White House Has No Comment on Conyers Dishing on Presidential Phone Call
EmailWhite House officials declined to comment on an interview that Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., gave The Hill, in which he says the president "called me and told me that he heard that I was demeaning him and I had to explain to him that it wasn’t anything personal, it was an honest difference on the issues. And he said, 'Well, let’s talk about it.’" Conyers says he told the president he wasn’t in the mood to "chat."
Conyers has been critical of the president's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan and last month he had harsh words on the president's efforts on health care reform.
Conyers said on the Bill Press Radio Show, as covered by Sam Stein at the Huffington Post: "I'm getting tired of saving Obama's can in the White House. I mean, he only won (health care reform) by five votes in the House, and this bill wasn't anything to write home about. The public option is only available, which is the only way you manage cost and get some competition to 1,300 other health insurance companies, the only way he could have got that through is that progressives held their nose and voted for it anyway."
Asked if President Obama had shown enough leadership in that debate, Conyers said "Of course not, of course not. You know, holding hands out and beer on Friday nights in the White House and bowing down to every nutty right-wing proposal about health care, and saying on occasion that public options aren't all that important is doing a disservice to the Barack Obama that I first met who was an ardent single-payer enthusiast himself."
He said White House chief of staff doesn't care that much about the content of the legislation.
"That is essentially what Rahm Emanuel has said: Just give us anything and we will declare victory," said Conyers. "Not only is it not a victory, but when it doesn't work, guess who will come at him: the same guys that were saying let's go along with anything… This is all my buddy Rahm Emanuel trying to get anything. But look the bill doesn't go into effect for three years. Many of the people that we are trying to help will be dead by then."
-jpt
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Conyers is right . Mark this day . It has to mean something , I can’t remember it happening before .
Posted by: nat turner | December 8, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am
Conyers is tired of “saving Obama’s can”.
But there are enough idiots in Congress still willing to walk the plank for Obama. They are willing to go against the people in their districts, willing to risk their own jobs
just so Obama can sign any kind of health care bill.
Going against the American people to save Obama’s legacy.
And the MSM? They don’t appear to be tired of saving Obama’s can.
They also have lost all credibility and integrity to save Obama.
Posted by: cal | December 8, 2009, 10:50 am 10:50 am
So, who is the racist?
Posted by: SpoutingHorn | December 8, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am
He says one thing to calm down the voters in his district and votes along party line.
Posted by: Lizzie | December 8, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am
LMAo.. Obama is so thin skinned..the new term out is “OTSS” ( obama thin skinned syndrome) LMAO…. what a crybaby
Posted by: nothing more than a photo-op | December 8, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am
could it be??? could it really be that Conyers has finally said the first open and honest critique of the Obama administration? WOW! I’m not a fan of Conyers at all….but I just gained a new level of respect for him.
Posted by: ncpilot10 | December 8, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am
Conyers said two interesting things.
First he said, “The public option is only available, which is the only way you manage cost and get some competition to 1,300 other health insurance companies.”
Do I really NEED to explain the sheer ignorance of that remark?
Second, Conyers said, “Not only is it not a victory, but when it doesn’t work, guess who will come at him: the same guys that were saying let’s go along with anything… This is all my buddy Rahm Emanuel trying to get anything.”
Do I really need to explain the sheer INTELLIGENCE of that remark? He’s nailed Rahm on the dot.
Watch it Mr. Conyers… Rahm still has former military unit buddies in the IDF.
Posted by: den | December 8, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am
WHITE HOUSE SLAMS POLLS: KIDS WITH CRAYONS…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Testy testy Gibbs ole boy…They must be talking about the koskiddies coloringbook page LMAO
Posted by: nothing more than a photo-op | December 8, 2009, 11:24 am 11:24 am
The president’s job approval rating plummets to the lowest level ever recorded for a president at this point in his term, according to latest Gallup poll.
Posted by: nothing more than a photo-op | December 8, 2009, 11:30 am 11:30 am
Isn’t this man whose wife was taking bribes? Looks like to me he needs to save his wife can.
Posted by: Tonya | December 8, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am
By the way Mr. Conveys you should show more leadership in your household. Your wife indicted on federal charges for bribery and is force to resign from her councilwomen seat. How much did you know about these bribes?
Posted by: Tonya | December 8, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am
CONYERS’ mind departed his skull 20 years ago. The utter stupidity of American voters is clearly illustrated by the constant reelection of this guy and others like him.
Posted by: Ron | December 8, 2009, 11:47 am 11:47 am
Gibbs: Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful Oz and Pay no attention to John Conyers who dares to challenge.
Posted by: Walsh | December 8, 2009, 11:51 am 11:51 am
I am so glad someone has finally stood up to BHO and Rahmmy. Now if the American people could only see they are selling us out. The U.S. credit rating is about to go to he// in a hand basket and BHO wants to winterize homes with the remaining bailout money to create jobs, for who? What about all the rest of us. I’m real glad home improvement people will be happy, but what about everyone else who is suffering? I guess he’ll take another trip.
Posted by: Carol in Alabama | December 8, 2009, 11:54 am 11:54 am
We don’t need to pass a bill just to make Obama look “successful”…….especially a “bad” bill.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | December 8, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am
Is Obama serious? He doesn’t need anyone to “demean” him…he’s doing a fine job on his own. That’s what happens when an inexperienced community organizer comes out of his cushy liberal “house” and into the White House. Time to play with the big boys, Obama. They really don’t care whether or not they hurt your feelings.
