Harry Reid: “What I wanted to come to the floor today to talk about is what has appeared in newspapers all over America today…”

“What I wanted to come to the floor today to talk about is what has appeared in newspapers all over America today, including a Washington Post editorial. Syndicated columns all over America are running articles today talking about something going on in Washington that is simply invalid. But I think, as far as I am concerned, kind of the culmination, or the synthesis of all these articles and columns and editorials in America today appeared in the New York Times this morning. That editorial has a headline: ``Tom Daschle Isn't the Problem.'' I will make no editorial comment about this editorial. I will read it: The closing days of this year's Congressional session have brought forth a wild Republican campaign to demonize Senator Tom Daschle. It almost seems as if the G.O.P. is holding a contest to see who can most often use the word ``obstructionist'' to describe him. The attacks--including ads in Mr. Daschle's home state of South Dakota featuring side-by-side photographs of him and Saddam Hussein--are a sure sign of the Senate majority leader's effectiveness in blocking President Bush's hard-right agenda.”