President Obama told me to stop ‘demeaning’ him, says Rep. Conyers

[babylonsister]

President Obama told me to stop ‘demeaning’ him, says Rep. Conyers
By Molly K. Hooper - 12/08/09 06:00 AM ET


President Barack Obama recently called Rep. John Conyers Jr. to express his frustrations with the Judiciary Committee chairman’s criticism.

In an interview with The Hill, Conyers said his opinions of Obama’s policies on healthcare reform and the war in Afghanistan have not sat well with the president.

According to the lawmaker, the president picked up the phone several weeks ago to find out why Conyers was “demeaning” him.

Obama’s decision to challenge Conyers highlights a sensitivity to criticism the president has taken on the left. Conyers’s critical remarks, many of which have been reported on the liberal-leaning Huffington Post, appear to have irritated the president, known for his calm demeanor.

Conyers, the second-longest-serving member of the House, said, “{Obama} 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.’”

Sitting in the Judiciary Committee’s conference room two days after Obama delivered his speech on Afghanistan, the 23-term lawmaker said he wasn’t in the mood to “chat.”

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/71075-conyers-obama-told-me-to-stop-demeaning-him

[Kahuna]

1. I don't blame Obama. Conyers and Waters can criticize without the

unnecessary personal attacks. Leave that stuff for the repukes and Big Ed.

[ClassWarrior]

13. What personal attacks?

NGU.

[mkultra]

49. Conyers has been attacking the administration pretty negativley

"holding hands out and beer on Friday nights in the White House and bowing down to every nutty right-wing proposal "


He has made it generally clear that he hates Obama and his administrations. His is echoing the tone and substance of the haters here on DU.

[vaberella]

54. "Bowing down to every nutty right-wing proposal."

Wow...he said that. Wow.

[mkultra]

72. yup, straight from his mouth to the press

[ShortnFiery]

98. With Tweety's Pic in your Sig line, I find you labeling anything else "nutty" quite bizarre.

:evilgrin:

[vaberella]

108. Most people who know me, know why I have him there.

You don't...so I'd refrain from assuming certain things. I will tell you though why I have Tweety in my sig. It's quite obvious actually. Because I find him to be absolutely insane and probably suffering from severe case of being bipolar. Added to that, his show is political Jerry Springer---and he utterly entertains me with the Teh Stupid. So, all in all...please don't think to use my sig as though to identify something about what I think.

[ShortnFiery]

131. OK then you must accept the unintended consequence: Those of us - most of us - who don't know you

would come to the, not inappropriate conclusion, that you support him. :shrug:

p.s. but thanks for clearing that up. :-)

[burning rain]

146. vaberella tries to play it off...

but she loves Tweety. There is much love and frustration, passion and pain, in vaberella's heart, and it is Tweety's doing. :P

[Fire1]

150. She's not alone. I love him, too! n/t

[burning rain]

199. It wouldn't kill you to be a bit more attentive.

I've been a big defender of Tweets and his great lively, informative, political variety show with its pleasing variety of guests, while criticizing him when he veers into moderate-to-conservativism, as often he does.

[Fire1]

202. Then why the sarcastic remarks about "loving Tweety?" eom

[vaberella]

208. They describe loving as though it's adoration. It's far from it.

It's more like utterly entertaining to watch. It's like most people I know hated watching the Jerry Springer show or would cut off their left hand if anyone said they watched Maury Povich...while in reality they're addicted and not because they love either.

I see Tweety in the same format. He has a show that always has a political fight. It's like it's like watching Political Deathmatch with a referee who likes to instigate and take part in the fight. I personally find it entertining and I'm waitig for the day for Pat Buchanan to scream, "Ni**ga, Please." Cause he wants too and that's also the only reason Tweety keeps him around----to see him say that too.

[Fire1]

209. Gotcha! n/t

[burning rain]

210. Not sarcastic, but goofing on someone I like.

.

[vaberella]

177. I have been going to the doctor because of this chill that runs up & down my legs, lately.

Maybe I've been in denial afterall.

[burning rain]

200. I can relate.

You try to say goodbye and you choke; you try to walk away and you stumble. It's a bad but exciting relationship with Tweets: you want to kiss him one moment, kick him in the ass the next.

[Clio the Leo]

176. "I'm not being argumentative...."

"not this time, eventhough I usually enjoy being argumentative...."

(Did you hear Tweety say that yesterday, cracked me up.)

[dionysus]

119. yeah, after mr impeachment was a toothless paper tiger for the last 8 years.

he only has the stones to go after fellow dems... way to go, john!

[paulk]

141. under the bus with you, John Conyers!

[dionysus]

144. no paul. contrary to what it seems you gus believe, someone can pull a douchebag move and not be

dead to me.
:shrug:

[Orsino]

123. Besides, Conyers is supposed to be working on some subpoenas. n/t

[Fire1]

149. Many of the criticisms on DU have also been civil and

constructive. He does not "hate" Obama, I assure you and neither does Waters.

[mkultra]

161. if that where true, it would be cvivil and constructive

that's the litmus that he and so many here fail.

[Fire1]

168. "So many fail." That leaves a reasonable number of people

remaining that critique civilly and constructively.

[mkultra]

173. thats a pretty big assumption to make

[Fire1]

178. And you're broad brushing. n/t

[mkultra]

188. effectivley and well within the rules

unlike those im talking about.

[Fire1]

203. Broad brushing is an ineffective tactic of generalization whether

it's "within" the rules or not and consequently, can't be taken seriously. You can ramble and rationalize all you want but it doesn't change facts.

[mkultra]

204. your in fantasy land. i can accurately say that many people here destructively

criticize the democrats and obama and be completely right.

[Fire1]

206. If that's the case, then my statement generalizing a

significant portion of members who constructively criticize the President, is equally true and accurate.