And while Obama licks his wounds, he might want to tell his little sandbox buddy, Robert Gibbs, that comparing the Gallup daily poll to 6 year olds with crayons isn’t winning friends and influencing people anymore than his own crybaby babbling.
Posted by: Shoe | December 8, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am
“Et tu, Brute?” (a.k.a. Don’t Dis Me Bro)
Posted by: tillyerkt | December 8, 2009, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
Geez this Obama Administration is easy..Kinda of makes you wonder what really goes on behind closed doors…
Posted by: Parallex View | December 8, 2009, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
Obama has set himself up to be “demeaned”.
Remember then Senator Obama making light of the 14 pound Patriot Act bill that he said Bush had rushed through congress without it being full read?
Now he would have what, a 20 pound or more, Obamacare bill rushed through?
I have an inherent mistrust of deceivers, maybe he doesn’t have a birth certificate either!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | December 8, 2009, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
“Conyers said two interesting things.”
Actually I found even more interesting was Rep. Conyers’ statement, “…the Barack Obama that I first met who was an ardent single-payer enthusiast himself.”
All the Democrats want is ANY bill to pass in the Senate. That way the House and Senate bills will go to conference. Then they can come out with a public option that will lead to a single-payer system run by the federal government with full abortion coverage. You can’t filibuster a bill that comes out of conference, so it will only need 50 votes to pass in the Senate (Vice President Biden votes in case of a tie).
Posted by: James Danley | December 8, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
Why does Obama hate the Congressional Black Caucus??
Will The One throw Conyers under the bus to join William Ayers, Rev. Wright, and Van Jones?
Posted by: Ditherer-in-Chief | December 8, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
Somebody should send “Mr. President” a pacifier. He’s an immature narcissist… Oh I guess that’s being redundant.
Posted by: keys2truth | December 8, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
Conyers is a patriot to speak what he believes. His lack of support of the group-think concensus is to be appluaded. As the democrats follow the leader of the lemmings off the cliff of fiscal incontenance, we need people like Congressman Conyers to be left standing after the political tusanami (which will wash away all of these liberal phoneys).
Long after Obama is thought of as the mistake that we made (many of us made) Conyers will still have his seat and still be a voice for his constituency.
Bravo, Congressman Conyers!
Posted by: dude in the H | December 8, 2009, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
Conyers certainly is gutsy. He is not my favorite, but I applaud his standing up for what he believes.
Posted by: Betts W | December 8, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
Isn’t Conyers the one who said they don’t read the bills? And exactly where is the President bending on right wing demands? There are not a great deal of people, except that group of socialist and elitist that know “whats best for America”, who want anything to do with healthcare reform, cap and trade or any of the other stuff being rammed down our throats. Most people simply want a job that they can support themselves with. Period.
Conyers is simply peeved that there is not enough welfare to spread to his vastly unemployed district.
Posted by: david | December 8, 2009, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
cuz we’re all sick to death of the namecalling whiners on the Right
****************************************
You folks are hilarious
Posted by: wow | December 8, 2009, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
Obama needs a waaaambulance
Posted by: John Q Public | December 8, 2009, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
I guess Mr. Conyer’s did not get the memo he and the rest of his friends on the Hill are no longer needed. With the EPA announcement yesterday and the regulatory Czar’s authority, they can all now go home
Posted by: Rock | December 8, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Obama has nothing to worry about, US citizens are moving out of this country
by the thousands and saying good-bye to
the ole red, white, and blue. So open up
the borders Mr. President and start registering new democrat voters, your going to need them.
49%49%49%49%49%49%49%49%49%49%49%49%49%49%
Posted by: Palm Beach, Fl | December 8, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Actually, as of this morning Obama is at 47% 47% 47% 47% 47% 47% 47% 47% 47%, which is the absolutely lowest ANY president in history has been at this time in his administration (or reign as Ego Obama says.) Truely pathetic.
Posted by: Sendthemtojail | December 8, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
Does President Obama have to do everything Bush did? I mean, that speech the other night… the whining now to someone in his own party. Eerie and sad.
Posted by: ScottB | December 8, 2009, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
Posted by: Sendthemtojail | Dec 8, 2009 5:09:07 PM
President Reagan sank to 35% approval rating during his first term – and won re-election.
You need to gain some historical perspective.
Posted by: tierra | December 8, 2009, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
Clara, it’s not that he is calm and mature. It’s that he is in over his head. He is blowing it all over the place. You name the issue.
Posted by: adren jarrid | December 9, 2009, 1:33 am 1:33 am
“And he [Obama] said, ‘Well, let’s talk about it.’” Conyers says he told the president he wasn’t in the mood to “chat.” ”
Excuse me, but I came from an era when you didn’t give the President of the USA the back of your hand.
It’s okay to disagree but when the leader of the free world calls you to talk things over you don’t decide that you have a critical bowling game or have to re-roof your trailer.
A Reresentative is elected for 2 years, what’s he got to do that’s more important than talking over policy with the President? …a BBQ? …a fund-raiser? …a hoe-down?
If the Senior Rep from Michigan has a problem than how does he justify diss’ing the President and not discussing his differences? Isn’t that his job? Isn’t that what the people of Michigan sent him to DC to do?
It’s part of a democracy to disagree, it does no one any good to be a shrinking violet and act all “Who me?” when the President calls to discuss the issues.
IF the Senior Rep from MI decides he wants to talk about his “issues” the President has already expressed a desire to talk it over.
It only remains for the Rep from MI to decide to voice his opinion to the President instead of being a coward and whispering to the press.
Posted by: OB-Wan222 | December 9, 2009, 5:48 am 5:48 am