No, Sen. Coburn the correct term is “badass.”

Politico reports that Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) referred to the Senate Majority Leader an “absolute a—hole” during a fundraising gala in New York City on Monday.

While apologizing for using the word, Coburn insists the frustration is real.

I understand frustration with the current political climate and there are no shortage of a–holes in either party. However, I think in all that frustration, Sen. Coburn may have gotten his words mixed up.

Back in July, Benny Johnson of Buzzfeed did a story about “7 Badass Things You Should Not Forget About Harry Reid.” The article looks at Reid’s tough early years growing up in Searchlight, Nevada, his time as a young boxer, his clashes with the mob while on the Nevada Gaming Commission, and how he worked as a Capitol Police Officer so he could support his family while attending law school at George Washington University.

Benny Johnson concludes his article saying that Reid “…is kind of a badass.”

In light of Sen. Coburn’s remarks, I would contend that Harry Reid is an absolute badass, especially after the way in which Reid handled the government shutdown. With an ineffective White House, an out of control House of Representatives, and a GOP minority in the Senate that was heavily hampered by the likes of Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, resolving the crisis largely fell on the shoulders of the Senate Majority Leader. Working with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to resolve the crisis, Reid and McConnell seemed to be among the few adults in the Washington, DC circus.

Worse has been said about Harry Reid than what Tom Coburn said. But the Senator from Oklahoma better watch out. Reid knows how to land a punch, both in the boxing ring and the political ring.