Senator Reid explains Democrats negotiation method with Republicans. His role model is Henry Clay

[Better Believe It]

The "Great Compromiser". BBI

Excerpt:

CNN
THE SITUATION ROOM
TRANSCRIPT

Aired April 6, 2011 - 18:00 ET

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, is getting ready to make a statement on the looming budget shutdown. He and the House Speaker, they're going to be going over to the White House with some other leaders to meet with the president after 9:00 p.m. Eastern later tonight when the president gets back from his trip to Pennsylvania.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER:

We've been more than reasonable, Mr. President. More than fair. We meet them half way, they say no. We meet them more than half way, they still say no. We meet them all the way, they still say no.

And remember what one of the greatest speakers of all time said. In fact, he was speaker three times Mr. President from the state of Kentucky, Henry Clay. He was known as the great compromiser.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1104/06/sitroom.02.html


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HENRY CLAY

Dubbed the "Great Compromiser," he brokered important compromises during the Nullification Crisis and on the slavery issue, especially in 1820 and 1850, during which he was part of the "Great Triumvirate" or "Immortal Trio," along with his colleagues Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun.

Henry Clay helped establish and became president of the American Colonization Society, a group that wanted to send freed African American slaves to Africa and that founded Monrovia in Liberia for that purpose. On the amalgamation of the black and white races, Clay said that "The God of Nature, by the differences of color and physical constitution, has decreed against it."<26> Clay presided at the founding meeting of the ACS on December 21, 1816, at the Davis Hotel in Washington, D.C. Attendees also included Robert Finley, James Monroe, Bushrod Washington, Andrew Jackson, Francis Scott Key, and Daniel Webster.

The Missouri Compromise and 1820s

In 1820 a dispute erupted over the extension of slavery in Missouri Territory. Clay helped settle this dispute by gaining Congressional approval for a plan called the "Missouri Compromise". It brought in Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state (thus maintaining the balance in the Senate, which had included 11 free and 11 slave states), and it forbade slavery north of 36º 30' (the northern boundary of Arkansas and the latitude line) except in Missouri.

Slave freedom suit

As Secretary of State, Clay lived with his family and slaves in Decatur House on Lafayette Square. As he was preparing to return to Lexington in 1829, his slave Charlotte Dupuy sued Clay for her freedom and that of her two children, based on a promise by an earlier owner. Her legal challenge to slavery preceded the more famous Dred Scott case by 17 years. The "freedom suit" received a fair amount of attention in the press at the time. Dupuy's attorney gained an order from the court for her to remain in DC until the case was settled, and she worked for wages for Martin Van Buren, the successor to office and Decatur House. Clay returned to Ashland with Aaron, Charles and Mary Ann Dupuy.

The jury ruled against Dupuy, agreeing that any agreement with Condon did not bear on Clay. Because Dupuy refused to return voluntarily to Kentucky, Clay had his agent arrest her. She was imprisoned in Alexandria, Virginia before Clay arranged for her transport to New Orleans, where he placed her with his daughter and son-in-law Martin Duralde. Mary Ann Dupuy was sent to join her mother, and they worked as domestic slaves for the Duraldes for another decade.

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HENRY CLAY 1850

[mucifer]

1. Oy vey

[gateley]

2. Here's what he said: He said that all legislation is based on mutual consensus. nt

[Better Believe It]

3. Is that how George W. Bush and FDR operated? "Mutual consensus"??!!!

Hardly.

So what do you think the Democrats should give to right-wing Republicans in order to reach this grand bi-partisan consensus on budget cuts?

[gateley]

9. I wasn't commenting - you cut off after Reid said "Remember what Clay said" and

I was curious so I looked it up, posted in case anybody else was curious, too. That's all. So you can go jump down somebody else's throat.

[phleshdef]

18. If you are anti-consensus, then you are ultimately anti-Democracy.

Having said that, they shouldn't give in anymore than they have and shouldn't have given in as much as they have.

The fact of the matter is, they have to eventually agree on a way to fund the government somehow. Republicans are the ones that don't want to come to a consensus with the Democrats. And thats what Harry Reid is saying. He is saying they have done their part for consensus already, indicated by the statement he made right before that. Republicans aren't interested in mutual consensus, they want the Democrats to meet their demands and get nothing at all.

[Cerridwen]

4. You know why I like to use that little {snip} notation when I'm

quoting from sources? It's because it lets those reading know that there's more at the link I provide.

You know why when I'm actually quoting something I include the entire paragraph with the part I emphasize; which I also note? It's to let people read the emphasized part, in context.

It helps reading comprehension and looks so much less like spin.

<snip>

We're being honest with ourselves over here, Mr. President. We know that we can't get 100 percent of what we want. That's what this negotiation is all about. That's why this is a negotiation. It's not a win or take all. Democrats have made tough choices because we want to get this agreement finished. We want it completed. We want to keep the country running and keep the momentum of economy that's now creating jobs. We want to avoid a shutdown and the terrible consequences that would follow. The only thing Republicans are trying to avoid is making the tough choices we need to make. We've been more than reasonable, Mr. President. More than fair. We meet them half way, they say no. We meet them more than half way, they still say no. We meet them all the way, they still say no.

If Republicans were serious about keeping the country running, all they would have to do is say yes. Now, we learn that House Republicans are going to make another excuse, create another diversion and avoid another tough choice. Instead of solving the crisis the way we should, instead of saying yes, they're saying, in fact, what they're going to do is pass what they'll call another short-term stopgap measure.

They'll say it's short-term, but what that really means, it's a shortcut. A shortcut around doing our jobs. Instead of solving problems, they're stalling, they're procrastinating. That's not just bad policy, it's a fantasy. We all heard the president of the United States say yesterday and he won't accept anything short of a full solution. And why should he? We're six months into the fiscal year now, Mr. President.

