After a meeting at the White House with President Obama and Senate Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid acknowledged that the tea bagging town hall disruptions had picked up his attention, and had a simple response: We’ll get health care done anyhow.
“In spite of the loud, shrill voices trying to interrupt town hall meetings and just throw a monkey wrench into everything,” Reid said, “we’re going to continue to be positive and work hard.”
Reid’s acknowledgment of the town hall disruptions is among the first from a senior Democrat, and a sign that the protesters are getting under the skin of those who stand to suffer politically if health care reform fails.
Reid appeared with other key senators, including Majority Whip Dick Durbin, and Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Max Baucus (D-MT)–who’ve taken the lead in drafting legislation in the Senate HELP and Finance Committees–to allay the concern of some liberals that the protesters were sapping the reform movement of momentum.
