Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called outgoing Sen. Scott Brown’s (R-Mass.) lament that centrism is vanishing in the upper chamber “a big joke.”
According to National Journal’s 2011 vote rankings, Brown had a composite liberal score of 44.7 and a conservative score of 55.3. He lost his seat last week to liberal Elizabeth Warren by more than 7 points.
“I saw during the campaign his plea for bipartisanship. That is a big joke. It’s a travesty. He was one of the most partisan people that’s ever served here. He could have saved Citizens United. He could have been the 60th vote on that and many other things,” Reid snapped when asked about Brown at a press availability today.
“So, I don’t need a lecture from him on bipartisanship. He should go look in the mirror.”
When asked if he feared a potential John Kerry cabinet appointment opening a seat for a special election in Massachusetts, Reid first chided the reporter for chewing gum.
“Get the hell rid of that,” Reid said.
“John Kerry is my friend. I worked so hard for him when he was running for president. I did everything I could to help him and he came very, very close. There’s been no better legislator that I’ve served with. He’s been way out front on issues dealing with climate change, infrastructure, bank development and many other things,” the majority leader said.
“So, I don’t know any conversations that the president or anyone in the White House has had with him, and any conversations I’ve had with John Kerry, he does not bring up his being secretary of anything, but I’ll do everything I can to help him if he’s chosen.”
Reid said he’s “very comfortable” with Kerry’s seat staying blue.
“I think that I’ve already told you how I feel about Scott Brown,” he sniped.
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