Reid Calls Tea Party "Radical," "Unrealistic," But Not "Extreme"

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) described the Tea Party Wednesday as a “radical, unrealistic, unreasonable and unpopular faction,” but refrained from describing the conservative movement “extreme” following Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) recent gaffe.

During a phone conference Tuesday, Schumer told fellow Democratic Senators to label the spending cuts heralded by Tea Party as “extreme.” Unfortunately for Schumer, reporters were listening in on the call and the advice made headlines.

Reid’s description came in a statement urging Republicans to shirk Tea Party demands and arrive at a sensible budget compromise.