..... who needs enemies? Below is an excerpt from Mark Shields' column on CNN.com.
In explaining his opposition to Judge Roberts, Reid told the Senate he had been "very swayed" by the public testimony of, and his private meeting with, those civil rights and women's groups.
.........
Did Gandy tell the press that Harry Reid, a pro-life Democrat from the Red State of Nevada, deserved praise for making an unpopular political decision? Of course not. NOW's president attributed Reid's move not to internal character, but to outside muscle, telling The New York Times, "He got the message loud and clear, didn't he?"
With friends like Kim Gandy, Harry Reid and the Democrats don't need any enemies.
This was no right-wing talk show host commentator or Republican Party operative accusing the Senate Democratic leader, on the solemn choice of a chief justice of the Supreme Court, of cravenly caving to organized pressure groups. It was an ostensible ally telling the world that when Democratic pressure groups yell, 'Jump!' the only question Democratic politicians ask is, 'How high?'
What does this tell you about Kim Gandy? Given a choice between stabbing a Democratic ally in the back and taking a curtain call to showcase the muscle of her interest group, she chose the latter.
If NOW believes that the Democratic party takes a backseat to their cause, so be it. But now the interests of the party take a backseat to good PR for these groups! It isn't going to be pretty when they break the camel's back.