[Kahuna]

69. Did we forget about this recent ditty?...

This is very disrespectful in tone. He sounds like he's talking about some homey in the street instead of the President and head of his own party. You may like it. I don't.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/19/conyers-rips-obama-emanue_n_363702.html

"I'm getting tired of saving Obama's can in the White House," said Conyers. "I mean, he only won 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."

[vaberella]

110. Are you fuckin' kidding me?!

Is it awful if I say, that I think, much like JJ, we have another man who may have had aspirations and is a bit upset he wasn't the one in O's spot....or is that reaching.

[Kahuna]

132. Uhhh... I can't tell vaberella, if you agree with me or not?

:shrug:

[vaberella]

136. Oh sorry. I agree with you.

:D

[Kahuna]

138. Tee hee. I hate to see you when you DON'T agree with me...

:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

:hi:

[vaberella]

140. Sorry. It was my disgust over Conyers----I'm just reading more and more about him.

It's too much. And any time I think of JJ (Jesse Jackson)---I get livid

[Fire1]

154. Yeah, vab, that's reaching. John knows he's too old. Besides,

his career will end right where he is in Congress.

[Fire1]

148. What is NGU? n/t

[Skip Intro]

191. I asked that once, and never got a reply. Finally figured out it means "never give up."

[goclark]

65. I don't blame Obama either ~ all of those mentioned should not throw stones

Their houses are totally made out of glass.

Did Conyers get that settled about his wife and the charges against her?

[Freddie Stubbs]

101. She pled guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced next month:

Conyers' Sentencing Date Now In Jan.

Conyers Facing Up To 5 Years In Prison

POSTED: Friday, June 26, 2009
UPDATED: 3:40 pm EST November 4, 2009

DETROIT -- The sentencing date for former Detroit City Council member Monica Conyers has been changed.

US District Court judge Avern Cohn had set Conyers' sentencing date for Dec. 1. But now, Cohn says, she will be in court Jan. 15.

Cohn didn't give a reason for the change, except to say it serves the interest of justice.

Conyers, the wife of powerful Democratic Rep. John Conyers, pleaded guilty June 26 to accepting cash bribes in exchange for supporting a sludge contract with a Houston company.

more: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/19867343/detail.html

[goclark]

156. He needs to pay more attention to his wife

Was he rereading the Downing St. Memos and forgot to tell her that she could be facing a few years.

I was always a big fan of Conyers but in the last year, he disappoints me.

[slipslidingaway]

2. Conyers asked Obama directly to invite two people to the WH summit...

when the answer came back his request was denied.

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/11/dr_quentin_young_obama_confidante_and

"While the Obama administration claims “all options are on the table” for healthcare reform, it’s already rejected the solution favored by most Americans, including doctors: single-payer universal healthcare. We speak with Dr. Quentin Young, perhaps the most well-known single-payer advocate in America. He was the Rev. Martin Luther King’s doctor when he lived in Chicago and a longtime friend and ally of Barack Obama. But he was noticeably not invited to Obama’s White House healthcare summit last week....


...AMY GOODMAN: This brouhaha over the last week with the White House healthcare summit, 120 people, there were going to be no single-payer advocates. Congressman Conyers asked to go. At first, he was told no. He directly asked President Obama at a Congressional Black Caucus hearing. He asked to bring you and Marcia Angell—


DR. QUENTIN YOUNG: Yes.


AMY GOODMAN: —former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine. You weren’t allowed to go. Do you have President Obama’s ear anymore? You have been an ally of his for years, for decades.


DR. QUENTIN YOUNG: Well, it’s mixed. I think we’re friends, certainly. At this gala that you mentioned, which was embarrassing, he did send a very complimentary letter. And I appreciate that, but I’d much rather have him enact single payer, to tell the truth. And we did—it’s fair to say, after a good deal of protest, I think we were told there was a—phones rang off the hook. They did allow our national president, Dr. Oliver Fein, to attend with Dr. Conyers—Congressman Conyers. That’s fine, but we need many more people representative of the American people at large to get this thing through the Congress, and Baucus, notwithstanding, be overruled..."

[Botany]

3. Obama needs to be accountable for his actions

As of now he is pissing me off:

Expand the war in Afghanistan

No public option

No investigation or prosecution of John Yoo for torturing people to admit a link between Iraq and 9/11 and where were the WMDs.

[vaberella]

47. Well didn't you read the article?!

If it's to be believed...Obama invited Conyers over. He declined. Apparently he didn't want to "chat" as though they'd be having brunch. If Conyers was sincere...I thought he'd take O at his word and give him a good talking too.

Further more...what are you talking about No Public Option?! There is nothing that says that...and there is an even more advanced motion to open medicare up to buy-in----like most people who were demanding single payer----they get it in a limited form.

Further more there is no talk of not investigation of John Yoo----from what i understand they're giving him immunity or were seeking it...I wondered if they had their own reasons and if John Yoo was going to talk but I think tha's up in the air.

As for Afghanistan...I've said this before in the past and I'll say it again. We leave Afghanistan and we live in an even more chaotic mess than we did Pakistan in the 80s. The blow back would be so bad because we could be assured the Al Queda forces would take over Pakistan and Afghanistan and we'd be in there dealing with a major war on our hands. Further more, I just see the act as inhumane after what we helped to create there.

Afghanistan is an extremely complex issue. I think people are making it a bit too black and white. However, when it comes to all of this to each his own.

[Name removed]

86. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Botany]

125. points

Conyers is frustrated by the way things are going w/ health care and might have thought it was best for him to take a pass on meeting Obama.

From what I have read the bill that is going to be produced by the senate will have no real public option and will benefit the health insurance
industries by forcing more people to buy their products ..... It is like rewarding the very people who caused the problems.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7180055


White House wants suit against Yoo dismissed

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/07/MN061AVC89.DTL

Yoo wrote the papers to give cover to torture ...... torture that was used to try to make a link between Iraq and 9/11 & to find WMDs that
we knew were not there ...... 1.3 million people are dead in Iraq thanx to bush & company .... Mr. Yoo helped in that crime. After WW II
we tried people @ Nuremberg for such acts.

