[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S1073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TURNING UP THE HEAT

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I noticed a plethora of articles recently 
about the Republican National Committee turning up the heat on Minority 
Leader Harry Reid. I notice here that there is some other stuff coming 
out from the Republican National Committee saying they are going to 
``Daschleize'' Reid, making Harry Reid, our minority leader, the 
obstructionist.
  Again, this is not what working together means. Look, we Democrats 
are in the minority. I believe we are the loyal opposition. We need to 
provide a different view for the American people. This last election 
was very close. There is no mandate for one side or the other to run 
roughshod over the other. This is a mandate for us to try to get 
together and work things out. It is not a mandate for the Republican 
National Committee to trash, demonize, and drag down the good name of 
Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. But that is what is happening. It has no 
part here. I was hoping maybe we would be beyond that. I would think we 
are beyond that.
  I have known our minority leader for the last 30 years. He is a good, 
decent, kind human being. He is tough, but we expect him to be tough in 
making sure our rights are protected, and making sure the debate flows 
in the Senate, so we are able to come together and work things out, 
with having the President of the United States say this is the way it 
is going to be and you have to follow suit. That is not the way our 
country works; it is not the way the Senate works.
  I am hopeful the RNC will look into their own hearts and see that 
this is not the right way to do things. It is going to make it tougher 
to get things done around here. It is going to make it much tougher if 
the Republican National Committee continues to try to drag down Senator 
Harry Reid, demonize him, call him an obstructionist, and to 
``Daschleize'' him--whatever that means. I guess it means to make 
Senator Reid the object of scorn for the Republican National Committee. 
I hope the Republicans in this body will tell the RNC to back off. This 
is not the way we do things around here.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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