For Reid’s straight talk about Iraq, Democrats rally behind their leader

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has his critics -- Washington Post columnist David Broder tops the list this week -- but he also has plenty of friends.

After Broder's broadside, a letter backing Reid signed by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus is set for publication in this morning's Washington Post.

Broder, a man experienced in reading the changing winds inside the Beltway, shellacked Reid in a column, calling the Democrat from Searchlight a gaffe machine who suffers from foot-in-mouth disease and has become an embarrassment to his party at a time it should be flourishing.

Worse, Broder compared Reid to Gonzo, beleaguered Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Now those are fighting words.

"There are big differences between Alberto Gonzales and Senator Reid," Reid spokesman Jon Summers said. "Gonzales sat at the helm of the DOJ while some of the nation's top prosecutors -- including (Nevada's) Dan Bogden -- were fired for political reasons. Senator Reid is being attacked for his straight talk and plain-spokenness.

"It takes strength and courage to speak honestly about what is happening in Iraq. Under the Bush administration and the previous Republican Congress, straight talk has been largely absent."

On the liberal Huffingtonpost.com site, Sen. John Kerry added, "We need to take the fight to them, and we can start by letting the media know that when it comes to Harry Reid speaking from his heart or Dick Cheney speaking from both sides of his mouth, we'll take Harry Reid's heart any day."

Reid continues to be bombarded by GOP criticism for his recent statement that, unless there's a new direction in Iraq, the war is "lost."

LILI CLAIRE CONCERT: Aerosmith will do the rocking, but Dr. Colleen Morris will be the real star Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay during the Lili Claire Foundation's fifth annual benefit gala. Lili Claire is devoted to helping children living with neuro-developmental conditions such as Down syndrome, Williams syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Morris, Nevada's only pediatric geneticist and a professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, has devoted her career to unraveling the mysteries associated with those conditions.

SMOOTH OPERATOR: Vincent Faraci, the reputed Bonanno crime family soldier and former shift manager of the Crazy Horse Too, now enjoys key employee status for the Eden topless club thanks to this week's approval by the county.

Given his status, it's hard to imagine Faraci not being considered suitable to work in the club scene on the Strip.

Sounds like Faraci will have job security after he does his short hitch of federal time for a recent tax conviction.

NVCI NETWORKING: A key component of the Nevada Cancer Institute's mission is developing a network of specialists whom patients can contact quickly. With cancer, early detection can make all the difference.

Thom Pruitt, box office group sales director for Mandalay Bay, recently provided me with an example of the institute in action.

When his wife, Yvonne, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Pruitt disclosed her medical status to Luxor President and CEO Felix Rappaport, who quickly recommended the NVCI.

Chemotherapy and radiation followed in rapid succession, and today Yvonne is expected to make a full recovery. Her husband is ready to lead the cheer for the NVCI.

"It's made such a big difference in our lives," Pruitt says.

ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA: The Online Nevada Encyclopedia is the start of something important for fans of Silver State history. You'll find it at onlinenevada.org.

Sponsored by Nevada Humanities with financial support from the state, the U.S. Department of Education and private contributors, the encyclopedia has been guided into existence by Nevada Humanities Executive Director Judith Winzeler. Its editors include Jerome Edwards, Howard Goldbaum, Joanne Goodwin, Michael Green and Ronald James.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Marathon-running stroke survivor Carlos Ramirez reminds me that a free golf and fitness training seminar for stroke victors and others with disabilities is set to start at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Las Vegas Golf Club at 4300 W. Washington Ave. It's sponsored by the American Heart and American Stroke associations and includes golf instruction, checkups and lunch. ... The uncorrected proof of hoodlum-turned-federal witness Frank Cullotta's upcoming memoir has enough violence in it to fill a season of "The Sopranos."

BOULEVARD II: Word that super-conservative GOP thumper Chuck Muth has changed his party affiliation to nonpartisan is no surprise. In politics, true believers always end up looking like suckers.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.