Harry Reid

Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, for which he serves as Senate Minority Leader.

Opinions, beliefs and personal traits

Some consider Harry Reid pro-life, or an opponent of legalized abortion, because of his vote against support of Roe v. Wade in 2004. Reid subsequently refused to answer whether he wants Roe v. Wade overturned. However, Reid proposed that Bush name one of four fervently pro-life Republican senators--Lindsey Graham of South Carolina (who promptly said he wasn't interested), Mike DeWine of Ohio, Mel Martinez of Florida and Mike Crapo of Idaho--to fill the seat on the Supreme Court vacated by Sandra Day O'Connor. But he voted against John Roberts, Bush's eventual nominee, in part because he claimed Roberts hadn't shown enough devotion to the protection of women's rights. Reid also received a 100% Rating from NARAL in 2001, and from 1995-2004 voted with the interests of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association 69% of the time.

Related Topics:
Pro-life - Abortion - Roe v. Wade - Lindsey Graham - Mike DeWine - Mel Martinez - Mike Crapo - Sandra Day O'Connor - John Roberts - NARAL - National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association

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Reid is an opponent of tort reform. He does not approve of same-sex marriage, but is against a constitutional amendment defining marriage.

Related Topics:
Tort reform - Same-sex marriage

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Reid converted to Mormonism after he married; he is currently also the only Mormon Democrat in the Senate. Four other members of the Senate are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but they are all Republicans.

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Reid is known for speaking his mind. He made headlines in May of 2005 when he said of George W. Bush, "The man's father is a wonderful human being. I think this guy is a loser." Reid later apologized for these comments. Reid also called Clarence Thomas an "embarrassment" and referred to Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan as a "partisan hack." When asked to justify his comments about Justice Thomas, however, Reid was unable to support his claim that Thomas's opinions were "poorly written," leading to accusations of racism; the Congressional Black Caucus told Reid that his comments crossed the line. "I think all of us ought to focus more on substance and less on stereotypes and caricatures," Rep. Mel Watt said.http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110006106

Related Topics:
George W. Bush - Clarence Thomas - Alan Greenspan - Congressional Black Caucus - Mel Watt

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Whe the Republicans threatened to invoke the nuclear option, Reid became one of the option's most fervent opponents. He threatened to virtually shut down Senate business if it were successfully invoked. However, when the Gang of Fourteen reached a compromise, he embraced the compromise with open arms.

Related Topics:
Nuclear option - Gang of Fourteen

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Reid is married to Landra Gould, a convert from Judaism. They have five children.

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