Obama is “Keeping Score” on Those Who Vote Against Him - FireDogLake

[WillyT]

Obama is “Keeping Score” on Those Who Vote Against Him
By: Jane Hamsher Friday December 18, 2009 8:09 am

<snip>

A story in the Hill this morning lets us know that Obama is very much aware of Pete DeFazio’s votes against his legislation:

Obama himself has taken notice.

“Don’t think we’re not keeping score, brother,” Obama told DeFazio during a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus, according to members afterward.

That’s pretty powerful. The President of the United States calling you out for disloyalty in front of your peers.

Of course, DeFazio is the one floating this story, entiitled “Pelosi, Rahm do not scare Rep. DeFazio.” DeFazio is in a potentially tough (D+2) district in 2010, given the current lack of Democratic enthusiasm for showing up at the polls (which Rahm Emanuel thinks will be fixed by a “win” on health care).

There are three things interesting about the story. One, Obama himself is once again arm-twisting someone NOT named Lieberman, Nelson, Landrieu or Lincoln. Two, DeFazio is already running against his own party in a tough district. And three, he’s not “running to the right” but rather using a populist message to do it:

<snip>

More: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/12/18/obama-is-keeping-score-on-those-who-vote-against-him/

:banghead:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Nixon also had an enemes list of liberals. knr

[laughingliberal]

11. Yes, my family was on that list. Never thought we'd have to worry about a Democrat, though nt

[notesdev]

23. The mask is off

The thirst for unfettered, dictatorial power knows no party bounds.

For the record, DeFazio is the single best person in all of Congress when it comes to voting against bad economic policies, no wonder the corporate state, through its representative Obama, singles him out.

[tsuki]

44. It was off when he called Rep. Conyers. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

73. Obama is officially the biggest DINO there ever was.

[Bitwit1234]

28. But folks the only enemies list that really matters

is the one the voters have against those in office who did not come thru on their campaign promises. AND THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

[readmoreoften]

78. They know how to cheat.

Maybe next time, they'll give us someone who criticizes Obama and Stands For the People . Next time, instead of stealing themes from Cesar Chavez, they'll up the ante by running someone who quotes Mao or Malcolm X. Then, when that candidate wins, he or she will--I dunno--promote a privatized transportation system that runs on the organs of poor children.

Or they'll just rig the machines again.

[sabbat hunter]

40. Big difference

Nixon had private citizens on his enemies list, not public officials. I see no reason why Obama shouldn't remember elected officials who opposed his agenda. Now if he had an enemies list of private citizens, I would have a problem.

[WillyT]

43. And Ironically... It Looks Like DeFazio Is ON The List, Yet Lieberman Is Not...

I'd love to here an explanation on that one.

:shrug:

[Better Believe It]

88. Because Obama has much more in common with Leiberman than DeFazio?

[roguevalley]

95. I have a huge problem when he's pissing on this man and ass kissing

lieberman, nelson and the other fuckers. Big. Problem.

[dionysus]

45. remembering who votes against you is now an enemies list? good lord. you guys wouldn't look so

crazy if you didn't exaggerate every single thing to preposterous levels...

[moodforaday]

74. Um, no. You need to read

between the lines a little.

The president does not need to tell DeFazio he will remember how DeFazio voted, because it's obvious (and natural) that he will. However, actually saying that out loud, making a point to castigate/warn DeFazio in front of other people - that's the real message here. Not what Obama said to him, but the fact that he said it in the way he did.

[dionysus]

84. but that incident was a joke, in a whole different situation, a long time ago.

[moodforaday]

99. True enough, as it happens.

I concede :)

[gratuitous]

2. Don't think DeFazio is too worried about it either, brother

Peter has always taken care of himself, able to win re-election handily in a very diverse district that holds not only the liberal University of Oregon, but some of the most conservative regions in the state, places that make Oklahoma and Kansas look positively progressive.

You know how easy it would be to get Rep. DeFazio on board, Mr. President? A helluva lot easier than getting some of your former colleagues from the Senate to back what they know is the right thing to do.

[sabrina 1]

3. I like DeFazio, he's one of the good progressives

in Congress.

