Bennett: Obama outdoes LBJ in strong-arming tactics

[babylonsister]

First he's too weak, now he's using strong-arm tactics, yet no one mentions the fact that rethugs appear to be big fat liars.


Bennett: Obama outdoes LBJ in strong-arming tactics
By Michael O'Brien - 12/17/09 02:06 PM ET


President Barack Obama's treatment of lawmakers far exceeds the strong-armed tactics once employed by President Lyndon Johnson, a GOP senator argued Thursday.

Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah) accused Obama of bullying lawmakers on healthcare reform, specifically the rumored threat to centrist Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) that an Air Force base would be closed unless Nelson agreed to vote for health reform.

"This would be one of the most outrageous demonstrations of presidential power I've ever seen," Bennett said on a conservative news radio syndicate.

"I'm old enough to have been around the town in the days of Lyndon Johnson," Bennett added. "He was pretty imperial and he would beat up members of the Senate really quite brutally. I don't think even Lyndon Johnson would try anything like this."

Johnson, a former Senate majority leader before becoming vice president and then president, attained a reputation over time for using strong-armed tactics against lawmakers in order to win votes on critical pieces of legislation.

At issue is a rumor that the Obama administration threatened to close or rename Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, a rumor which Nelson rejected on Thursday, but into which Republican senators are demanding an investigation.

"Nobody's threatened me. As a matter of fact, in any discussion with the White House or the leadership or any of my colleagues, the question about the base or even the name of the base has never come up," Nelson said during an interview on KLIN radio in Nebraska. "Nobody has talked about anything of that kind."

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/72797-bennett-obama-outdoes-lbj-in-strong-arming-tactics

[TwilightGardener]

1. The search for an impeachable offense continues...

[Hippo_Tron]

2. I'm pretty sure this is exactly the kind of thing LBJ would've done actually

[TheKentuckian]

3. I wish but it seems more like people like Rockefeller have had

their balls put in a garlic press and Joe Lieberman's crew gets the pearly gates and their choice of the finest 70 virgins..

[Clio the Leo]

4. lol, rename it?

Do they think he's going to call it "Ft. Sasha"?

[SteveM]

5. Bennett is bull-shitting. Hell, I wish Obama WOULD "beat up members" of the Senate...

Frankly, LBJ looks pretty good 'bout now.

[Divine Discontent]

15. yes, LBJ does! ha... and if he's strong arming, he's not doing a very good job considering the bill

really is a mess...

[Cha]

6. Yeah, we know they whine and lie just getting out

of bed in the morning so anything they have to say about Pres Obama is a lie.

Whinging Lying little bullies.

[niceypoo]

7. LBJ passed Medicare and Medicaid within his first six months in Office

Both single payer, both passed without a single Republican vote. Yeah, Obama is just kicking ass and taking names.

[andym]

10. Not quite true, there was significant Republican support for Medicare/Medicaid in 1965

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/history/tally65.html

SENATE	
YEA  NAY   NOT VOTING

Democrats	
57    7        4

Republicans	
13     17      2

HOUSE	
YEA  NAY   NOT VOTING
Democrats	
237    48      8

Republicans	
70     68       2


Look at the size of the Democratic majorities back then  -- 68
senators (enough to block Filibusters under the old 66 Senator
rule).  Look at the significant Republican support (50% of the
House Republicans, 13 Senators) Too bad LBJ didn't go for
single-payer for everyone.  

[Froward69]

8. A made up rumor

That the players do not understand.

gop = Lie factory

[girl gone mad]

9. Bennett is full of shit.

But, what's new?

[MadMaddie]

11. The neocon idiots got this supposed lead from a twittering fool

and now the twittering fool has stepped back from his statement. The base closure review happens in 2013 so there's no way it could be used for a threat. They are all idiots.

[Ildem09]

12. LBJ

once pulled all funding for a state because a senator voted against party lines. when said senator complained LBJ said well why dosn't that **@##@ Call his campaign contributors to get roads built etc... Obama is no LBJ

[Brother Buzz]

13. Bennett wouldn't know LBJ strong-arm tactics if it bit him in the ass

[Hekate]

14. Do they even know what the truth is, any more? I'd say eff the Repubs, but the image alone disgusts.

I'll just say the whole lot of them should do something anatomically impossible to themselves, individually and collectively. :grr:

Hekate

[Waiting For Everyman]

16. Just a lame lie attempting to cover that O. caved to them.

Strong-arm? Give me a break! More like weak-knees.

The only strong-arming was to defeat Dorgan's drug importation bill.