Marathon Pundit: Reid falsely claims “behind closed doors” is unprecedented

The Senate Republican Communications Center spotted some major-league hypocrisy from Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The Senator Who Wrote The Health Bill "Behind Closed Doors" Now Says Bipartisan Wall Street Negotiations Are "Out Of View From The Public" And "Unprecedented"

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): "They Want All The Details To Be Worked Out Beforehand Behind Closed Doors, And Out Of View From The Public. That's Unprecedented In The More Than 200 Years We've Been A Senate." (Sen. Reid, Floor Remarks, 4/27/10)

Democrats Spent Months Writing The Health Bill In "Secret," "Behind Closed Doors,” Opting To "Forgo" Public Proceedings In Favor Of "The Privacy Of The Senate Leadership Office"

In October The Health Bill Was Moved "Behind Closed Doors" Into "An Invitation-Only Affair In Reid’s Office"

WASHINGTON POST: "But Now, As A Senate Vote On Health-Care Legislation Nears, Those Negotiations Are Occurring In A Setting That Is Anything But Revolutionary In Washington: Three Senators Are Working On The Bill Behind Closed Doors." ("Small Group Now Leads Closed Negotiations On Health-Care Bill,” The Washington Post, 10/18/09)

"But After Weeks Of Senate Finance Committee Public Hearings, The Senate Negotiations Are Now An Invitation-Only Affair In Reid's Office. The majority leader is unlikely to expand his group, even as some senators unhappy with parts of the legislation, such as John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), have asked to be in the room." ("Small Group Now Leads Closed Negotiations On Health-Care Bill," The Washington Post, 10/18/09)

In November "The Next Phase: Was "Waged In The Privacy Of The Senate Leadership Office"

POLITICO: "The Next Phase In The Democrats' Health Care Push Will Be Waged In The Privacy Of The Senate Leadership Office, where Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will attempt to do something that has eluded him all year: negotiate a compromise on the public insurance option that can garner 60 votes and win over a public still leery of reform." ("Dems Seek Deal As Sen. Debate Begins," Politico, 11/30/09)

Sen. Harry Reid Is Conducting "Backroom Negotiations" To Secure Votes For The Health Care Bill. "Nelson, who has said he will vote against the bill because of the public option, will be a prime target of Reid's backroom negotiations." ("Dems Seek Deal As Sen. Debate Begins," Politico, 11/30/09)

In December, The Health Bill Briefly Emerges "After Weeks Of Closed-Door Deliberations"

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: "After Weeks Of Closed-Door Deliberations, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, On Saturday Released His Package Of Amendments To Make Final Adjustments To The Senate Health Care Bill." ("Comparing The Health Bills," Chicago Tribune, 12/20/09)

In January, Dems Sought To Continue "Secret" Negotiations And Opted To "Forgo" A "Public Conference" To Write The Bill “Behind Closed Doors”

WALL STREET JOURNAL: "Democrats Are Starting To Mash Together The Senate And House Health-Care Bills, All Of The Negotiations Taking Place In Secret." ("ObamaCare On Drugs," The Wall Street Journal, 1/2/10)

WASHINGTON TIMES: "Democratic Leaders Are Looking To Forgo A Formal, Public Conference To Merge The House And Senate's Health Care Overhaul Bills, Giving Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi And The White House Free Rein To Hammer Out The Final Measure Behind Closed Doors And Thwart Republican Efforts To Stymie It." ("Dems Look To Skip Formality On Health Bills," The Washington Times, 1/5/10)