Harry Reid: Republicans Routinely ‘Question’ Science Just to Oppose Obama

“Democrats propose one policy after another to address the economic hardships facing Americans. Many of these ideas originated with Republicans and nearly all of them had previously enjoyed bipartisan support. Yet, one by one they were rejected by Republican leaders who repeated the big lie, 'if Obama supports it, it won’t help you.'

The list is long very long, stimulus middle class tax cuts, unemployment insurance, Wall Street reform, infrastructure investment. On issue after issue, Republican leaders faced a choice: help the constituents, put food on the table literally or stick it to President Obama. 

Time after time, Republicans chose to stick it to President Obama instead of helping their constituents. The examples continue, payroll tax cuts, mortgage refinancing, student loans, immigration reform, automobile bailout — all these policies used to enjoy bipartisan support. And all these policies would help the very people suffering most from the recession. But Republican leaders kept repeating their big lie, 'If President Obama supports it, it won’t help you.'Like any lie, maintaining this one took Republicans deeper and deeper into dishonesty.

Republicans soon found that propping up the lie meant they had to question any independent authority that might contradict it, so they started routinely questioning science, statistics, or any other independent research that supported Democratic policies. The perfect example — climate change. In the face of scientific consensus actually worldwide Republicans say they don’t believe in science. Preventing gun violence is another example. In the wake of an epidemic of mass shootings Republicans reject commonsense solutions like background checks. Instead. Republicans claim that more guns are the answer.

Republican leaders have even put objective facts about the basic state of the economy in dispute.  A recent poll showed that 53 percent of Republicans think the unemployment rate is higher now than when President Obama took office. This statistic is sad, it's wrong, but not shocking.

Despite 72 consecutive months of private-sector job growth and an unemployment rate below 5 percent, Republicans are still telling millions of Americans that President Obama has been a disaster for the economy. One after another, common-sense facts and respected authorities were mowed down by Republican leaders, tossed aside as collateral damage to their one big lie. It is no wonder millions of Americans feel powerless.

Republicans spent eight years torching the institutions Americans once relied on to help them face the challenges of their daily lives. Instead of engaging on policy, Republicans simply told Americans that there was nothing to be done. So what thrived in the wasteland Republican leaders created?"