Washington » Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid equated Republican attempts to delay health reform to politicians who argued against ending slavery or giving women the right to vote.
"All Republicans can come up with is this: Slow down, stop everything and start over. If you think you have heard these same excuses before, you are right," Reid said on the Senate floor Monday. "When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, 'Slow down, it is too early, let's wait. Things are not bad enough.' "
Republicans immediately called foul.
"Now that is offensive language. Harry is a friend, but he shouldn't have used that language," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said on Fox News. "It is offensive, unnecessary, really a slap in the face to all Republicans."
He pointed out that Republicans were instrumental in passing the Civil Rights Act.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele called on Reid to apologize for his "disgraceful statement."
Democrats have repeatedly called their attempt to expand health insurance "historic" and have attempted to tie it to some of the nation's landmark legislation.
But the GOP sees it differently. Hatch, among others, has called on Democrats to "hit the reset button," jettison this reform bill and start over with a more modest effort.
"They are frantic, they want this bill. To compare this to Civil Rights [Act], my gosh," Hatch said.
