Waxman: I give Obama high marks. The problem is congress

[impik]

As a chairman who spent months shepherding both healthcare and energy legislation through his committee, Waxman doesn’t express much sympathy for Democrats who took weeks, if not months, to decide how to vote on the high-profile bills.
He tells a story he heard about President Obama showing some tough love to a wavering Democrat, whom he did not identify. The member, Waxman said, told the president: “ ‘If I vote for what you want, I’m just going to lose.’

“And the president said, ‘Look at you, look how you’re reacting. It’s almost as if you’ve lost already. You’ve got to have fight. You’ve got to fight for what you want to do here, and then you’ve got to fight to get elected, and convince your constituents that this is what is in their interest and it’s important.’ ”

So did Obama get the lawmaker’s vote? “I’ll tell you after the election,” Waxman quipped.


Unlike many on the left, Waxman is “very pleased with this administration.”
Waxman has worked extensively with the White House during the 111th Congress. Phil Schiliro, Waxman’s longtime aide, now serves as Obama’s chief liaison to Congress.

“I give high marks,” he said. Waxman lauded Obama’s skills both as a public spokesman for his ambitious agenda and his behind-the-scenes handling of Congress. “My frustration,” Waxman said, “is more with members of Congress than with the administration.”

Specifically, he is fed up with the Senate and what he calls “the tyranny of 60 votes.”

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2010/8/5/104741/2839

[Beetwasher]

1. What Does Waxman Know, Just Another Corporate Sell Out

Right? :sarcasm:

[SeattleGirl]

2. Waxman is right.

Between the Repukes and the DINO's, not to mention that 60 vote idiocy, it's a wonder that any of those bills passed.

[rucky]

3. *cough* Stupak *cough*

[TheWraith]

5. Not really. The House is pretty safe. The Senate is the problem.

Thanks to the Reps.

[Pirate Smile]

4. K & R More specifically -

The Senate.

[Arkana]

6. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Not much you can do when your so-called majority is a bunch of self-serving scared-shitless Blue Dogs who will blow whichever way the political wind wants them to.

And with the Republicans abusing the 60-vote rule in the Senate the legislation gets watered down even further.

[uponit7771]

7. FDR had an 83% dem congress, LBJ had a 69-ish% congress Obama has MAYBE a 59% dem congress...a

...and has still managed to get a lot done!!!

[bigwillq]

8. Congress is a big problem.

Many need to be voted out---on both sides.