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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen I first heard this, I could not beleive It....
Last edited Sat Nov 10, 2012, 04:05 PM - Edit history (1)
Right after the Election, I saw a post on DU about how GOP Leaders John Boehner and Mitch McConnell Refused to Accept President Obama's Election Night Call.... My first response was, this can't be true, nobody would do that to a standing President... Then I asked and several people confirmed that several stations reported it... It was even discussed this morning. On Melissa Harris-Perry show.... (link to the original New York Times Story is below)
it happened, these guys really did this to a standing president?
who the fuck does that? who refuses a call from the Standing President of the United States of America?
here is something that i just found on kos: it references the New York Times story on the calls: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/08/1159300/-The-first-lesson-of-the-second-term
here is the New York Times story... it's about two thirds throug they talk about the calls right after the election: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/politics/president-obama-begins-work-on-second-term.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
noamnety
(20,234 posts)Maybe it was childish for them not to pick up the phone. But seriously, it wasn't a call they needed to take in the middle of the night - this wasn't a crisis, and the president doesn't needed to be treated with royalty. If I'd gotten a call from dubya when he was president at 3am, I wouldn't have answered it.
I wish the media would focus on the real issues - like legislation those two guys are obstructing. That's the real problem.
SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)Sure, it would be great if everyone treated the President with respect, but they won't. It isn't required, and nothing can be done if they don't treat him with respect.
It sucks that they don't do the right thing, but they don't.
trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)that was one of the most powerful parts of the narative that, from the very beggining, the GOP refused to cooporate...
this is the same friggin thing..
and frankly, I would take a call from the president no matter who he was, if I was an elected official ITS THEIR JOB!!! If they had any respect for President Obama, they would have taken the call - period
liberalmuse
(18,672 posts)If you are part of the Congress, you better fucking well pick up the phone when your President calls. (Yes, I'm infuriated by this).
trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)noamnety
(20,234 posts)If you're going to call at an hour when most people are sleeping, you need to not abuse that for something that can wait until morning - if the expectation is that they NEED to pick up the phone at whatever hour you call.
But still - the bigger issue is what the media decides to focus on as important.
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)let's just look at the action - it was indicative of a seriously fucked up group of people and how they conduct themselves... our government is fucked up they way it is because we have to deal with this shit
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,128 posts)heard that on Bill Maher last night from Coup.
NMDemDist2
(49,313 posts)so i'm not surprised he didn't take the call
no idea why turtleboy wouldn't unless he really was asleep
vlyons
(10,252 posts)Maybe they were so pissed and apoplectic that they would have said something really really regrettable. We all know what incredibly sore losers they are. They needed time to get control of themselves. But you're right, it really reflects very poorly on them.
trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)they 'have to' take that call if they took there jobs seriously...
they saw it as a way to belittle the president... otherwise, they would have at least received the call and said thanks and lets talk tomorrow???
tritsofme
(17,393 posts)He was probably in an alcohol induced coma at the time.
McConnell is just an asshole.
BigDemVoter
(4,154 posts)Imagine if Bill Clinton had refused a call from GWB. . . There would have been hell to pay.
Same thing with other repuke figures. Remember Barbara Bush calling Geraldine Ferraro a bitch? Imagine if the shoe had been on the other foot.
All in all, I don't care that Quadruple-Chin McConnell and Boner didn't take the POTUS's call. . . . I imagine they were either drunk and crying in their cups or passed out after drowning their sorrows. I hope they had a terrific hangover in the morning. What I DO know is those 2 fuckers DID wake up on Wednesday morning with the full knowledge that B.O. kicked Shit Romney's ASS, and THAT is what counts!
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)and waiting for the world to end
grasswire
(50,130 posts)I believe it is the same as refusing to acknowledge the will of the American people, by shunning their president.
Very unAmerican.
mysuzuki2
(3,521 posts)But then, I'm a mean, vindictive son of a bitch.
trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)uponit7771
(90,348 posts)trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)PD Turk
(1,289 posts)Boner was passed out drunk and Mitch couldn't hear the phone ringing through his shell
Shanti Mama
(1,288 posts)I find their actions incredibly disrespectful. If the tables were turned, if Romney had been elected and called Reid and Pelosi and they'd not taken his calls it would be big news.
His FIRST act, basically, was to reach out and they shunned him. Doesn't matter the time of night. Of course they were up watching the election. Regardless, it was a gesture of good will and they snubbed it.
He is the POTUS. They should take his calls. It was not an abuse of his right to call about important events. If they wanted to show that they, too, were willing to work together they'd have spoken with him.
I find it disgusting.