Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid became the latest Democrat to stray into rhetorical trouble Tuesday, botching statements on three subjects in one news conference — including the fragile health of the chamber's most senior members. The Nevada Democrat reported that one of them, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was absent because he was receiving a new round of treatment for his brain cancer. Asked if the cancer was in remission, Reid replied, "As far as I know, it is, yes."
Kennedy's office refused to confirm Reid's comments or make any statement in response, the public silence a classic Washington disavowal.
Reid was then asked about Sen. Robert C. Byrd, at 91 the longest-serving senator in history, who was hospitalized over the weekend for an infection. Reid reported that Byrd was to be released from the hospital Tuesday or perhaps later in the week.
Not exactly.
"Senator Byrd is improving," responded his spokesman, Jesse Jacobs. "But his doctors, in consultation with his family, have not yet determined when he will be released."
When did Reid get his medical degree? Obviously, he must have one, since he's offering diagnoses, right? Oops:
"Senator Reid will leave the diagnosing to doctors," [Spokesman Jim] Manley said late in the day. "But he does look forward to the prospect of Senator Kennedy's return to the Senate as soon as he is able."
I think that leaving diagnosing to doctors is a terrific idea, and it's good news to see at least one prominent Democrat come around! Maybe Reid will introduce a bill preventing Obama's nationalization of health care. After all, that's exactly what Obama's plan will do - put control of health care into the hands of government bureaucrats rather than doctors and patients.
Whew! I guess we can relax now.
There's my two cents.
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