It looks like Harry Reid is throwing Obama under the bus over earmarks. During the SOTU Obama vowed not to sign any bills with earmarks in them. Now most of us realize that Obama’s vow is just another steaming pile of BS, but for Harry Reid to straight up admit it is rather interesting.
ABC News: In an interview with ABC's Jonathan Karl, Reid launched a vigorous defense of pork, the pet projects that members of Congress insert into bills to benefit their home states.
"I think it's taking power away from the legislative branch of government and giving it to the executive branch of government," Reid said of the president's plan. "The executive branch of government is powerful enough and I think that I know more about what Nevada needs than some bureaucrat down on K Street."
"So you think the president is wrong about this?" Karl asked.
"Without any question," Reid replied.
"I understand it's great for an applause line, but it's really not solving anything to do with the deficit. It's only for show."
"So you're saying that earmarks will be back?" said Karl.
"Of course they'll be back," said Reid.
I think Harry’s harsh words is just a set up for Obama to knock him down, thus providing Obama with another opportunity to employ smoke and mirrors in order to look centrist again for 2012.
In the video below, Harry Reid goes into detail about his defense of earmarks.
If Reid was even remotely serious about ceding power to the Executive Branch, he would have squawked about the explosive number of czars, or the EPA doing end runs around Congress, or ObamaCare which leaves huge chunks to be written by bureaucrats. Sorry, I am not buying this excuse.
Time will tell, but I think I will be right and Harry is just playing strawman for Obama to knock down.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: ABC News