Media Duped By Reid's Cries Of 'Obstructionism'

Crying "obstructionism" is a tradition for Senate majority leaders, and Harry Reid does it as frequently and piously as anyone. But Reid, with the cooperation of a news media confused by the upper chamber's rules, has defined "obstructionism" down, and this week is blaming conservative Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., for blocking a bill even though Reid hasn't even tried to move it yet.

Food safety legislation sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., would give the Food and Drug Administration sweeping new powers, and thus has spurred fierce opposition from small farmers and local produce advocates, while big food producers support the measure. Coburn has expressed concerns about burdens on small business and the bill's cost to taxpayers. He's also argued that the bill multiplies regulatory redundancies and complexity, thus harming effective enforcement.

The House passed a similar bill last year, and if the Senate doesn't pass a bill this year, the process would have to start over again.

The Democratic leadership's line -- swallowed whole by much of the media -- is that the Senate could easily pass this bill, but Coburn, a notorious gadfly, is holding it up.

"We thought we finally had it worked out," Reid said on the Senate floor. "We could take care of this, but Senator Coburn has said no."

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