Gotta Love Political Labels of the MSM

This link goes to a picture of the new Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate. The first thing of note is that Sen. John Kerry is shown in the background looking left out. I would ask him, "Why the long face?," but his face is always long. However, what struck me more about the picture is that the short description of it includes this (with emphasis added):

Former U.S. Presidential candidate John Kerry (background L) watches on as incoming U.S. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (C)(D-NV) walks alongside his party colleagues on Capitol Hill November 14, 2006. Reid, a moderate Nevada Democrat, was elected by colleagues on Tuesday as U.S. Senate majority leader....

A moderate?

I also saw Sen. Reid referred to as a "moderate-to-conservative Democrat,"when he was described addressing a Kos convention and said this to them:

"It was you who were quick to stand against the Swift Boat attacks on Senator John Kerry," he said to an enthusiastic response. "It was you who defended Valerie Plame, an American spy, and Ambassador Joe Wilson against Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. And it was you who led Democrats to victory against the privatization of Social Security."

Then, I read things such as this:

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid won raucous applause from a weekend gathering here of liberal bloggers for shutting down the Senate over intelligence failures in Iraq, blocking President Bush's judicial nominees and thwarting Republican efforts to reform Social Security.

Consider a statement from this article (worth a read on a broader subject.)

The highest-ranking Democrat in America, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, described the Senate bill making English the national language of the American people as "racist."

You may remember that he called President Bush a liar, too.

Finally, here are some liberal ratings on Sen. Reid:

2005 Senator Reid supported the interests of the National Committee for an Effective Congress 90 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Reid supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 100 percent in 2005.

It sure is confusing when someone with a 100 rating with the ADA is labeled as a moderate. Maybe I need to get out more, or journalists need to visit some red states--or, start being honest with the public. But, why break with tradition...a trait of a conservative?