NYTimes generously writes ad copy for super-important senator

The New York Times decided to report how Harry Reid is getting special treatment for Nevada in the negotiations over health care reform legislation. If Reid's intervention survives into a final bill, Nevada, unlike all but three other states, won't have to pay even a small part of the cost of expanding health care coverage for the poor any time soon, the Times explains.

And doggone it (as Harry Reid and/or Sarah Palin might say) that's the way it ought to be, says Reid spokester Jim -- er, "James P." -- Manley, because "Under Republican governors, Nevada has consistently underfunded programs such as Medicaid."

And under Democratic governors, too, the spokester might have added. With one or two exceptions, Nevada politicians of both parties, from governor on down, have been too cowardly to do much other than apply new layers of duct tape to the state's failing fiscal structure over the years.

Nevada politicians of both parties, from governor on up, have also been willing to put corporate bottom lines ahead of the public interest -- why, it was mere months ago that Reid himself took a break from his busy schedule as majority leader to help shield the mining industry from paying more in state taxes.

Reid has long been Nevada's premier apologist for transnational mining conglomerates, and wielding his considerably influence to coddle them even as they reap record profits may seem a rather smallish turn of events in the grand scheme of things. But it's those little touches that do so much to explain why -- as Reid's spokester would say -- "Nevada has consistently underfunded programs such as Medicaid."

Of course, there's no reason the Times reporter should know any of that stuff.

A bit more puzzling, however, is the story's failure to mention that parachuting himself into the Medicaid issue marks the first recorded instance of Reid actually getting involved in this year's health care reform debate in any substantive way. Reid's rush to compensate for his state's congenital cheapness, after all, comes after months in which he mostly played the role of innocent bystander and whined about how hard it is to be majority leader.

Had the Times explained Reid's role, or lack thereof, in the health care fight thus far, it would have reinforced the story's point about his recent power play on the Medicaid angle, i.e., Reid is throwing his weight around and putting his own political interests -- or, to take the charitable view, his state's financial interests -- ahead of the country's.

Oh well, it's not like Reid or his staff will fret much over what is or isn't actually reported in the story. The important thing, the truly glorious magnificent wonderful beautiful thing, from their point of view, is that on Sept. 29, 2009, this was the headline in the New York Times:

Hope you like it. Because it's going to be on TV next year. About 397,000 times a week.

Comments

[Rich]

I have a hunch that the spinless Democrats are going to be in deep sh^t in 2010.

[Happygirl]

That's great. So, the GOP-controlled Congress can have another 15 years to wreck the country -- and truly turn it into a corporate-run, Christian theocracy.
Gee. Can't wait. Demos' flaws aside, I sure hope you are proven wrong, Rich.

[dave404]

Meanwhile, Reid's sworn opponent, Mr. Tarkanian is asking you to "Join Danny as he travels throughout the state with Chuck Heath - father of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin."

How low will you go,DT, to try and be the Senator from Nevada?! Can you see Winnemucca from your front porch, Danny?

PS. The last insurance commissioner, Molasky, left her state job as the top dog on a Friday and was employed by the industry on Monday. I sure hope someone in the MSM sniffs around that issue!