How pathetic

Anybody want to go to a prizefight?

Run for Senate. Apparently, it's one of the perks.

At least that's what a reasonable person could conclude from a news cycle's worth of pathetic excuse-making from U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and his "war room" of media spinners.

The facts: The Associated Press' John Solomon discovered Reid had accepted credentials to three prizefights from the Nevada Athletic Commission, worth between "several hundred and several thousand dollars" each. One of those credentials came as the state commission was lobbying against a bill Reid was supporting to create a federal boxing commission. (The bill passed.)

Senate ethics rules allow Reid to accept the credentials, because they were proffered by a state agency and not private interests, even though the state agency certainly had its own interests. And Reid credibly reports he didn't change his position on the legislation as a result. But given the fact that Reid is getting special treatment unavailable to his Nevada constituents -- and that fellow U.S. Sen. John McCain insisted on paying the cost of his $1,400 pass himself -- the story was damaging.

So let the excuses flow, baby!

In a 14-page dissection of Solomon's story distributed by Reid's office, we learn the Nevada Athletic Commission had an opinion about the bill and that "Sen. Reid was of course interested in learning about what his home state commission felt about the issue because boxing is so important to Nevada." And, since there is no telephone, e-mail or postal service between Washington, D.C. and Carson City, Reid absolutely had to discuss the issue at the fight. Hope he could hear the commission's concerns over the roar of the crowd.

The excuseapalooza goes on to say "when it comes to boxing, the Nevada Athletic Commission's interests are the interests of the state of Nevada. There is nothing inappropriate about Sen. Reid looking out for the interests of the state of Nevada in boxing legislation. In fact, that is his job." Oh, really? So if the interests of the commission are the interests of the state, and the commission was against Reid's bill, then Reid was advocating legislation that was opposed to the interests of the state? That's an interesting defense. And how the hell was Reid "looking out for" the interests boxing by sitting ringside -- for free?

That becomes an even better question when we learn about Reid's 2002 testimony in favor of another boxing bill, one of a number of boxing-related bills he's worked on. "I am a former fighter," Reid said. "I have served as a ringside judge in hundreds of fights, in all weight classes, and have even judged championship fights. As a lawyer in private practice, I have represented a number of boxers." So, with all that experience, and with his prior history of writing boxing laws, what information was Reid possibly lacking that he needed to get from the Athletic Commission?

Reid's office stretches credibility when it maintains his appearance as a "guest" of the commission doesn't create the appearance of impropriety. In fact, it creates two: One, that the commission was trying to influence Reid on the boxing bill, and two, that Reid could be influenced on the boxing bill. (He wasn't, but that's the thing about appearances.)

What about McCain? "Sen. Reid's interest in boxing -- reflecting his background as a boxer, a boxing judge, a member of Nevada's Gaming Commission and as a senator from a state where boxing brings in tens of millions of dollars per year is distinguishable from Sen. McCain's interest in the sport," the document says. So, Reid should be able to get free admission because he's got an interest in boxing? Good thing he doesn't have an interest in the ladies of Cheetahs, or he'd could have ended up like his one-time protege, Dario Herrera!

One more: "When a Nevada senator attends an event with Nevada state agency officials, that's not influence peddling -- it is the democratic process."

Oh, for God's sake, enough. This sickening, amateur-hour spin can't erase simple facts: Reid shouldn't take free stuff from anyone, whether the rules allow it or not, because he's putting his credibility on the line when he attacks Republicans on ethics. He's got enough personal wealth -- to say nothing about his PAC -- to have paid his own way. And the only thing his justifications do is give Republicans exactly what they want: The opportunity to say they are no more unethical than Reid.

Sadly, they'd be right. Which makes all of them wrong.

STEVE SEBELIUS IS EDITOR OF CITYLIFE. HE CAN BE REACHED AT 871-6780 EXT. 306 OR AT SSEBELIUS@LVCITYLIFE.COM.