J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014.
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014 | 6 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday he wants an apology from a GOP House member and Senate candidate who said that Reid "runs the Senate like a plantation."
Reid, D-Nev., told reporters that the comment by Congressman Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was "insensitive, very insensitive."
"If there were ever a statement that deserved an apology this is it, big time," Reid said.
"I mean, has he been taking lessons from Donald Sterling?" Reid said, referring to the former NBA owner who made racist remarks.
Cassidy is challenging Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu in the Nov. 4 election. The online publication Environment & Energy Daily reported his "plantation" remark on Tuesday.
Cassidy defended the comment in a statement earlier Tuesday, saying that Reid runs the Senate dictatorially, blocking votes he doesn't want.
"Any other interpretation of my remarks is a false controversy designed to distract attention from policies which are demonstrably crushing jobs and taking our country in the wrong direction," he said.
Associated Press writer Melinda DeSlatte in Baton Rouge, La., contributed to this report.
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