Desperate Reid Dismisses Hispanic Republicans; UPDATE: Reid Defends Remarks

Meredith Jessup | August 11, 2010 1:43 PM

During a campaign stop in Nevada yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told an audience of mostly Hispanic voters that, according to their race, they belong to a particular political party:

"I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican, okay. Do I need to say more?"

As my wise Latino friend Ruben Gonzalez points out, this extraordinarily racially charged rhetoric is more insulting than name-calling. "Being told by a political leader that the only way to success is through government welfare and other nonsense is completely bogus. I've made it this far on my own and if I can do it, anyone can."

Further, U.S. Senate candidate and son of Cuban exiles Marco Rubio is firing back at Reid's ridiculous comments today:

Closing thoughts: I don't know how someone like Harry Reid could be elected to the U.S. Senate in the first place. Do I need to say more?

Update: Following his comments, the Reid campaign is going into heavy spin mode. In a statement out this afternoon, the campaign defends Reid's remarks:

Sen. Reid’s contention was simply that he doesn't understand how anyone, Hispanic or otherwise, would vote for Republican candidates because they oppose saving teachers’ jobs, oppose job-creating tax incentives for small businesses, oppose investments in job-creating clean energy projects, and oppose the help for struggling, unemployed Nevadans to put food on the table and stay in their homes.

This kind of inflammatory remark also just happens to come at the same time Bill White, Democrats' candidate of choice for Texas governor, claimed before an audience of African Americans that his Republican opponent, current Gov. Rick Perry, "wants to be treated as master."

The implication of both Democrats' charges is clear: You're either with us, or you're a big, fat racist.