Afghanistan is very complex but one simple fact is that it has never had a strong central government the very thing that Obama's plan
needs so we can turn power over to in 18 months.

But I do want to thank you for challenging my post and ideas. Peace

[vaberella]

139. Conyers just appears to be an ass to me.

You don't pass on a meeting where you can talk about the issues and then go crowing to the media about the comeuppance you gave the president. Dude...just say he was in the wrong. I don't give a fuck if he's frusrated, so am I. However, some level of decorum should be at hand. The dude showed no class.

1. I read that article your quoting. One Ben Smith is with politico----so I'm already on the fence o that. Secondly...I don't listen to ANY unnamed sources from Politico. It always comes across as sensationalism and an Op-Ed piece.

2. I read the article on Yoo, and know the crime he committed----I think a lot of people are picking and choosing what they want to read in order to feel indignant.

The third or second paragraph says something very different. It would seem in some civil courts---or whatever court that is, is not legally administered to prosecuting Yoo, however:

Other sanctions are available for government lawyers who commit misconduct, the department said. It noted that its Office of Professional Responsibility has been investigating Yoo's advice to former President George W. Bush since 2004 and has the power to recommend professional discipline or even criminal prosecution.

So it seems DOJ is arguing against it in one court and afer may seek other ways to prosecute more effectively.

3. I think Obama in a way has given up on the government, or at least somewhat, in afghanistan. His plans is to work with heads of clans in the mountains of Afghanistan and provide funding and amenities to get them over to our side. The country is of course disastrous but his intention is to go around it. I am fully aware that his plan is ambitios and highly unlikely to happen as effectively as anyone would hope.

However, leaving---is not only inhumane but absolutely ridiculous as well. We made these people's lives doubly difficult in the last 8-9 years. To me that's leaving Afghanistan in the mess that it's in is what Bush did to the United States---leaving Obama to try to pick up the pieces. But I've also come to realize many on this board who push for the Bush Admin to pay for their crimes and take responsibility. Don't seem to realize that we need to tak responsibility for our destructive actions in that nation. This is also why we are having such a hard time with Pakistan. It's not like Pakistan forgot what we did to them over 20 year ago, almost 30. Doing the same to Afghanistan---is just...ugh.

[Clio the Leo]

179. What exactly did Conyers do....

... to try and sway more House votes in favor of single player or a strong public option? Did he have the votes for either of them and the President took them away?

Serious question.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Not in the mood to "chat" with the Prez?

For fuck's sake, Conyers. You think that's the way to get people to take you seriously?

[Uben]

5. Wasn't in the mood to chat?

He got the president's ear on a personal basis and he wasn't in the mood to chat? Who the fuck does he think he is? He missed the opportunity to air his complaints, and he'll be lucky to ever get it again by saying that. If our own people aren't talking, who the fuck is? I hate all the goddamned uppity attitudes in congress. These guys better get their shit together or they aren't going to be elected officials come next year.

[mkultra]

51. yeah, he doesnt really want to discuss the issues

he just wants to condem. He has taken up the banner of the Debbie Downers.

[ecstatic]

89. That struck me too

If Conyers was sincere he would have jumped at the opportunity to tell Obama his concerns. Instead he cowered away and ran to the media. That's what a snake does, not someone who is truly trying to solve differences.

[RandomKoolzip]

111. "Uppity?!"

Your choice of adjective is cringe-worthy.

[Fire1]

155. Trust me, People like Mitch McConnell and John Conyers

are there for LIFE!

[bluetrain]

6. Little early to be crossing into Nixon level paranoia, isn't it?

[KittyWampus]

7. what a botched abortion of a thread title (not blaming you BabylonSis).

[Clio the Leo]

8. So he's willing to talk to EVERYONE BUT the President....

..... about his issues with him?

Way to keep it classy John! :think:

[vaberella]

56. That's the shocker for me.

I was surprised there are DUers who support this move. I'm just flabbergasted. But going to the media definitely makes the best sense to Conyers. I don't know if this article is BS or it's so unbelievable it must be true.

[firedupdem]

9. Great that Conyers wants his voice heard, however,

And he said, ‘Well, let’s talk about it.’”
Sitting in the Judiciary Committee’s conference room two days after Obama delivered his speech on Afghanistan, the 23-term lawmaker said he wasn’t in the mood to “chat.”
Obama’s move to send in 30,000 troops to Afghanistan by the summer of 2010 has clearly disappointed Conyers.
He said he intends to press his case in writing soon.
“I want something so serious that he has to respond in writing, like I am responding in writing to him,” he said.

He can't sit down with the President and discuss? He feels better writing a letter? What the hell is that? Yet he didn't mind sitting down for an interview to talk about the conversation he had with the President? Why won't he talk directly with the President? I've lost a lot of respect for Conyers.

[vaberella]

58. I don't know....this article makes no sense to me.

I'm so shocked, I'm responding to every post. My mind is just having problems understanding his moves. He could still write and press his issue, even after talking to the President. It just doesn't sound right. :crazy:

[firedupdem]

59. No it doesn't. You get the president's ear, and you say "nope,

don't wanna chat, I need to write a letter." But he has time to chat with this reporter? Uugh.

[RufusTFirefly]

67. Perhaps he worried the "chat" was going to be strictly symbolic

.. and he didn't feel like being jerked around for symbolic purposes.

Assuming the story is accurate, I don't really blame either man for responding the ways they did.

[firedupdem]

73. Symbolic or not, he'd rather write a letter and talk to reporters

instead of speaking directly with the president? The guy who is making all the decisions he's so disappointed with? Sounds a bit cowardice to me. Maybe if he'd had the conversation, his letter would be a bit more sound. After all, he could say what he said to the president, and then report the president's response to his concerns. I hate grandstanding...doesn't impress me at all.

