LAS VEGAS — Nevada Democratic Sen. Harry Reid urged progressives not to give up on his party as a vessel to champion their causes Saturday, blaming the current political climate and Republicans for blocking their efforts in Congress.
Reid was addressing the NetRoots Nation conference, an annual gathering of progressive activists, bloggers and policy makers from around the country. Frustration with the Democratic Party was a major theme during the four-day event, where progressives voiced their loss of patience with those in power for not doing enough to make major policy changes.
“I know you wish some of these reforms were even more sweeping, and in some ways I do too, but we have to be realistic,” Reid said, referring to legislation passed since President Obama’s inauguration like the health care overhaul and financial regulatory reform. “But keep these reforms in context.”
The progressive movement, a vocal component of the Democratic Party, is typically more liberal than mainstream members of the party and was instrumental in organizing efforts to elect Obama in 2008. But after more than 18 months of Democratic control of Congress and the White House, there is massive dissatisfaction within the ranks.
MSNBC host Ed Schultz lambasted Democrats and the Obama White House only two nights before during a keynote speech at the conference, calling on progressives to keep holding the party’s feet to the fire.
“They must have a war room at the White House. I think they’ve got a sissy room, too. I didn’t vote for that,” Schultz said. “You’re either with us or against us in the progressive movement.”
It was clear during Reid’s speech that he and his colleagues in Washington were feeling the heat.
“There are times, I’m told, that I get on your nerves. And I’m here to tell you: you get on my nerves,” Reid said, referring to progressives who had urged him to take stronger action as Senate Majority Leader. “If you don’t give up this time, like you haven’t in the past, neither will I.”
Reid reminded the audience that Republicans have done little to ease the legislative process, and blamed the GOP for keeping progressive causes from becoming policy.
“Not a single Republican has been able to play ball with us,” he said. “We’re not going to do nothing just because we don’t have a partner on the other side.”
Reid, who faces reelection in 2010 during a tough political climate for incumbents, also suggested he would support controversial policy changes during the lame duck session in Congress this year. Conservatives have made a strong push lately to pressure Republican members of Congress not to support any major actions during that period.
“We’re going to have to have a lame-duck session,” Reid promised. “So we’re not giving up.”