Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) delivered his first public remarks since coming under fire for making racially charged comments this weekend, saying he “could’ve used a better choice of words” and that he was one of the young leaders for civil rights in Nevada.
Reid, at an event outside Las Vegas, took questions from reporters after giving an address on energy and said he’s received calls from a number of black leaders offering their support.
He also said he’s “very proud of the fact” that he famously suggested to then-Senator Barack Obama that he should run for president.
The majority leader said he “really appreciates people writing nice things about me,” specifically the Los Angeles Times and the Huffington Post.
Reid apologized to the president on Saturday for the comments attributed to him about Obama’s race during the 2008 campaign in John Heilemann and Mark Halperin’s new book, “Game Change.” But since the excerpts have gone public, some Republicans — including RNC chairman Michael Steele — have called for the majority leader to step down.
“I’m not going to dwell on this anymore,” he said at the end of the conference