When I first heard this, I could not beleive It....

[trailmonkee]

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?

GOP Leaders John Boehner and Mitch McConnell Refuse to Accept President Obama's Election Night Call

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]

1. I don't really care about the token symbolic shit.

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]

4. I couldn't agree more

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]

6. remember Mcconnell: 'my most important goal is to make sure Obama is not relected'?

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]

9. Didn't he call around 11pm?

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]

12. thank you, i din't see the time, but it wasn't 3 am? jeesh

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/08/1159300/-The-first-lesson-of-the-second-term

[trailmonkee]

14. nyt article said right after speech

[noamnety]

21. The flip side is also true

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]

27. Boehner is probably too sloshed at 11 p.m. to take a phone call. Maybe McConnell, too...

[trailmonkee]

18. not everything is 'symbolic' when we use that word it sometimes waters down the action...

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]

2. and then they complain that he doesn't reach out, but opts to leave country.

heard that on Bill Maher last night from Coup.

[NMDemDist2]

3. most of us expect the Boner was drunk as a skunk by then

so i'm not surprised he didn't take the call

no idea why turtleboy wouldn't unless he really was asleep

[vlyons]

5. Actually nat taking the call might have been a good thing

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]

10. more proof that we are not dealing with adults who take their job seriously

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]

7. In Boehner's defense

He was probably in an alcohol induced coma at the time.

McConnell is just an asshole.

[BigDemVoter]

8. Thiere's always a double standard for them.

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!

[JanT]

25. +1,000 nt

[LiberalEsto]

11. Probably weeping bitterly into their whiskey

and waiting for the world to end

[grasswire]

13. yes, it is outrageous

I believe it is the same as refusing to acknowledge the will of the American people, by shunning their president.

Very unAmerican.

[trailmonkee]

15. +1

[mysuzuki2]

16. If I were the president and they did this to me I would remember for a LOOONG time.

But then, I'm a mean, vindictive son of a bitch.

[trailmonkee]

17. i remember all those who play me... i dont hate them, just never take them seriously again

[uponit7771]

19. Thats some childish shit

[trailmonkee]

20. my thoughts exactly, I thought who would do this??? a fucking kid would! not an adult

[grantcart]

22. kick

[PD Turk]

23. They both have good excuses

Boner was passed out drunk and Mitch couldn't hear the phone ringing through his shell

[Shanti Mama]

24. I shared this with a Republican friend who doubts Obama will "cooperate."

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.

[JanT]

26. once again. BO is the adult in the room. nt