But, is The Hill a reliable source? It's hard to imagine Obama making a statement like that, knowing it would probably get out. Also, it doesn't fit with his public persona or with his commitment to persuading people rather than bullying them.

I could however, easily imagine Rahm saying something like that.

[roguevalley]

96. I can see it. he negotiated drugs away, he ass kisses lieberman and

lets his people slap the left, doesn't do shit what he promised on tape back when. I can see it.

[QC]

4. Except for the likes of Lieberman, of course.

They can spit in his face again and again without consequence, but let an actual Democrat object to one or another sellout or betrayal and it's time to make a list.

[Jamastiene]

85. Reminds me of the list

from the primaries. It's like a reverse Santa Clause or something.

[phasma ex machina]

89. Here I am Stuck in the middle with you. nt

[DainBramaged]

5. Why am I NOT surprised at his misdirected anger......

:shrug:

[MissDeeds]

15. He values his team of rivals

more than his base.

[Cleita]

6. Seems like we got a lemon in the orchard where only peaches are

supposed to grow. :eyes:

[wtmusic]

7. Good. That's called "politics". nt

[Skittles]

8. sounds like human nature and normal politics to me

[flyarm]

14. sounds like Nixon to me..and i lived through those years and remember it well! eom

[amborin]

72. Nixon's list of enemies?

[NightWatcher]

9. "keeping score" and "threatening freshmen" who dont go along with the White House

Kinda gives you a warm fuzzy....

but what was he saying about staying back and letting Congress do their jobs.....

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/06/12/leadership-threatens-freshmen-who-wont-vote-for-supplemental/


Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California, a leader of the antiwar Democrats, said the White House is threatening to withdraw support from freshmen who oppose the bill, saying “you’ll never hear from us again.” She said the House leadership also is targeting the freshmen. “It’s really hard for the freshmen,” she said. “Nancy’s pretty powerful.”

[TwilightGardener]

10. Politics ain't beanbag.

[Romulox]

12. "Bipartisan" = double agent. nt

[readmoreoften]

79. We have a winner!

Ding. Ding. Depressing Ding.

[tblue]

13. It's clear to me: Liberals get on Obama's nerves.

Wow. I disagree with many of his policies, but I really thought it was easier to keep liking the man.

[AndrewP]

100. It would appear that way

[ErinBerin84]

16. I remember this being reported a while ago

but it was reported at that time as if he said it jokingly. I don't know. I'm sure they do keep "score", unfortunately, but I can't picture him saying it thay way in a threatening manner.

[laughingliberal]

17. I gotta say, that quote was from a meeting a long time ago and was said in reference to another bill

Doesn't dispute the overall point but is a little disingenuous

[lame54]

18. I wish he kept score of those who voted for him

[TK421]

19. +10000

[tomm2thumbs]

39. maybe he should start

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. I think, when this is all over (no matter how it ends) one result will be

Obama understanding that Rahm has been LYING to him.

If HCR does not pass, the republicans will have a win. If HCR does pass, in the form it is now in, the insurance companies will have a windfall and the Democratic electorate will not give Obama a second term. Giving the republicans a win.

The DLCer have set us up in a lose/lose scenario.

Landrieu the other night was talking about how 'a million Louisianans will be able to get healthcare if this passes'. What does she think will happen when those million, who can't afford health insurance, are told they are going to have to pay a fine for NOT buying health insurance?

The ONLY upside I see to this bill passing is that it will probably result in a lot of corporatist Democratic deadwood being swept from office in '10 and '12 - the question is, will they be replaced by progressives, or by Republicans?

[suffragette]

52. +1

Great post.
Would K&R it if I could.

[Enrique]

21. Obama shouldn't think progressives aren't keeping score on him n/t

[jgraz]

35. So far it's been easy.

How many ways can you count to ZERO?

[undeterred]

38. +1000

[ThomCat]

67. That's very true.

But now ask if he cares whether we're keeping score. How much political or economic clout do we really have? :(

[Raine]

76. Yup, I'm keeping a list on him

and how many times and ways he's screwing me over. I'll be taking that list out in 2012 before I vote.

