Reid speaks his mind on congressional race’s ‘$17 Million Man’
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has rarely been shy about sharing his opinions, and on Monday he let loose with a fusillade of criticism at Republican congressional candidate Danny Tarkanian.
Less lead flew at the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
The subject of Reid's phone-in news conference was the $17 million judgment candidate Tarkanian faces following a failed real estate deal. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is in the process of attempting to seize the family's assets.
The underlying theme, of course, is that Democrat Steven Horsford, a member of Reid's Nevada farm team, is the better man for the job of representing Congressional District 4. By the time Reid finished dressing down Tarkanian's political portfolio, it might have been easier for the Republican to change his name to the "$17 Million Man."
Among Reid's highlights and low blows:
■ "He is trying to do everything he can to make sure he doesn't have to belly up to the bar before Nov. 6."
■ "The question is, how can voters trust him to tackle major issues in Congress - our nation's debt is an example - if he can't handle his own finances?"
■ "It raises questions about whether Tarkanian can be an effective member of Congress. He can't serve Nevada if he's trying to stop federal agents from seizing his assets."
■ "His judgment was so bad that he gambled and lost his family's entire nest egg because he failed to do his homework."
■ "There may have been a case that has been won against the FDIC, I just don't know what it is."
Brutal.
Tarkanian replied in a statement, "Today, Steven Horsford and his campaign showed a new sense of desperation and panic. It is disappointing and disturbing that Senator Reid believes he decides congressional elections, not the voters of Nevada's 4th Congressional District. Apparently, Steven Horsford believes that having Senator Reid mislead the voters about the circumstances regarding my family's personal affairs will cause Nevadans to look past his failed record as State Senate majority leader, numerous ethical failures, and lack of ideas to help get the people of Nevada back to work."
Tarkanian reiterated that his investment group was defrauded and that "this has happened to thousands of Americans as a result of the economic recession, especially here in Nevada. Contrary to Senator Reid's statements, I have no plans to file bankruptcy."
To those living outside the Beltway, the senator's logic is reasonable. That $17 million judgment not only is a reminder that Tarkanian's business sense is suspect, but it conceivably makes him more susceptible to big money influence.
But how can I put this in the politest terms?
We are talking about the U.S. Congress here, right?
Making yourself susceptible to big money influence is part of the plan for many candidates, isn't it?
We're not discussing the affairs of the clean-living church choir, but of members of the equivalent of the chimp cage in the Washington Zoo. This is the place where Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, an eight-term Democrat from Texas, filed for personal bankruptcy in December 2010. This is the political playing field that stars Rep. Darrell Issa, the California Republican with net worth estimated at $450 million and of whom The New York Times observed, "In Mr. Issa's case, it is sometimes difficult to separate the business of Congress from the business of Darrell Issa."
The $17 million Tarkanian judgment represents a red flag, and in most races such trouble would be fatal. But Tarkanian has plenty of energy, name recognition, third-party PAC funding and an opponent who has struggled despite a big Democratic voter registration advantage in CD4.
The greatest fear is not simply that Tarkanian might win and one day become a huge embarrassment as a Nevada congressman, but that our $17 Million Man might prevail - and fit right in.
John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Smith
