According to two Senate Democratic aides, Reid and other Democratic leaders were particularly stung by an article Thursday in The New York Times. It followed on several other reports that have highlighted Democrats' attempts to fend off defections from their ranks to GOP-sponsored amendments, measures that would permit new drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf and in the West for oil shale.

SNIP

Reporters tried to pin Reid down Thursday on the amendment issue.

In the exchange, Reid told one reporter she should "watch the [Senate] floor more often. ... You might learn something."

Another reporter explained she had watched the Senate proceedings and said it was not clear he was ... offereing separate amendments, to which Reid asked the reporter if she "spoke English."

"Turn up your Miracle Ear," Reid added.

Reid spokesman Jim Manley later told the reporter his boss's comments were a show of "frustration," not desperation.

SNIP

The House No. 2 Republican, Roy Blunt of Missouri, told reporters today, "Clearly we've built a fire on energy that they're feeling the heat from."

[savedbygrace]

However, as I have tried repeatedly to point out, it is pure foolishness for anyone to believe that a full-bore drilling program will alleviate our long-term energy needs.

You apparently didn't read my #98 closely enough. I differentiate between short term and long term, and assert that drilling (and refining) can solve our short term supply problem, which is a only a few million barrels a day.

As for judging you as to your Christianity, I am not.

It's clear that you were. You are only fooling yourself to say otherwise. Then in this last reply, you say:

I was pointing out that some self-avowed Saintly Christians Turn Off sinners and other not so secure Christians with their Sister Bertha Better Than You, Amen Pew, In The First Self Righteous Church religious fervor.

which makes it even more clear that you are judging me. When you accuse someone of being self righteous, you are saying that they are not righteous because of the sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus. That is a judgment that is not yours to make.