[vaberella]

112. Dude...He had the chance to speak face to face with the President about issues that concern us.

If they were that important you don't tell me you'd write a letter over talking; when you can very well do both. Not to mention I'm sure if he asked Obama to possibly hold a forum so they can have a discussion the President might meet him and others privately. Instead this guy flat out said, "No, I won't talk. But don't forget to read my letter." ? Makes no damned sense.

[Lord Helmet]

126. Leaking this to a reporter reveals Conyers to be disingenuous.

He obviously prefers talking trash about the president "behind his back" which in this case means everywhere except to the Pres's face.

[dionysus]

120. because "sternly worded letter" is mr impeachments middle name...

[amandabeech]

195. Conyers has been around a long time.

Obviously, he wants to get Obama on record, in writing.

I presume Conyers has his reasons.

Talk is cheap, even among "old" friends, and Conyers knows it.

What I find odd is the use of the term, "demeaning."

[Algorem]

10. when's Obama's next press conference?

[Clio the Leo]

180. lol are you posting this from the press offices?

Or the briefing room?

And what paper do work for? lol

[TwilightGardener]

11. Did Bush have this problem with GOP congressmen?

Of course not. Republicans don't launch snide attacks against their President and then rebuff his efforts to hear them out.

[ClassWarrior]

17. Damn those free-thinking Democrats!!

By the way, when did Bush/Cheney** ever make an effort to hear someone else out?...

:shrug:

NGU.

[TwilightGardener]

40. It's not "free thinking". Conyers can always get his message across

to the President without taking potshots (can't remember exactly what he said, but I remember cringing at it). The simple fact is, Democrats are always in a rush to agree with GOPer Presidents, and only grow balls against their own (usually for self-promotion purposes: "Look at me! I took on my own party's President!! I'm a free thinker!"). There's no unified message when we finally run things, it all falls apart in a Dem administration. I remember this shit with Clinton, too. So backstabby and pathetic and Liebermanesque. It's the one characteristic of the Democratic party that has made me consider leaving it.

[mkultra]

53. good point, Bush is like conyers

in that he doesnt want to actually discuss the issues with Obama. Free thinking and destructive criticism are two different things.

[harkadog]

147. Ron Paul certainly did

That's just one that come to mind immediately.

[impik]

12. F**** you, Conyers. You just *had* to go out and tell the world

about a private conversation you had with the president. What a loser.

[TwilightGardener]

That bothers me too--Dick Move of the Week.

[vaberella]

16. He's a free man. He can. n/t

[Zynx]

21. It's just something that decent people don't do.

[vaberella]

35. Understood. n/t

[Kahuna]

70. Exactly! Repukes never do that. The Dems are forming a circular

firing squad aimed at our President. They are hoping that it will help their re-elections, but it won't. They just come across as whiney, disloyal and stupid. Only a handful of voters will appreciate their tone and actions. Most of them are on DU which means it's not enough to win an election.

[Fire1]

157. I resent that. Congressman Conyers is most esteemed in

and out of his congressional district.

[Peacetrain]

14. Sometimes you have to wonder..the point of that was?

[vaberella]

57. Amen. n/t

[SemiCharmedQuark]

15. So Obama invited him to talk to express his concerns, but Conyers refused to go?

I don't understand that reasoning.

Still, Conyers is OK in my book.

[vaberella]

19. I need to rephrase my statement upon seeing post below!

It doesn't make sense to me either. If you have problems with policy this would have been a chance to possibly make changes. I don't get the bitching but when given the opportunity to speak to the President...he didn't. I doubt other critics of Obama would pass up such a chance. And Obama has many a critic here.

Edit: I want to add an edit. I just noticed that, Yes...there are people on DU who would stupidly decline. I was not aware.

[AllentownJake]

18. Good on Conyers

“I want something so serious that he has to respond in writing, like I am responding in writing to him,” he said.

Hold his feet to the fire. He isn't a king and should not be treated as such. The whole co-equal branches of government thing. Very constitutional.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

20. Yeah, but you can do both. You can make your case in person and in writing.

Complaining that people aren't listening to you and then refusing to go speak to them face to face weakens your argument.

[AllentownJake]

24. I get a phone call from the President asking me to talk about my grievances

and I'm a member of congress I'm going to ask to collect my thoughts. I'm not going to be ambushed by a surprise phone call.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

25. First of all, he didn't say that he had scheduled the meeting with Obama for next week or something.

He said he "wasn't in the mood to chat".

Second of all, it isn't either or. You take your case to the person AND you make your case in writing.

[AllentownJake]

28. A phone call why are you demeaning me is a confrontation

Asking to collect your thoughts is respectable. Would you rather have Conyers yelled at the President.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

30. Conyers didn't ask to collect his thoughts. He said he wasn't in the mood to chat.

[AllentownJake]

32. Sound to me he wasn't in the mood to chat

Translation, I may say somethings to you I will regret over your recent actions.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

38. So instead the more professional thing to do is to say those things directly to the media?

No.

[mkultra]

55. but he will run his mouth to the press without restraint

hes not interested in solving problems.

[AllentownJake]

66. Seeing that his gripes are with decisions that already have been made

What problems are there to solve.

[mkultra]

71. now i see the issue

i guess discussion is worthless to the closed mind.

[AllentownJake]

87. The President didn't call John before the escalation or the Health Care debate

why is he so concerned post escalation and the bill has gone through the house?

[mkultra]

93. again ill tell you. To make progress, we must work together

Those who refuse to work together or collaborate are really just selfish disruptors. Sometimes, when you have a disagreement with someone, you try to talk it out with them. I doubt that will work with this douche as he is clearly just a media whore. That's why he announced that he wanted to investigate ACORN. He's a liar who preys on suckers like you.

[bvar22]

78. without restraint ?

Sounds like Conyers used a lot of restraint considering the direction the Obama Administration has taken.
When furious, it is always a good idea to write a letter instead of "chat" with the perpetrator.

[mkultra]

83. I guess if you hate Obama, anything goes.

[AllentownJake]

92. Yes and if you think everyone can just grab a mop

Anything Goes.

