‘Kingmaker’: Nets Remember Harry Reid as a ‘Force of Nature’

The broadcast networks did not mention a single bad word, embarrassing moment or incident Wednesday morning when they covered the death and life of Harry Reid, former Senate Majority Leader. Instead, they showed him the greatest of reverence as they praised him as a Democratic “kingmaker,” “force of nature,” and a “powerbroker.”

ABC Television is a network that has existed since the beginning. Good Morning America fill-in co-host and senior White House correspondent Mary Bruce made it clear, literally announcing they were going to be “Honoring the Senate’s giants.”

“Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who served five terms and helped steer the passage of the Affordable Care Act as Senate majority leader, he died Tuesday at the age of 82 after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer,” she added.

MaryAlice Parks, White House correspondent, began to pour out a flood of glowing compliments. “He was soft-spoken but will be remembered as just Washington is a powerhouse of nature,” she declared. “He was also a skilled tactician, determined, and a fighter in every way..”

Following Parks’ report, Bruce reminisced about her time as a congressional correspondent and covering Reid, also giving her praises:

Yes, that’s right, MaryAlice. While he may not have been the loudest in the halls at times, he was an absolute force. His persistence, intelligence, and shrewdness were all attributes that made him stand out. It was truly an American success tale.

There are more CBS Mornings, chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett said Reid “He embodied the essence of hard work, perseverance and determination. Harry Reid is known for his reputation. This is one of Congress’s most challenging members.”

While the liberal media would clutch their pearls and suggest tough words from Republicans were signs of violent intent against the country, Garrett boasted about Reid’s “Willingness to draw partisan blood. Famously, the motto was: “I would rather dance than fight,” but I can fight..”

And in another stark example of the double standard in outrage, where they would decry Republican “dark money” and influence peddling, Garrett bragged about Reid’s stranglehold on Nevada politics:

He also built the best political machine in Nevada’s history. Anyone who wanted to be a Nevada Democrat or Republican for more than 20 years had to vector Harry Reid’s political machine.

As with the previous two networks, NBC’s Today and chief Washington correspondent Andrea Mitchell lauded Reid’s rise from poverty to “powerbroker.”

“Washington powerbroker with hard-scrabble roots. Honest and compassionate but strong as nails when necessary.,” she touted. “Political gambler, who chose to run for office as the highest-ranking official in America by taking a freshman senator called Barack Obama. History is changing.”

Where Reid a Republican, they might find it prudent to accuse him of benefiting from “white privilege.”

They were grateful that Reid gave them Barack Obama, as the quote above shows. They also appreciated ObamaCare.

MITCHELL – Reid and Obama working together to pass his landmark legislative achievement, Obamacare.

JON RALSTON (CEO of The Nevada Independent). Without Harry Reid, Barack Obama wouldn’t have passed Obamacare, the health-care bill that bears his surname. As much as Obamacare, it ought to be called Reidcare.

And since they needed to hit their quota for January 6 references, NBC fill-in co-host and correspondent Jacob Soboroff noted: “You know you guys, often cited in this biography, he helped pass the Affordable Care Act, he rose from childhood poverty, but not often cited: He was also a Capitol Police Officer..”

These sponsorships made it possible to give this heartfelt praise. McDonald’sABC CadillacCBS: TargetNBC. This link will take you to their contact information so that they can provide feedback about biased reporting.

Click “expand” for more information:

ABC’s Good Morning America
December 29, 2021
Eastern: 7:13 a.m.

MARY BRUCE – Now, to the honoring of a giant in the Senate. Harry Reid was a Nevada Democrat. After battling pancreatic cancer for over four years, he passed away Tuesday. The former senator is now being honored by President Biden.

And ABC’s MaryAlice Parks is with the president in Delaware. Good morning MaryAlice.

MARYALICE PAKS: Mary. Good morning. Former Senator from Nevada was ill for some time.

Although he was soft spoken, he will always be remembered in Washington as a true force of nature. In a small Nevada mining town, he was raised by an exceptionally poor family. He grew up without indoor plumbing in his home. He rose up the ranks, serving in the Senate for thirty years. This made him one of the most distinguished majority leaders in American history. In every way, he was a skilled tactician, dogged fighter and stubborn leader. He was a professional boxer who took on the Nevada mob. People said that he didn’t pull any punches.

