From Politico:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) upped the rhetorical ante this morning by comparing opponents of health care reform to conservatives who tried to block emancipation and equal rights — prompting the Republican national chairman to question his sanity.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Reid blasted GOP leaders who have urged Democrats opt for a slower, incremental approach to reform instead of the mega-bill the majority hopes to push through the Senate by Christmas
Reid started by mimicking Republicans whom he claims have said: “‘Slow down, stop everything, let’s start over.”
“You think you’ve heard these same excuses before? You’re right,” he continued. “In this country…there were those who dug in their heels and said, ‘Slow down, it’s too early. Let’s wait. Things aren’t bad enough’ ” – about slavery.
When women wanted to vote, he went on, opponents said, ” ‘Slow down, there will be a better day to do that — the day isn’t quite right.’ ”
He finished with: “When this body was on the verge of guaranteeing equal civil rights to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, some senators resorted to the same filibuster threats that we hear today.”
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