[Marr]

22. I believe that line about how they think a "win" on health care

will energize voters again. It's misguided, out-of-date, 90's DLC bullshit... but I do think they believe it.

They don't understand how bad it is for people now. It's not the 90's anymore. A corporate hand out disguised as a "victory" won't work. People don't give a shit about the PR anymore-- they need actual, concrete help.

[leftstreet]

37. +1 'It's misguided, out-of-date, 90's DLC bullshit'

:thumbsup:

They're proving how completely out of touch they are with We The People.

It's stunning.

[WillyT]

41. Very Very Stunning...

:banghead:

[readmoreoften]

80. "Actual, concrete help." Ain't it the truth.

[Xenotime]

24. Everybody gets angry around this time of year.

[EFerrari]

63. Best of thread.

:)

[TexasObserver]

25. Lieberman and the GOP look scared.

If the president is keeping score, he'd better get someone to explain to him which people are on his side, and which ones are never on his side. He needs to start worrying about meeting the expectations of his voters, not his opponents.

[Blasphemer]

26. If DeFazio is on his "enemies" list, then there is no hope for him. nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

27. Sounds like he's channeling the Mayberry Machiavellis.

[HereSince1628]

29. Yippie fuckin doo, and BTW its Rahm who is keeping the book

not Obama.

[Bluebear]

30. link?

[Laelth]

31. This is important. k&r for exposure.

I recommend reading the entire blog entry.

:dem:

-Laelth

[ima_sinnic]

32. oh boy, it wish it was 2012 so I could vote against him right effing NOW

hopefully I will get to see this trojan horse sink into the swamp of his own making.

[dionysus]

46. i for one am glad you have 7 more years of this abject misery.

:shrug:

[tritsofme]

33. DeFazio got 82% of the vote in 2008.

While it may be somewhat competitive at the presidential level, I wouldn't call this a "tough district"

[asdjrocky]

34. This is one tough guy.

When he's dealing with Democrats.

[WT Fuheck]

36. The Obamaites HATE liberals.

They love them some Goldman Sachs, but they sure do hate anyone left of, say, Richard Nixon.

[Bobbie Jo]

56. Really?

Do tell....:shrug:

[WT Fuheck]

69. For a year now, the only group they have consistently attacked

is the left.

[readmoreoften]

82. Look at the track record?

:shrug:

[MadBadger]

77. Get it right, We hate "progressives"

[dflprincess]

42. And we're keeping score of the number of positions this WH

takes against us.

That's the score Obama should be concernded with.

[camera obscura]

47. That quote is pretty old. It's not from the health care debate.

Why doesn't Hamsher know that and I do?

[NoPasaran]

48. Santa Claus keeps score too

Right now, I think his poll numbers are better than Obama's.

[Bluenorthwest]

49. Peter helped deliver this State to you, brother

And I live here. No one agrees with the President, we all agree with DeFazio, which is why this 'tough district' thing is odd. Hard to imagine anyone beating Peter. In 08, when Obama was begging for the gig, DeFazio ran without any serious opposition of any kind. He 'ran' which means he used his abilities and favors to elect Obama and Merkley.
Oregon's Forth District is keeping score as well. Good luck with that!

[TwilightGardener]

50. Oops, apparently this whole thread is a fraud.

[Number23]

51. ?? Why do you say that?

[TwilightGardener]

53. Jane Hamsher made an ass out of herself today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7264349&mesg_id=7264349

[Number23]

57. Ahhhh. Can't say I'm surprised...

thanks for the info. :thumbsup:

[Little Star]

68. I disagree. They quoted a story from The Hill.

[Bluenorthwest]

54. This is a true story

And an ongoing one. I live DeFazio's district, and we all know this has been happening. We all know. This concept that anything that did not happen this morning is not true or is 'a fraud' is an interesting one. But not a truthful one.

[TwilightGardener]

55. See the link--this Obama quote didn't happen today. Unless the EXACT

SAME THING happened twice.

