Reid calls NRC member 'treacherous, miserable liar'

By Elahe Izadi

July 30, 2012

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid laid down some heavy adjectives when describing a Nuclear Regulatory Commission member.

Asked by the Huffington Post whether Bill Magwood had a shot at being NRC chairman, Reid called him "treacherous, miserable liar." So, the answer is no, then?

Reid opposes storing nuclear waste in Nevada's Yucca Mountain, and says that he was assured Magwood would also oppose it. But "according to Reid and confirmed by sources familiar with the internal dynamics of the NRC, Magwood worked against the effort to shut down Yucca," HuffPo Politics reports. Which caused Reid to say this:

"You know, when you're in this government, this business of politics, the only thing that you have is your word," said Reid, seated in his Capitol office. "I can be as partisan as I have to be, but I always try to be nice. I try never to say bad things about people. Bill Magwood is one of the" -- Reid paused, deciding which adjective to reach for, before picking them all -- "most unethical, prevaricating" -- he paused again, this time for 10 full seconds -- "incompetent people I've ever dealt with. The man sat in that chair -- right there -- and lied to me. I've never, ever in my life had anyone do that. Never."

Magwood didn't respond to a request for comment left with his assistant.

Reid also called him a "first-class rat" and "as long as I have this job, [Magwood] will never be chairman of anything that takes Senate confirmation." The lesson: don't expect the Nevada Senator to mince words if he believes he's been lied to.

By Elahe Izadi

July 30, 2012

http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2012/07/reid-calls-nrc-member-treacherous-miserable-liar/57104/