Harry Reid: “reclaiming my time, I say through the Chair to the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma, first of all, I thought I was…”

“reclaiming my time, I say through the Chair to the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma, first of all, I thought I was complimenting the Senator from Oklahoma. If I did not, I apologize. I thought explaining--maybe some people watching this don't know that you are a medical doctor. I also would say to my distinguished friend that when someone is presiding and their name is mentioned, they always have the capacity to speak, not as a Presiding Officer but as a Senator. So you would have every right to respond if I said something with which you disagreed. I would say this. The reason I think you should check out what I said is that, under the present rules, you cannot put policy on appropriations bills. It is only for money matters. The Senator said he doesn't object to policy matters on appropriations bills. I do because right now it is not within the scope of the rules. That is what they are attempting to change here, and I think it is wrong. I say, Mr. President, if I in any way embarrassed the Senator from Oklahoma or said something that offended him, I apologize because I certainly didn't mean to do that. I thought just the opposite, I was trying to compliment him. Maybe I need a lesson in how to compliment people, but that is what I was trying to do.”