[leftstreet]

58. Is FDL claiming it happened today?

[TwilightGardener]

61. Why dredge up a story from last spring, unless you make it clear it's from last spring--

and has nothing to do with the health care debate?

[spotbird]

65. Click through

on the FDL link and it is clear.

[readmoreoften]

81. Well, I DUNNO, because his WH is attacking "the left" and someone is showing a pattern?

I mean CLUE :crazy:

[Bluenorthwest]

60. Did you read my post? We know when this happened

and neither I nor the story said it happened today. It happened, and so have other things that are not reported here.
Who said it happened today? No one. As I said in the post you clearly did not read, your concept that events which did not happen today are not true, or 'a complete fraud' is interesting, but not one I accept. This is an ongoing situation in the Congress.
How is telling a true story a 'complete fraud'? This is current events, like it or not. This is what's happening now. To my elected Representative.

[spotbird]

64. It was published in The Hill today

and the date the comment was made was not included in today's story.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. the story is about Peter DeFazio. The comment that has

y'all upset is a minor thing in the Hill piece. It is an accurate quote, and the setting cited is accurate. The piece does not say the quote was from today, nor does it imply that it is about the Health Care debate. The piece in the Hill is totally accurate.
To call an accurate piece of reporting 'a complete fraud' because you see it as critical of Obama is nonsense.
Read the piece in the Hill, and learn about Peter DeFazio, who is the subject of the article. It is a good article about an excellent Democratic Congress member. It is not an article about Obama, nor about that quote, nor is it 'breaking news'. It does not claim to be.

[chill_wind]

71. Correct. And I'll go a bit further to say

that Jane Hamsher and the FDL piece DOES have an agenda-- one that I don't have a problem with-- she is rightfully IMHO comparing occasions, in light of the present HCR boondoggle, of what has and hasn't happened so far when some but not other DEMS rock the boat. But much more than that, even, she's taking note of DeFazio's populist rehetoric and wondering if he will keep running in that direction. It matters.

DeFazio told Mike Stark he would vote against any bill that does not have a strong public plan in July, and signed a letter saying would do so. So we’ll probably soon see whether DeFazio’s actions match up with the populist rhetoric.

[chill_wind]

70. Does it really need a "date"? It was described and quoted in context

and narrative of the stimulus debate and bill. That's what the word "afterward" means here:


“Don’t think we’re not keeping score, brother,” Obama told DeFazio during a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus, according to members afterward.

[EFerrari]

59. Wait. This was a joke. And wouldn't any incumbent worth his salt

keep track? It's the equivalent of a "to do" list?

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

87. There you go again, being reasonable

It's not that I doubt he has a list, but it seemed out of character for him to state it in a threatening way. Just didn't ring true. Plus it's a story that Politico, etc would have bayed at the moon.

Jeez, and I just recommended FDL to a friend who was forwarded the Hadassah/Susan G. Komen petition. I respect Hamsher - I hope she was just misled and isn't deliberately misleading herself.

[EFerrari]

94. Everybody gets it wrong sometimes.

Isn't that a song by REM? :)

[McCamy Taylor]

62. Scary title, but this is not the same as using the IRS and DOJ to attack political enemies.

"Enemies list" did not just mean folks that Tricky Dick did not like.

[amandabeech]

83. The IRS is going to collect the fines for those who do not get insurance.

It would be difficult to pick a federal agency more hated than the IRS.

There will be plenty of horror stories about the IRS collection procedures that will be really good fodder for the Pubbies once this monstrosity of a bill goes into effect.

[Jamastiene]

86. Bingo

Well said.

[amandabeech]

97. Thanks!. n/t

[amandabeech]

98. Thanks!. n/t

[RainDog]

75. We're keeping score too, Obama.

and the longer this shit goes on, the more disrespect I gain for you.

[leeroysphitz]

90. +1

[dusmcj]

91. We the People are also keeping score.

[alp227]

92. Wow...and then Obama tries to "work it out" with stubborn Republicans

as The Young Turks showed recently. This is just so ridiculous, so contradictory.

[patrice]

93. You appear to assume you know what the scores are being kept for.

P.S. That's the way it's done.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

101. Nixon kept an enemies list too.