Is Harry Reid the leader Democrats need? Nevada, Senators, Skeptics

From the Chicago Maroon:

Yet there is one question that we can answer with little reservation: Does Harry Reid have the vision that the Democrats sorely lack and so desperately desire? Unfortunately, he does not. The future of the Democratic party does not lie with a conservative grand-father from a desert, Western state. This is not Senator Reid?s fault. But we would be kidding ourselves to think that he is or has the answer to that question. Nevertheless, what the Democrats need most is a unifying vision and a narrative, one that will let America claim to know where the party stands and one that will let the party reclaim America. And Harry Reid does not have that.

Therefore, we Democrats can remain confident that Minority Leader Reid will lead that minority with tactical skill, but we won't find that vital vision that could lead the Democratic party out of minority status and into electoral success. For that, we?ll just have to keep looking.

In arguing against Harry Reid as some sort of leader/symbol of the Democratic Party, Andrew Hammond makes a very valid point about the narrative of the party. Harry Reid may not be the walking embodiment of our story. But Andrew is too quick to seemingly dismiss the entire West, implying that grand-father from a Western desert state couldn't possibly be the soul of the party. By dismissing Reid, is Andrew thinking of Barack Obama?

Harry Reid may not have what it takes to expand beyond the role of Senate leader to soul status, but Western Democrats do.

Emmett O'Connell | November 18, 2004 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) Permalink: Is Harry Reid the leader Democrats need? Nevada, Senators, Skeptics

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