<snip to more at OP's link>

Oh, yeah, all emphasis in above snippets was added.

edit: DU software hates some symbols in subject lines

[Better Believe It]

6. You forgot to include these Reid quotes in your snippet.

Just an honest mistake and I can see that your snippet is surely not an attempt at political spin.

"We've been more than reasonable, Mr. President. More than fair. We meet them half way, they say no. We meet them more than half way, they still say no. We meet them all the way, they still say no.

And remember what one of the greatest speakers of all time said. In fact, he was speaker three times Mr. President from the state of Kentucky, Henry Clay. He was known as the great compromiser."

And you didn't have any difficulty finding Reid's entire statement because I posted a link to it.

[Cerridwen]

10. It's called four paragraphs...I'm not sure if the 4 is limited to per post

or per thread. And since you'd already used 2 pieces of 2 paragraphs I wasn't sure the DU limit.

I chose to point out those pieces which provided additional context to his words since it's very obvious several people didn't bother to actually click and read; a common occurrence on DU which results in people not getting a full picture and which allows many issues to be obscured rather than discussed.

Such as a recent OP of a hoax that received over 200 recs but was satire.

I would also note, that at no time did Senator Reid refer to Clay as his "role model."

And, that little paragraph at the end was what is done in political speeches to remind ones opponents of their illustrious past and how far removed they are from it.

And, this will be my last kick of your little attempt at character assassination.

Have a grand evening. Don't ever take up speech writing.

[Shiver]

11. This post is win.

Unrec for deliberately misleading and divisive topic.

[Better Believe It]

14. So you approve of Senator Reid's negotiation method, collective begging.

If Senator Reid were a union negotiator he'd ask employers what they want, give everything to them and than agree to dissolve the union!

He method would become known as collective begging, rather than collective bargaining.

[Shiver]

16. I never said I did.

I know you enjoy putting words in people's mouths, but it doesn't make them true. Much like the assertions you're trying to make in your post.

[Better Believe It]

17. Well what have you said? Absolutely nothing regarding the article! Just a drive by attack!

If you have an opinion or wish to refute the article nobody is stopping you!

I'm listening.

[Shiver]

20. My dispute with your OP is in Cerridwen's post.

Your OP is deliberately misleading. It cuts out qualifying statements, and asserts that Reid's role model is Henry Clay, when there is no evidence of the sort beyond accusation. The reason for Reid's reference to Clay was in the line you decided not to include, despite it being in the same paragraph and within DU rules.

And remember what one of the greatest speakers of all time said. In fact, he was speaker three times Mr. President from the state of Kentucky, Henry Clay. He was known as the great compromiser. He said that all legislation is based on mutual consensus. That's what this is all about, but remember, let's focus on the word mutual. It takes both of us.

Emphasis added.

I'm not refuting the article, I'm refuting the way you decided to present it, which is misleading and inaccurate. And I'm not interested in refuting the article; what I'm interested in is ensuring that the actual article is presented accurately, which is was not. Selective editing is a deceptive tool, used by people like James O'Keefe to ensure that the only part of the story told is the part you want told. It's manipulative and dishonest.

Then again, I don't know why I'm bothering to reply to this. You're likely to respond by putting words in my mouth and erecting a straw man or two.

[Bobbie Jo]

22. Completely nailed it.

Thank you. :applause:

That seems to be the pattern....

[Shiver]

26. I've noticed it too, and it's been annoying me for some time.

Notice as well there is a damning amount of silence in response from the OP...

[emulatorloo]

12. Thank you. And it is not the first time n/t

[Better Believe It]

13. You must be new here. The limit is four paragraphs per post.

"Don't ever take up speech writing."

I've never had to hire professional speech writers like President Obama to tell me what to say and how to say it and just about everyone who has run for President over the past few decades.

[Bobbie Jo]

15. "You must be new here."

Good one. :rofl:

Did you type that with a straight face?

[Better Believe It]

19. I don't recall ever reading any of "Cerridwen" posts. Now I know why.

"Cerridwen" has been here since 2004!

And they just now found out that DU has a four paragraph limit on posting news articles!

And they claimed ignorance of that rule with a straight face!

Good one indeed!

[Bobbie Jo]

21. Irony...

is fun, isn't it?

[Mojeoux]

5. Oh Dear Lord!!!

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER:

"We've been more than reasonable, Mr. President. More than fair. We meet them half way, they say no. We meet them more than half way, they still say no. We meet them all the way, they still say no.

And remember what one of the greatest speakers of all time said. In fact, he was speaker three times Mr. President from the state of Kentucky, Henry Clay. He was known as the great compromiser. "

What is he even SAYING????

This Reid guy has always had a "leiberman" vibe to me. Confused and fearful of confrontation.

I want a Democratic Bull Dog in his job.

Bringing up this former "speaker," whatever the hell he meant, was weird and powerless.

[Better Believe It]

8. And the masses cheered when the good Senator spoke about the beloved Henry Clay.

[Zorra]

7. We bend over, they say yes,

and then they #()<& us in the @$$.

[dionysus]

23. at least you're consistent in your mission to smear Democrats....

:rofl:

[Mojeoux]

27. Don't wanna smear Dems, just being truthful of my feeelings re: Reid! nt

[upi402]

24. wadda we want? "COMPROMISE" wenda we wannit? "IN DUE COURSE!"

:rofl:

[Better Believe It]

25. Wadda we want? MUTUAL CONSENSUS! When do we want it? NOW!

Sure sounds like a terrific chant on picketlines protesting any cuts in programs that benefit us!

:silly: