Obama's calls to lawmakers 'unheard of'

[babylonsister]

Obama's calls to lawmakers 'unheard of'

By Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Now that he has won the White House, President-elect Barack Obama is courting another set of voters: the 535 members of Congress who can make or break his presidency.

Obama, the first president elected directly from the legislative branch since John F. Kennedy, has packed his White House team with respected legislators and connected congressional staffers and has surprised lawmakers with phone calls — and not just to Democrats.

"This is unheard of," Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., who is retiring after 14 years in Congress, said of Obama's calls to Republicans. "I don't know of another president-elect who has done this."

No president since Gerald Ford, a former House minority leader, has spent as much energy mastering Congress' 18th-century etiquette and byzantine turf wars as Obama, a former senator.

None since Franklin Roosevelt has needed the lawmakers' cooperation more urgently.

Faced with a shaky stock market, tight credit and rising unemployment rates, Obama is pushing members of the 111th Congress — which convenes two weeks before his Jan. 20 inauguration — to begin work on a massive economic stimulus package.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-12-11-obamacongress_N.htm

[iamjoy]

1. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen

certainly didn't expect to hear from PE Obama

:rofl:

[Cha]

7. Clearly makes the point..

"It's unheard of" :rofl:

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Yet Sarah Palin sure expected to hear from Sarkozy

She thinks she's just that wonderful and all...

:evilgrin:

[LaStrega]

19. she's just that wonderful also

[AtomicKitten]

2. He is gearing up to move mountains right out of the gate.

[K Gardner]

3. Have I mentioned recently how much I LOVE this man...? K&R

[baldguy]

4. Goodbye to the "Unitary Executive" theory.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. reminds me of the way LBJ did things

and he got things done

[crim son]

6. If this isn't "change" I don't know what is.

Makes me hopeful.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. Brilliant

He's getting the public on board with his weekly addresses and calm demeanor, not to mention his plans to help the economy, which is the number one worry of most Americans. That he is willing to work WITH Congress is a refreshing change. Smart move--he knows the Senate, and has members in the cabinet and on staff that know the House as well--if he can inspire the 535 as he has the nation, he WILL be able to move mountains.

[MadMaddie]

9. Ha...Ha..Ha..The Republicans don't know what to think

By Obama calling them, it totally throws their game plan to stifle any progressive ideas. He has extended the olive branch and it is up to them to stand up and take the challenge or appear to the American people as unwilling to save the country......

Brilliant!!!

[FrenchieCat]

10. They are going to look like such Hacks when they try to jump on him

when he breathes, that they will become an endangered species sooner than they had bargained for. LOL!

[BrklynLiberal]

11. Yes. THEY will look like the one who are trying to stop progress.

[ecstatic]

13. did any other rethugs hang up on him?

:eyes:

[gravity]

14. Obama is going to kick ass

[sellitman]

15. You mean they might have to work for a living?

They might have to make decisions?

[firedupdem]

16. He continues to amaze me...they better get on board or get

left out. He plans on making his administration work to rebuild our country. Anybody standing in the way of progress will certainly look like an idiot.

[LiberalFighter]

17. LaHood doesn't know of another president-elect who has done this?

What an ef n twit!! LaHood has only been in Congress for 14 years. He has only been there after Clinton was elected President.

I'm sure that LBJ made appropriate calls considering the time period. The same for FDR.

If Obama didn't make the calls to make his transition easier and pass emergency legislation vital to the United States economy he would lose support fast.

[quiet.american]

18. That's my president! nt