Harry Reid lets insults fly in DNC speech, calls Mitch McConnell ‘craven’

PHILADELPHIA — Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is letting the insults fly Wednesday in a speech at the Democratic National Convention, saying he’s never seen “anything more craven” than Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“I’ve never seen anything more craven than Mitch McConnell and what he has done to our democracy,” the Nevada Democrats said.

“His Republican Party decided that the answer to hard-working Americans’ dreams is to slander our African-American president, stoke fear of Muslims, sow hatred of Latinos, insult Asians, and, of course, wage war against women,” said Mr. Reid.

Mr. Reid is known for delivering stinging speeches on the Senate floor, but his attacks were sharpened for the convention speech.

Mr. McConnell’s speech at the Republican convention last week in Cleveland did not mention Mr. Reid but did include a single reference to the “cynical approach” of Senate Democrats for blocking a bill providing funding to fight the Zika virus.

Mr. Reid said the despicable behavior he attributed to Republican lawmakers was responsible for laying the groundwork for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, whom Mr. Reid said was trying to reverse progress Democrats made in improving Americans’ lives.

“Parents: You’re right to worry about your children hearing what comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth,” he said. “Republicans: You should have been careful, also, because Donald learned it from watching you!”

Many speakers at the convention assailed Mr. Trump and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, but Mr. Reid consolidated the attacks.

“Donald Trump and Mike Pence want to put insurance companies back in charge of your health. Donald Trump and Mike Pence want to let big banks run wild again. Donald Trump and Mike Pence want to gamble with your retirement benefits in the stock market. Republicans want to tear down the pillars of the middle-class security,” he said. “We won’t let that happen!”