Occupation Project meeting with Congressman Obey

[seriousstan]

Run time: 06:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS4wHMCc57k   Posted on YouTube: March 08, 2007 By YouTube Member: Lysiana Views on YouTube: 184534   Posted on DU: March 09, 2007 By DU Member: seriousstan Views on DU: 1614

 

[MADem]

1. If you don't have the votes, you don't have the votes.

And that's just a fact.

[Beelzebud]

3. Yeah but does he have to act like a fucking jerk?

Watch the video... What an asshole.

[MADem]

5. Well, those "idiot liberals" who were harassing him should grow a set of

GUTS, and go pester the GOP. not a guy who spends every waking day trying to herd cats to END this nightmare of a war. But it's way too easy for "idiot liberal" protesters to shit on people who are actually trying to do that--those chickenshits need to grow up.

I like Obey. He's one of the GOOD GUYS. He a SMART liberal, not an idiot liberal.

And I've watched the video, three times already. And each time, I agree with him more and more.

Those jerks wouldn't pull that shit in front of Denny Hastert's office, because they'd get dragged off the premises. It's really easy to be "brave" in front of someone who's got the same goal in mind.

[Beelzebud]

6. Maybe those "idiot liberals" are talking to him because he's now in the MAJORITY party.

Imagine that. You get the majority, and people come to talk to you.

He could have handled himself much better instead of yelling at them, calling them names, and acting like a fucking asshole.

[Monkeyman]

7. They are going after the worng Dems . The Blue Dogs should be the target

[Beelzebud]

9. To be clear. I think Obey is right. He just acted like a complete asshole though.

He'd help make people understand better by explaining himself and his position rationally...

[MADem]

8. They need to direct their idiotic protests at those who don't share their goals.

Not at people who are already on the team. But hey, that's EASY. Real 'brave' of them.

They're the fucking assholes. He handled himself fine.

This is what happens when people who do not understand how the Hill works start shooting off their mouths as if they're making a difference--all they're doing is making PESTS of themselves, to the detriment of the process.

It isn't Mister Smith Goes to Washington up in there, and Obey gets that better than anyone. It is deal making, vote trading, and nose counting. And it has been that way since the Congress first met.

[Beelzebud]

10. You call 3 people asking a guy questions a protest?

How hard would it have been for him to just explain his position without calling them names, and yelling at them?

[MADem]

13. They didn't even bother to read the bill before they started hectoring him.

They, in essence, were ACCUSING him of something that he wasn't even doing.

Here's the full description of what went down: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obey-berates-woman-over-war-funding-later-apologizes-2007-03-09.html

Obey responded that the Washington Post has been running numerous stories on the inadequacies of military hospitals and that Congress is holding hearings on the topic, adding that the supplemental spending bill includes extra money for military healthcare.

A few moments later he grew angry and began attacking liberal groups for failing to understand how the supplemental bill, of which he is a sponsor, would affect the war.

“The liberal groups are jumping around without knowing what the hell is in the bill,” he bellowed. “You don’t have to cut off funds for an activity that doesn’t exist.”

“The language we have in the resolution ends the authority for the war,” he added. “It makes it illegal to proceed with the war. You don’t have to de-fund something if the war doesn’t exist.”

These people should have been bugging Hastert and the GOP crowd to vote in favor of the supplemental, rather than bugging the guy who is using every horse trading technique possible to end the war.

[Sparkly]

19. I agree, and...

I also think he was frustrated that the woman began by complaining about inadequate care for veterans of the war, and then complained that he wasn't cutting off the same funds that are needed for improved care.

I agree that they ought to be lobbying the GOP.

[goddess40]

17. I'm sure this isn't the first time people have approached him

and made demands. It must be very frustrating when person after person comes at you with talking points that aren't quite factual - wait he's been putting up with that for years except when the republican's do it their facts are usually lies.

He and his fellow dems who support this bill should put out a statement clarifying this stuff so he can just hand it to people like this. He also could have had one of his staff explain it to them if he was pressed for time.

[Beelzebud]

18. Thats all I'm saying. He was right, but handled himself like a jerk.

[goddess40]

12. You're right - I've e-mailed him asking for an explanation

I know Dave and he really is acting in this countries best interest but he makes the mistake that we have the same information he has. We don't the media treats us like mushrooms - keeps us in the dark and feeds us horse shit. I've requested a simplistic explanation of what his bill is about and why de-funded isn't the answer. I'm not sure if I'll get an answer to my e-mail but if it doesn't come soon I'll send a letter and that I'm positive he'll answer.

