That’s just how urgently we need to reform healthcare in our country, folks. Why, if Harry Reid needs to choose between saving his political career and debating the reform, well, no, he goes for saving his political career.

Seriously. He wants the United States Senate to stop debating healthcare legislation so he can attend a political fundraiser.

But Reid, who wants to get a healthcare bill finished by Christmas, urged Republicans on the Senate floor to forego a debate on several conference reports this weekend in order to give Senators and staffers the weekend off.

“I understand the Republican leader doesn’t want us to do health care. I appreciate that. He and I have different positions on that,” said Reid. “I see no reason to punish everybody this weekend and I hope the minority will give strong consideration to the proposal that i’ve made.”

But in addition to shepherding the health care bill through the Senate, Reid is also locked in a tough reelection campaign.

And in that regard his desire for a weekend off is not so benevolent to other Senators and staffers.

It turns out Reid has a 1,000 plus per plate fundraiser scheduled for Saturday in New Orleans, according to one local paper, which also reports that Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA, a key swing moderate in the health care debate, will also be in attendance.

You know, Reid’s insistence that we can’t wait to implement a government-run health plan would be more convincing were he not taking off weekends to shmooze with Democratic fundraisers in New Orleans.

But what’s really insulting is how Reid expects us to believe that this weekend break has nothing to do with his scheduled fundraiser and everything to do with not wanting to punish staffers. Where was his concern for their private time last weekend when he held the chamber in session?

Healthcare reform is urgent when it’s not interfering with Harry Reid’s political career. Otherwise it’s just an inconvenient item on his schedule.