[mkultra]

95. yes, anything like actual discussion goes

people who refuse to talk are the ones who need to grab a mop.

[firedupdem]

74. But he'd rather put them in writing?

Sounds like he got a frog in his throat and didn't have enough courage to speak man to man.

[mkultra]

76. +1 hes to cowardly too speak them to his face

[AllentownJake]

88. Did the President invite him to the Oval Office

or did he do a surprise phone call.

[mkultra]

104. i believe the invitation was for brunch but i cant be certain

doesn't really matter, if your not in the "mood" to talk about something then perhaps scheduling something is in order. Like i said, there are several constructive options that do not include whoring to the media.

[vaberella]

116. And this matters, why?! Conyers dismissed his talk as a "chat" anyway.

But he chatted his way to the Press.

[Clio the Leo]

182. I would have....

.... I would have MUCH rather he gone off on the President over the phone (as it's generally accepted in the community for an older man to be upset with a younger one, even if the younger one happens to be the leader of the free world.) Such a relationship invokes respect because of it's very nature. But there's a way to handle things.

What is NOT generally accepted in the community is to for either party to air their issues in public .... especially OUTSIDE of the community if you get my meaning.

If the President really said, "you're demeaning me," I doubt he meant "since I am the President."

There is an underlying issue that I think a lot of us are upset about. An issue that has nothing to do with the fact that one of these men is the President and one an esteemed memberof Congress. An issue that transcends beltway politics.

Ya get me? ;)

[PopSixSquish]

190. I Got Ya Clio and I Agree

Not a class move there Congressman. If you are upset with the President, then give him "the what for and the who with" when you arrive at the White House. Somebody can lock Rahm in his office and keep Joey B occupied...

Idiot...

[amandabeech]

196. Yes. The give-away is "demeaning." n/t

[Kahuna]

137. Does that mean you have to run out and tell the press about it?

:eyes:

[vaberella]

23. If Obama gave you the chance to speak to him, you'd stupidly decline?!

I have to make an edit on a previous post.

[AllentownJake]

26. Phone call out of the blue?

Why are you mad at me. This isn't High School. If I was Conyers I'd offer to speak after I collect my thoughts and put them in writing first.

[vaberella]

31. I'm not mad at you. Far from it. You're a bit paranoid in your claims.

I was shocked that someone would decline. I just had replied, previously, to another poster----or let me rephrase, I assured another poster that NO ONE on DU would ever decline an invitation to talk one on one with the President about his stances and see if they could change his mind. However upon reading your post...I was proven to be wrong and decided to edit my claims in light of your post.

However, my surprise has not dimmed. I'm still a bit shocked someone would decline. Because what Conyers 'assumes' would be a "chat" could have been a very good opportunity. But whatever.

[AllentownJake]

37. If the President wanted to chat with me about policy

I'd find someway to give up my appointment to Howard Dean, Paul Krugman, or Bernie Sanders...they'd be better at the discussion than I am.

[vaberella]

41. You're not making sense. But whatever. I'm just plain shocked that someoe would decline.

I mean going into these other points is irrelevant. Because you could have easily brought in statements and assurtions made by these other people and get the Presidential viewpoint. So to me you statement is ridiculous. But I mean again....it's whatever. I'm still trying to understand why someone would decline.

[AllentownJake]

45. Personally, I have no power base or history of success on a topic

If I wanted to talk about Health Care, I'd rather Howard Dean be the person that talks to the President. If I wanted to talk about Economic Stimulus, Paul Krugman, and if it was financial regulatory reform, Bernie Sanders.

If I'm giving information. If I want information, I can go to whitehouse.gov to get the administrations take on an issue. The White House is bigger than the President.

[vaberella]

50. Again...I'm not wrapping my mind around the way your thinking.

Since Conyers would have more information than you, even if you declined then (which I don't get---but whatever),and Conyers may have the power to have those other people come into the talks if he asked---which we know he ddn't since he declined. In the end, he declined and tossed out a primo opportunity which you defend. I don't know...that doesn't strike me as defending the cause. It could also be another reason why this article just doesn't ring honest to me.

[mkultra]

79. the point is that of all the conrtsuctive things he could have done, Conyers did none of them

He didn't defer to later, he didn't set up a meeting, he didn't ask for a callback. Instead, he chose to speak his thoughts only to the press and NOT discuss them with the Obama. This proves conclusively that his only intent is to tear Obama down.

[vaberella]

113. AGREED!!! I need to send this article to sandandsea. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

185. What if his question was...

"What can I do to help make AllentownJake's life better?"

[Clio the Leo]

184. lol, oh he would decline!

Trust me! ;)

[ecstatic]

97. If you rant about the Obama admin on a daily basis, but when given

the chance to speak to the source you need time to collect thoughts, it would appear as if you don't really believe all the things you had been saying. You need to check your notes to be clear on what your "outrage" is about. That's the definition of phony, if you ask me.

[AllentownJake]

103. Bullshit

You are talking to the President. You choose your words carefully. Barack knew the game he was playing.

[bvar22]

172. You also are very careful...

...to get YOUR words down on paper, and hopefully, Obama will put HIS words "on paper".
That avoids confusion.

I commend Conyers for taking this path.

It is well past time for Obama to tell the EXACTLY where he stands on all the major issues.

[mkultra]

164. +1 phony for sure.

[BeyondGeography]

27. He isn't Conyers' towel boy either

Going to the press with your "How I blew off Barack" story isn't exactly the best way to hold Obama's feet to the fire.

[AllentownJake]

29. No but everyone is going to be waiting for that letter

He's playing the game, just as the President was with the surprise phone call.

[BeyondGeography]

36. Surprise phone call? Like Obama has the time for that kind of bullshit

You know how many things he has to do during the course of a day? You think he's sitting there rubbing his hands thinking of the prospect of his "ambush" of Conyers? More like it was item 112 of 180 for the day.

[vaberella]

43. You got the vibe the article is BS too right? Something strikes me as off with the article.

This is no reflection on the poster of the article, of course.

[AllentownJake]

46. The luxuary of being President is that when the phone rings

unless you literally aren't there, the other party picks up. It might have been 112 of 180 of the day, but Conyers doesn't have to be aware that is about to happen.

You are naive if you don't think the President doesn't use his position of power for surprises.

[mkultra]

80. I think this story is RW MSM propganda and you are swallowing hook line and sinker

you are just a giant big mouth bass for anything anti-obama your objectivity is completely compromised.

[AllentownJake]

91. Well I'll be proven to have taken the bait

If there is no letter.

[mkultra]

105. i think your already proven

as conyers was sending out letters to democrats before Obama called. His is really just whoring it up just like he did with the ACORN thing and your slurping it up like his lap dog.

[AllentownJake]

107. We shall see nt

[Clio the Leo]

187. He's probably hiding in the bushes right now....

.... waiting for Conyers to come out of his house so he can confront him unexpectedly.

Him and ......... fifty secret service guys.

And the press pool. :)

[waterscalm]

109. I will be waiting.

[amandabeech]

198. Conyers is nobody's towel boy, either.

Maybe Conyers wants to make sure that Obama knows it.

How do Conyers and Rush get on? Anyone know?

[dionysus]

118. what's he gonna do jake, send obama a sternly worded letter like he did with bush?

:D

[AllentownJake]

152. You'd prefer he had hearings on a democratic President?

:shrug:

[Renew Deal]

145. Why do republicans only want "co-equal branches" and "term limits" when Democrats are in charge?

Weird coincidence huh?

[mkultra]

165. ponies?

[Clio the Leo]

181. lol, so you think this approach is the way to get a letter in response?

Never burn your bridges.

I would have thought that was a life lesson a man of Mr. Conyers wisdom and life experience would have learned by now.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

22. K&R. Now the wait for the letter....

[quiet.american]

33. So, a "let's talk" = "stop demeaning me" according to The Hill's headline. Unbelievable. nt

[mopinko]

34. just plain stupid john.

going a long way in the jimmy-carter-ization process, john. pat yourself on the back.
geeeeeezus.

[vaberella]

39. I'm a bit surprised by Conyers statement to the public.

So much so that I wanted to call it BS. However you don't post BS----so I'm not sure how to take this. It's quite interesting what I'm seeing. I wonder if others on the left would do the same. I know Kucinich and Feingold have their differences with Obama's decisions, but I think they wouldn't pass up the chance to speak to him.

But then again...thereare many on DU who would the same it would seems. Shocking to me, the action actually made me question their loyalty to the cause. When given the chance to have a good talking with the President about so many issues and then to decline. I don't know...I can't rationalize that perspective.

This is irrelevant to actually detailing a private conversation. I mean he can do that if he wants. I coud care less.

[shireen]

42. actually, the wording in that article is a bit strange ....

Conyers, the second-longest-serving member of the House, said, “{Obama} 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.’”

Sitting in the Judiciary Committee’s conference room two days after Obama delivered his speech on Afghanistan, the 23-term lawmaker said he wasn’t in the mood to “chat.”


when i first saw that, i wondered why "chat" was preceded with the text "Sitting in the ...". Did the Hill reporter try to talk to him in the conference room to get more details, and Conyers didn't want to 'chat' about his discussion with the president? That's how i first interpreted it.

I'd be very surprised if Conyers told the president that he wasn't in the mood to chat. That doesn't sound like something any Democrat would say to the President. But if Conyers did in fact say that, we should be very concerned about what's going on behind the scenes at both ends.

[vaberella]

44. Dude...something bugs me as well. n/t

[ima_sinnic]

170. I agree w/you that the "chat" remark might be about something else

It does not necessarily follow, the ambiguous way the article is written, that he was responding to or about the president that way. And I think the writer might have been purposely ambiguous, to leave the impression that Conyers blew off Obama's invitation to talk. I don't think he has responded to it yet.

[nod factor]

48. "Not in the mood to chat."

Otherwise known as "Not in the mood to be placated."
We all know that's Obama's style, his 'gift' so to speak.
The charm offensive.
Good for Conyers.
If others would stop falling in line just so "any bill with HC written on it gets stamped because my presidency rests on it," maybe then we would have something decent coming out of committee.

[vaberella]

52. Your post is idiotic at best.

You're now implying Obama ill use some sort of mysticism to convince Conyers...through "charming" him. Give me a break.:eyes:

[nod factor]

62. I would admit

I was being tongue-in-cheek but what do you think Conyers meant then?
I think it rather obvious he knows there is no point in 'chatting' if nothing will be done but to try to get him to fall in line.
You know, sorta like the Code Pink supporters that the W.H has no time for their emails and many grievances.
Or the GLBT lobby who just needs to relax and wait till when it's politically palatable enough for the president to publicly support their many causes.
Hell even DU suffers from the same affliction.
"It's a chess game, don't worry, the president won't forget his supporting base."
"We need to project unity and strength and support the president, if not then nothing will get done and we end up hurting ourselves even more in the long run."
Isn't that how it goes?
Conyers ain't no spring chicken.

[firedupdem]

60. Oh, the hypotism angle. Give me a fucking break. Conyers is

old enough to be the presidents father. He's been around the block more than a few times. He doesn't have a problem rattling off rw talking jabs on the radio or to reporters...he can speak to the magic negro without falling under his spell! :eyes:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

61. So, Obama would...hypnotize Conyers?

:wtf:

Conyers is a smart guy. He's served 23 terms in Congress. I think he'd be able to handle Obama.

[HopeOverFear]

68. Yeah, good for Conyers!

Tell Obama off with...a LETTER!!!! That'll show him!!!!!!!!





what a dumbass. :rofl:

[vaberella]

115. Hah...I didn't know you posted. Your post is funny.

:rofl:

[HopeOverFear]

130. Thank you. As an African American, let me just say

nobody but nobody can do petty like black folks. And what Conyers is doing...is straight-up petty.

