When Harry Met Rand: Political Odd Couple Seeks Mutual Benefit

[jct74]

When Harry Met Rand: Political Odd Couple Seeks Mutual Benefit

By Kathleen Hunter
Jul 28, 2014 12:00 AM ET

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid has called the Republicans’ Tea Party wing “modern-day anarchists.” Senator Rand Paul once joked that President Barack Obama should have traded five Democrats instead of Taliban members in the swap for Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

Yet while the two lawmakers are among the most polarizing figures in the U.S. Senate, they’re quietly forging ties that could bring political bonuses to each of them in 2016. Their cooperation also offers the chance for bipartisan progress on at least some issues facing the chamber.

Starting late last year when they held a series of meetings to discuss Paul’s opposition to Federal Reserve chair nominee Janet Yellen, they have collaborated on legislation for highway funding and restoring felons’ voting rights.

“This one really took me by surprise,” Jim Manley, who was a top Reid aide for six years, said of the relationship. It may work because there’s “not much room for misinterpretation. They’re both pretty clear on what they want to do,” he said.

While their association has raised skepticism among some lawmakers, the alliance offers clear benefits: Having Reid’s ear could help Paul score legislative wins and gain legitimacy with independent voters as he considers a White House run in two years. Reid, who will be a big target for Republicans when he seeks a sixth term from Nevada in 2016, so rarely crosses the aisle that he may be aided by pointing to cooperation with Paul.

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read more:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-0...l-benefit.html

[limequat]

Does anybody else remember watching shaky cell phone videos of Rand from 2007 and thinking how great it would be if he got into politics? Is this real life?

[LogCabinGOProud]

In b4 the "Rand Paul is a sellout" comments.

[lib3rtarian]

In b4 the "Rand Paul is a sellout" comments.

No, that would be Tea Party conservatives saying that elsewhere. We are libertarians. We DO want to work with liberals on issues where we have common ground.

[Christian Liberty]

No, that would be Tea Party conservatives saying that elsewhere. We are libertarians. We DO want to work with liberals on issues where we have common ground.

This. If you're making political deals with pretty much anybody in the Senate its basically a deal with the devil. This isn't unique in that regard. Rand should do what he needs to do, so long as the policies that are being pursued are good.

[Vanguard101]

We need a strong candidate to dethrone Reid in 2016. Who the hell lives in Nevada that can kick him out?