I think where he is coming from, is that it isn't up to the President to decide what gets included in a bill and what doesn't. That is the job of Congress.

>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/27/reid-to-obama-back-off-on-earmarks/?hpt=T2
>
>Freshly reelected to another six-year term, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn’t holding back fire when it comes to his disagreements with President Obama over a ban on earmarks.
>
>“This is an applause line,” the Nevada Democrat told NBC News Wednesday regarding Obama’s pledge not to sign a bill with earmark spending in it. “It’s an effort by the White House to get more power. They have enough power as it is.”
>
>Clearly, Harry Reid knows a lot more about politics than I do. But this definitely puzzles me. Obama is clearly tacking to the center and Reid digs in his heels over something as inflammatory as earmarks? Everyone from your dog on up knows earmarks are not right. If you've got something you think the public's money should be spent on, submit a bill and get it passed. That is the role of the legislature. But don't try to sneak it through in the inside pocket of some other bill.
>
>They say Harry Reid is a tough guy, much tougher than he looks. He better be. This strikes me as a foolish line to draw in the sand.