[vaberella]

133. Don't I know it. I'm Afro-Carib American---originating from Harlem.

So you don't have to tell me---I know what its like.

[Name removed]

77. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pirate Smile]

63. Clearly, Conyers intends to try to demean the President even more by telling reporters about the

conversation. Obama knows what to expect and not to bother with personal calls to talk about issues.

[old mark]

64. Conyers is a senile old man and should be in a home, not in congress. nt

[WI_DEM]

75. Wish he had used the Judiciary Committee more to go after Bush.

[goclark]

81. Thank you ~ did you noticed about 6 months

before Bush left office, there was not a sound from Conyers.

They shut him up in my Opinion.
That hurt me because Conyers was always a strong voice.

[Phx_Dem]

82. Conyers is a dick who has been demeaning and disrespectful. Apparently, he can't

disagree with the President without getting personal and ugly.

And the comment below shows Conyer's stupidity. A President does not have to (and should not) rely solely on the advice of generals in the field, but it would be obscenely stupid to not include them in "discussions."

“Calling in generals and admirals to discuss troop strength is like me taking my youngest to McDonald’s to ask if he likes french fries,” Conyers said. What an asshole.

[mkultra]

84. he is just a moron

[Phx_Dem]

90. And another thing. Why is that piece of shit discussing a private phone call

with the President? Attention, of course. Demeaning the President and a member of his own party and revealing private phone conversations is the only way this loser can get any attention.

Conyers is an embarrassment.

[mkultra]

85. did conyers call for an investigation of ACORN?

seems like i have a memory nugget of this. Anyone?

[populistdriven]

102. John Conyers calls for investigation into ACORN

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2009/09/john_conyers_calls_for_investi.html

U.S. Reps, John Conyers (D-Detroit) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Congressional Research Service requesting an investigation of ACORN, the anti-poverty group whose employees in Baltimore recently were captured on hidden camera appearing to offer questionable advice to conservative activists posing as a prostitute and pimp.

In the letter, Conyers and Frank ask the nonpartisan research group to look into ACORN's alleged misbehavior, including funding violations and alleged voter registration irregularities.

But they also question whether Congress' swift move to cut the group's funding was unconstitutional.

Specifically, Conyers and Frank ask whether the funding cuts qualify as "bills of attainder," described by The Hill as legislative acts that punish an individual or group without trial.

[vaberella]

117. The more I read of him, the more special he becomes. Wow. n/t

[populistdriven]

94. Conyers is all mouth just like when Bush was President, he gets his bills from RIAA lobbyists

and then he doesn't even read them, his son admitted as much

http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/tags/analog-hole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACbwND52rrw

His son got one thing wrong though, the length of the bill has nothing to do with not reading it. They just don't care. Anyone with half a brain who read the 35 page Analog Hole Bill introduced by Conyers and Sensenbrenner would have realized it was an abomination. But he wanted to get his BET buds backs.

http://www.eff.org/IP/Video/hr4569.pdf

[ShortnFiery]

96. Conyers is correct on this and Obama has LOST his liberal base.

It's all downhill from here. Many of us are voting only for LIBERAL democrats from now on.

[populistdriven]

99. I have no doubt you will finally be fired up when President Palin is around.

I am a Liberal Progressive and Conyers is a Corporate Whore.

[mkultra]

100. people like you are the ONLY reason republicans every win.

they rest of us work for progress while you bastards take your ball and go home.

[AllentownJake]

106. Not really

I know that is a talking point, however if you have worked a GOTV the amount of democrats who simply don't care because they think nothing will change is the bigger issue.

[mkultra]

114. thats stupid

we make progress all of the time. Sure, the condition of the world is pretty sad, but you can either sit on the bench or have an impact. The reason Bush made me so angry was that he was trying to undo so much that we had accomplished. Now, we are back in the box and kicking holes in their walls. Things will change, just not all at once. I guess some people don't know how to build big things.

[AllentownJake]

151. The liberals always show up

They may not vote straight party ticket, and may lodge a protest vote here and there but they are there.

Voter apathy in the working class kills us more than liberals, every single time.

[mkultra]

160. negative, the "liberals" as you call them are what kill us

there will always be a segment of society that must be motivated to vote and educated on issues. With all of the information flying back and forth, those "liberals" devoted to tearing down progressive efforts are just seen to the low information voter as instability and lack of competence. When we tear ourselves up, they turn to face the conservatives and trust what they say more. If "Liberals" really wanted to make change, they would keep their criticism constructive.


FYI, i do not call these people liberals. Liberals are devoted to doing as much good for as many people as possible. Serial bitchers thus do not qualify.

[AllentownJake]

163. We will never agree

If people think their lives are better after a Presidential Term, they vote, if they don't they stay home.

Simple.

I wonder how many GOTV efforts you have actually been involved in if you don't understand that.

2009 locally we didn't get killed by angry liberals. We got killed by apathetic voters. At least in PA.

[mkultra]

167. ive done plenty of get out the vote stuff

Plenty. I have no desire to list off my resume as my stance and my support of democrats speaks for itself. Again, you may think the middle stays home due to laziness, but when the message is clear, they come out. This is why Obama won. His oratory charm was a huge strength as it helped communicate a simple and clear message. Funny how these very liberals have nothing but bitch about his masterful use of it.

[ShortnFiery]

129. Correction: the proper derisive word is "bitch" not "bastard" ...

And just to confuse you some more - my buds say that I have big brass balls. :evilgrin:

[mkultra]

166. They are probably whats rattling around in your head.

[ShortnFiery]

201. It's called "witticism" ... something seemingly estranged to you.

;)

[mkultra]

205. hehe

[JVS]

194. But if we vote for "moderates" we're told that we can't criticize their policies.

Obviously the only way that we can keep credibility while promoting liberal ideals is to vote for liberals exclusively.