He only takes e-mail for constituents but he'll take letters from anyone. Just please don't send him those stupid form letters, if you have something important to say use your own words or he won't read it.

[MADem]

14. I put a link in post 13 that explains the whole encounter, if that helps. NT

[Sparkly]

15. I think he began calmly, and gave them generous time...

... but obviously, he became frustrated -- understandably.

[yurbud]

23. Dems need to be matter of fact about that not put a smiley face on Frankenstein compromises

I don't see why Pelosi can't come out and say, "This bill doesn't end the war fast enough to save the lives of more of our troops, but this is the best we could do and get a majority of votes. If you are unhappy with it and you live in the district of Reps X, Y, and Z, let them know. And of course if you have a republican congressman, let them know that they should get out of the war enabling business or they should at least be honest and leave congress and go directly to K Street.

[Sammy Pepys]

2. I think Obey is right on....

If there's anything we should take away from this, it's that you have got to be prepared and coherent when you confront a Member of Congress like that. They didn't know key facts about the supplemental and they didn't know (less critical( facts about House procedure. And they caught it all on tape.

[Monkeyman]

4. Obey is pissed he is anti-war

[lyonn]

11. It sounds like Obey has been fighting this crazy battle

for so long and appears to be showing his frustration for the facts that congress can only do so much. I'll hold my opinion on how he could have handled it better until I know the BS he is getting from all sides. He said emphatically that he wants to stop this war. I heard frustration. I feel it all the time. It's damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[Monkeyman]

16. One Thing How do we know some of these protesters are not plants by Replugs

To make that clear these people were not. But to many have been out there hitting the wrong people

[yurbud]

20. too bad she didn't throw her coffee at him.

[LoZoccolo]

27. Are you advocating assault against an elected official?

Are you?

[yurbud]

29. I am advocating sharing her coffee. vigorously.

[yurbud]

21. I got to admit, at least he was honest about why they don't do it instead of being namby pamby

[yurbud]

22. he is probably frustrated that the resistance to doing more is from blue dogs

[underpants]

24. Obey's right -he was clearly trying to leave but hey he does have to answer to her

whether she is a constituent of his or not.

[keopeli]

25. I dont get it. Why attack Obey and film it for all to see?

Bizarre. It justifies his use of the term "crazy liberals". If you oppose the war, then work WITH your allies in Congress to make it happen. Don't harp on them and make them look bad in public with videos like this.

All I can imagine is that these misguided souls were looking for a fight and, since Republicans aren't civil enough to actually talk to you, pick on the good guy who will actually give you a chance to talk.

I want the war to end, so please STOP HARASSING Congressmen and women who are on our side. Why did no one offer to HELP Obey stop the war?

I know you're trying to help, people, but you need some serious guidance.

Peace

[EstimatedProphet]

30. Yeah, I have to agree with you

In a way, this reminds me of the video where the guy ambushed Danny Bonaduce. I think Bonaduce is a jerk, and I think his views are completely fucked up, but I don't blame him one bit for being pissed off that some guy came out of nowhere and started trying to make him look bad on film in order to promote themselves.

I question the motives of people who stage these kinds of ambushes. They claim to be working for the antiwar movement, but I think they're really working for themselves.

[aaronbees]

31. Filming it and calling it "grassroots activism"

is a complete joke. That's what makes it a hit piece, not necessarily the interaction itself. I don't fault this woman too much for her actions, though she should have been better versed in what she's talking about on the supplementals. I also don't fault Obey much because he's spot on correct, though I think the "crazy liberals" quip was over the top (and I don't think he was calling her that, just making note rather of people who spend all their time demanding rather than working on real solutions).

The whole damn thing is unfortunate, I think, and we would do better building up some alliances and confronting the real criminals.

[LoZoccolo]

26. Good for him; the idiot liberals approach politics like nagging spoiled brat children...

...when they want something. "I wanna I wanna I wanna I wanna!" The more mature ones are the ones that act like smart-ass teenagers who think a snide comment here and there will get them what they want. In either case they are not willing to take real responsibility for how to get what they are trying to get and serve as pests to people who have to try to figure out how to accomplish it.

Once again, hooray for Obey!

[zulchzulu]

28. Read the transcript

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3153949