If a Republican had made this comment by Senator Reid, his career would be severely damaged or over

From The Hill newspaper:

“If you can help one child who has cancer, why wouldn’t you do it?,” Bash asked. 

“Why would we want to do that?,” Reid shot back. “I have 1,100 people at Nellis Air Force base that are sitting home. They have a few problems of their own. This is — to have someone of your intelligence to suggest such a thing maybe means you’re irresponsible and reckless.” . . .

Reid's comments are very clear.  He is saying either the spending will be on everyone or no one, and that kids who were dying from cancer were not important enough to save.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sought to clarify comments he made in a testy exchange with a reporter on Wednesday, after conservatives pounced on what they portrayed as a serious government shutdown gaffe. . . .