A Message from Senator Jim DeMint: Harry Reid Nukes the Senate

 Fellow Conservatives:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) fundamentally weakened the United States Senate yesterday in a desperate attempt to block a vote on the President’s stimulus bill.

Using a simple majority vote, Reid used the "Nuclear Option" to change the rules of the Senate so senators cannot offer amendments. In the future, senators will only be able to modify legislation if Harry Reid agrees to it.

Harry Reid changed the rules of the Senate because Republicans planned to force a vote on President Obama’s stimulus plan. The plan is so unpopular that it was going to be defeated by Republicans and Democrats when it came up for a vote. This would have embarrassed the president so Reid and the Democrats just changed the longstanding rules of the Senate to block it. You can learn more atRedState.com.

The Senate is supposed to be the "World’s Greatest Deliberative Body". That means debating, amending, and voting on legislation — all things Harry Reid has sought to avoid during his tenure as Senate Majority Leader.

Folks, we’re teetering on tyranny. We must elect a conservative majority in 2012 to stop this madness.

This latest attempt to ignore the rules and force bad legislation on the American people is alarming, but it’s not that surprising. Democrats have been ignoring the U.S. Constitution and blowing through its stop signs for years.

Republicans can protect their rights in the Senate but it requires 41 Republican votes to keep the Democrats from cutting off debate. Unfortunately, too many Republicans lack the courage to stand together for the principles of freedom.

The only way to take our country back is to elect true conservatives to the U.S. Senate. We need principled leaders who care more about defending our freedoms than their own political careers.

I want to thank each of you for being members of the Senate Conservatives Fund and for supporting our endorsed candidates. Because of your support, SCF has invested over $500,000 in two outstanding candidates — Josh Mandel in Ohio and Ted Cruz in Texas.