BRUCE MaryAlice was the driver behind many landmark laws. His ideas became reality, and President Obama was able to cement his legacy. Overnight the ex-President also sent his appreciation.

PARKS: Yeah, President Obama shared a personal letter he wrote to Reid recently saying, “I would not have been president had it not been for your encouragement and support.”

Like you, they both passed the Affordable Care Act 2010 together. And President Biden, writing last night, that Reid was a giant and wrote that, “for Harry it wasn’t about power for power’s sake but about the power to do right for the people.” Mary.

BRUCE While he may not have been the loudest in the halls at times, he was an absolute force. A very determined, shrewd and humorous man, he was an incredible rise to the top despite every odds. It was truly an American success tale.

WHIT JOHNSON – His entire life, precisely. Mary, we are grateful.

CBS Mornings
December 29, 2021
Eastern, 7:11:32

VLADIMIR DUTHIERS – Retired Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, 82, has passed away after losing his battle with pancreatic carcinoma.

The Nevada Democrat, who was a member of Congress for more than 30 years, has been known as one the most difficult deal-makers during a period of great partisan divisions. In a statement, President Biden, who served in the Senate with Reid for 22 years, said, “for Harry it wasn’t about power for power’s sake, it was about the power to do right for the people.”

Major Garrett, Chief Washington Correspondent, has more information about the legacy of the long-serving Democratic leader.

[Cuts to video]

D-NV: Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), said that I did not make it due to my athletic prowess. I also didn’t get it because of my attractive looks. I made it because I am a genius. It was because I worked hard.

MAJOR GARRETT – These words were spoken by a man who embodied hard work and tenacity. Harry Reid is known as the most difficult legislator in Congress.

REID: A deal does not have to involve a lot of fighting. You can take a straightforward path to success. Simply put together all the bills and then bring them down to the table.

GARTT: An ex-amateur boxer, Garret brought the willingness to draw partisan blood. He is known for his motto, “I would prefer to dance than fight,” but he knows how to fight.

(…)

Eastern at 7:13 a.m.

GARRETT. Reid was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. He rose to power and served as the majority leader until 2007. Reid’s 34 year congressional career saw him behind numerous landmark Democratic wins, including a massive economic stimulus following the Great Recession. Reid also played an important role in passing The Affordable Care Act. He later called it his favourite and hardest fight in Congress.

(…)

Eastern at 7:14 a.m.

GARRETT : He also built the best political machine in state history. Anyone who wanted to be a Nevada Democrat or Republican for more than 20 years had to vector Harry Reid’s political machine.

(…)

NBC’s Today
December 29, 2021
Eastern, 7:03:10

KRISTEN WELKER: Former Senate Majority Harry Reid has died after a lengthy battle against pancreatic cancer. This morning, Capitol Hill and the rest of Washington will be honored with a tribute to Democratic Kingmaker Harry Reid, who was well-known for his ability to make deals.

(…)

Eastern at 7:14 :58

ANDREA MITCELL: Senator Harry Reid has been described today as one of kind. Washington powerbroker, from humble, compassionate roots. But tough when needed. Political gambler, who chose to run for the top office by taking a freshman senator called Barack Obama. This is how history was changed.

[Cuts to video]

Harry Reid was the kingmaker of it Washington, an amateur boxer who brought the fighting spirit to Congress and he served there for 30 years. He also served eight terms as the Senate majority leader.

(…)

Eastern, 7:16:13

MITCHELL Writing in part: “You were a great leader in the Senate, and early on you were more generous to me than I had any right to expect. I wouldn’t have been president had it not been for your encouragement and support.”

Obama and Reid work together to achieve his most important legislative accomplishment, Obamacare.

JON RALSTON (CEO of The Nevada Independent). Without Harry Reid, Barack Obama wouldn’t have passed Obamacare, the health-care bill that bears his surname. As much as Obamacare, it ought to be called Reidcare.

(…)

JACOB SOBOROFF, You all know that he is often quoted in this biography. He helped to pass the Affordable Care Act. However, it’s not common for people to mention his role as a capitol officer.

WELKER : It is very interesting. It is a great detail.

PETER ALEXANDER (Yes). Former amateur boxer, he’s a guy that never pulled punches politically.