[chill_wind]

121. Just once, just ONCE I would love to hear of him taking some Republicrats

to the woodshed. The particular few conservaDems that, you know, consistently to try to fight him and fook up the agenda for getting anything worthwhile done for him, for the Dem Party and most of all for people.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

122. Does this have anything to do with his wife's conviction for bribery?

[Cha]

135. You mean his pissiness?

[FrenchieCat]

124. Manipulative piece to say the least.....

Sitting in the Judiciary Committee’s conference room two days after Obama delivered his speech on Afghanistan, the 23-term lawmaker said he wasn’t in the mood to “chat.”

Was Conyers not in the mood to "chat" with the reporter who asked a question,
or did he say that to the President, and was telling the reporter this
while he was sitting in the Judiciary Committee's conference room?

Black on Black slams are so "useful" to the press who wants this president divided from those who would normally stand by him, until I'm not I'm not certain what to believe.

Conyers is a nice guy, so I hope it ain't personal.

:shrug:

[Cha]

134. Right, it was vague as

to whom he didn't want to chat with. Or was Conyers being rude in saying "he wasn't in the mood to chat" when the Pres said "let's talk"?

I think it's kind of rude to be chatting about a private conversation with the Pres or a buddy for that matter, but that might just be me.

[Thrill]

127. Conyers is the biggest mouth in Congress. All mouth. What happened to "We've got Rove's ass"

Until he actually 'gets' Rove. He can kiss my ass.

[Cha]

128. Good, I like the way Pres Obama

confronts whatever it is that needs to be addressed.

[Lord Helmet]

153. Conyers is a coward for not saying it to Obama's face choosing instead to leak to the press.

[Cha]

159. Little chickenshittish of him all right.

WTF is he trying to prove? That the Pres called him and wanted to talk said he didn't have time to chat?

[Waiting For Everyman]

142. O. should've called the Blue Dogs instead. n/t

[Drunken Irishman]

143. Fuck Conyers and his corrupt wife.

Yeah, I'll toss him under the bus and demand the driver roll over him a few times.

Conyers has been acting exactly like a Republican in his attacks since Pres. Obama took office. He's just there to get his ugly mug on the television. He's a media whore, plain and simple. Nothing gets you more attention than picking a fight with the president. Republicans do it all the time because of this and that's exactly what Coyners is doing. He's not just prodding on policy - he's getting personal. I'm surprised he hasn't called Michelle a cow yet and Pres. Obama an Uncle Tom - though I expect that to come.

So, yeah, FUCK HIM. If he wants to debate issues, fine, but he's not content at doing that. His sole objective is to embarrass the President. In that case, he's a douchebag and no better than the douchebag asshole Republicans.

[ClarkUSA]

169. Absolutely.

:thumbsup:

[Name removed]

158. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[firedupdem]

171. +1

"North Compton Association of Gangbangers"............:rofl:

You are soooo right!

I'm a bit soured on Conyers and I'm sure some of it has to do with his wife's antics in Detroit. I know I have to seperate the two, but he's been yapping a little too much for my tastes.

But your post is spot on!

[Number23]

174. Girl, I'm just WAITING for somebody to post some mess like that, under the guise of being

so terribly CONCERNED about what black people think about Obama. Why, these people can't sleep at night they're so torn up with worrying about what our community thinks about Obama!!

Firedup, can't you just feel the concern???! :eyes:

[Number23]

175. And to the person who PM'd me, no the people posting this stuff are not black!

That's what makes all of this just so very, very innnnnteresting! They are just WRACKED with care and "concern" about a community with which they do not even belong and are only posting this stuff in an effort to score points against Obama. It's damn sure not because they actually care about the black community or what happens to us. They are as transparent as wet toilet paper and about half as smart.

Sorry about the post. I deleted your PM before I fully understood what you were saying to me! :blush:

[ClarkUSA]

186. True, but Conyers is still a whiny attention whore.

:hi:

[MadBadger]

162. Why is Conyers going to the press about his conversations with the President?

Keep it to yourself.

[Clio the Leo]

183. The major point we're missing there....

.... is that this has little to do with a Congressman the President and politics and a LOT more to do with something else. (at least I think we're missing it, I'm only halfway through the thread)

Which I detail here...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=43756&mesg_id=45049

At least that's what bothers ME about it so much and I suspect others in this thread as well.


Anyway Vabs, I wouldn't stress it too much.

Ya know?

[MarjorieG]

189. Single-payer has been Conyers bill for yars, HR676, so lack of momentum is Obama's fault?

Conyers is playing to his left but not doing any heavy lifting, only taking pot shots. He knows the game better than most, and isn't helping.

[Skip Intro]

192. Conyers has every right to state his opinions and push for his values and beliefs. Is he supposed to

curtsy too? The Dem party is not Obama's rubber stamp. That's one thing that sets us apart from the lockstep support the repukes showed bush while he slaughtered thousands without any honest justification. Obama needs to grow a thicker skin or something.

[JVS]

193. Maybe Obama should talk to liberals before making policy decisions and not after...

he is displeased with their criticism of his choosing a more "moderate" path

[jeanpalmer]

197. Gotta go with Conyers on that

Obama was “getting bad advice from … clowns” on Afghanistan. “Calling in generals and admirals to discuss troop strength is like me taking my youngest to McDonald’s to ask if he likes french fries....” "Conyers has been an outspoken proponent of a single-payer healthcare system...." "He has also been at odds with White House policy on extending expiring provisions of the Patriot Act...."

Gotta go with Conyers on all of that. Instead of Conyers having to explain himself, the burden of explaining ought to be on Obama.

Conyers for President!

[budkin]

207. Sounds like Obama wanted to talk about it and Conyers said no... I don't get it.

[vaberella]

212. Who does? Well except for the people who have issues with Obama in general.n/t

[Jennicut]

211. If you have a rift with the Prez, why publicize it unless you are looking for attention?

Conyers handled it badly.