Exhausted Reid mistakenly voted ‘no’ before changing vote

By Ron Brynaert
Thursday, December 24th, 2009 -- 9:48 am
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reid Exhausted Reid mistakenly voted no before changing voteSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the world that he had the sixty votes needed to pass the health care reform bill but the long hours he spent pushing to gain those votes almost cost him early Thursday morning.

"Clearly exhausted, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid mistakenly voted no before changing his vote to yes, which got a laugh in the chamber, especially from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell," Politico reports.

After the vote, Reid joked, "I spent a very restless night last night trying to figure out how I could show some bipartisanship and I think I was able to accomplish that for a few minutes."

President Obama could probably sympathize with the Senate Majority Leader.

As the LA Times reported in January of 2008, "Barack Obama angered fellow Democrats in the Illinois Senate when he voted to strip millions of dollars from a child welfare office on Chicago's West Side. But Obama had a ready explanation: He goofed."

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"I was not aware that I had voted no," he said that day in June 2002, asking that the record be changed to reflect that he "intended to vote yes."

That was not the only misfire for the former civil rights attorney first elected to the state Senate in 1996. During his eight years in state office, Obama cast more than 4,000 votes. Of those, according to transcripts of the proceedings in Springfield, he hit the wrong button at least six times.

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Story comments are below...

  • Patriotson
    Reid, as sorry as he is as a leader in the congress, really was having to deal with his conscious because it was telling him that what he was doing was not in the best interest of the American people. However, his corrupt soul over ruled his conscious, and he went along with the system of corruption that is now consistent in Washington politics.

    Harry Reid has sold out America for back door deals, vote buying, higher taxes, reduced medical benefits, reduced quality care, spending, spending, spending without fiscal accountability, excessive national debt, mandated insurance whether one can afford it or not, and if you have good insurance penalities for having it. There is nothing decent; moral; or ethical in the soul of Harry Reid.
    May all that he has done to America be yoked around his neck 100 fold. Oh, the Senate has also given you another Christmas gift. Its a jar of vaseline. Bend over and brace yourself, the worse is yet to come with Obama's cap and tax.
  • Ralph
    Yeah, I'll just bet his NO vote was due to fatigue. More likely due to senility.
  • Ralph
    Yeah, I'll just bet his NO vote was due to fatigue. Probably due more to a bad case of senility! What a buffoon!
  • scott
    We are now witnessing what Lenin called “totalitarian democracy.”
  • El
    Conscience showing Reid? Shame on you for calling this bill "reform".
  • El
    Conscience showing Reid? Shame on you for calling this bill "reform".
  • Mikethdog
    Have you read the bill?
  • El
    Indeed I have. And like 17,000+ members of Physicians for a National Health Program, I think it is worse than no reform. Here a just a few of the reasons why: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/december/pro-sing...
  • luschnig
    Looks like some folks around here have donned their festive tin foil hats to keep the capitalistic black commie presidents out out their precious little brain pans.
  • Phil E. Drifter
    This is bullshit meant to distract the public from the latest criminality of our government. Don't forget about the $880 BILLION Congress just ordered the Federal Reserve to print to bail out all those companies that were 'too big to fail.

    This is our government pretending to be working for the best interest of the people. Don't forget about the whitewashed 'official 9/11 report' which doesn't even mention WTC7's collapse.

    The two party system is a sham, both are in the pocket of the Federal Reserve projecting the illusion of democracy. While Congress never forgets to vote themselves a raise every single fucking year.
  • imwc
    don`t know yes from no, let alone ass from hole in ground...
  • Mikethedog
    You are mean. Merry Christmas.
  • Democratic_Socialist
    I'm mean too. FUCK YOU REDNECK!
  • RomanceWritR
    Wow! We actually got more than 5 posts in before the Lib rable stated getting vulgar. A new world's record!
  • Mikethedog
    I hate to tell you all this but Mikethedog is not a redneck nor a tea partier I just don't get all infintile banter... trying to grow some people up... you cannot have a battle of the wits with unarmed opponents. Welcome to progressive land.
  • Mikethedog
    oops don't I feel silly... where did that "t" go to?
  • Mikethedog
    You are meant? I'm a redneck? Too much egg nog? Hug a grandma or a baby you'll feel better. Merry Christmas =,)
  • LPM49
    Hmm. A Freudian slip for ole Harry...... ? ? ?

    Even he knows, deep down that they shold never vote on something that they've not allowed the American people to read, discuss and give feedback to the elected officials about.

    This shouldn't even be coming to a vote for several months of REAL debate and input from the American people.

    When the Senators and Congressmen aren't clearing their emails, voicemails or even having staff answer their phones and take messages, they really do not care what we think. All they want is to have some special gift from the gov't that gives them more government money like the fine Senators from Nebraska and Louisiana.
  • Hooker
    A "Freudian slip?" Sorry. Freud himself was for universal healthcare.
  • HealthCareForAllNow
    Where were you all summer? Only one bill has ever been debated longer in the history of the Senate. If you watched C-span you could have heard the bill read in the Senate floor If Congress took ten months to debate every bill, they would never get anything done. It isn't about heath care reform is it? It's about how much you hate the President.
  • Mikethedog
    that's just wishful thinking. Just except it as progress and stop complaining, move on your talking point.
  • Big Al
    Get off our blog you pinhead.
  • Mikethedog
    Oh Al... Merry Christmas man!
  • Phil E. Drifter
    Merry Atheistmas!
  • Mikethedog
    That too... Christmas is about a fat man that brings presents.
  • zogtheobvious
    I'm bringing presents? (looks around nervously) Um, there may be a problem.... ;)

    seriously, though... it's not progress... it's a giveaway to the insurance companies. Merry Whatevermas!
  • dennycrane
    I made the same mistake . I voted for Obama before I changed the vote to Roger Calero.
  • BOB
    VOTE EVERYONE OF THE TRAITOR P O S. OUT!!
  • yaright
    Stop drinking the foxaide. Breath and count to ten. Or just get your ass to some right wing blog where other foxaide drinkers will help you though this 8 year progressive period in america.
  • Brian
    Bob... they are only traitors if we are Nazis.
    Democracy is good. Deal with it. We did for 8 years.. it's only been one for you.. pace your outrage.. jeez.
  • Mikethedog
    Why?
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