Sen. Reid Thanks Bloggers At Netroots Nation For Their Work Against Myth Making Tea Party

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid delivered an address to the attendees at this year’s Netroots Nation progressive blogger conference to encourage writers to continue writing against the Republicans and thank them for their support, even though their relationship may be strained.

Initially addressing the case of Lt. Dan Choi, who was recently discharged from the military under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, he promised to work towards a future where “there are less Dan Chois who are humiliated by the system,” and about the greater struggle against inequality, noted that “the powerful and the rich continue to have a tremendous influence on our country.” He gave an extensive history of the media, from newspapers to radio to television, finally arriving at the internet: “and then you came along. You brought back the voice of real Americans,” he told the audience.

In one of the more humorous (and awkward) parts of his speech, Reid acknowledge the tension he has experienced with progressive writers in the past, telling the audience, “I know there are times, I’m told, that I get on your nerves. And I’m here to tell you, you get on my nerves sometimes. But let’s all understand this country would be in a lot more trouble if we weren’t around.” He also thanked them for their work against “the Tea Party and other myth machines, and especially the Republican Party.”

Watch Sen. Reid’s speech below– interestingly, Fox News was the only cable channel to broadcast the speech:

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