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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHarry Reid Told Caucus That Pete Sessions Was Behind Obama Insult, Senators Say
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/harry-reid-pete-sessions_n_4156453.html?1382626266Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) let his Democratic caucus know last week in a private meeting that a top House Republican told President Barack Obama, "I cannot even stand to look at you," according to two Democratic senators who were present, and confirmed by two Senate Democratic aides who said they independently learned of the exchange from two other senators.
The two senators were not in the meeting where the Republican reportedly made the remark, but said a top White House aide who was there told Senate Democratic leaders about it.
The revelation from the senators sheds new light on a Capitol Hill whodunit that burst into the public sphere when Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) shared the exchange on his Facebook page on Sunday. (The two senators at the private meeting requested anonymity to talk about it; neither of them are Durbin.)
The alleged incident took place in the throes of the government shutdown, when Obama was meeting with different factions of lawmakers to try to find a resolution to the debacle. The White House aide told Democratic leaders that the lawmaker who couldn't stand to look at the president was Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Rules Committee, the two senators told HuffPost.
The PLOT thickens . . .
JRLeft
(7,010 posts)kardonb
(777 posts)they must be putting loco-weed in the water in TX . How else to explain all the nut-cases popping up from that state .
JRLeft
(7,010 posts)dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)if you ask me.
gtar100
(4,192 posts)We'd be in a much different world if our drug of choice were marijuana and not alcohol.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)And certain people are well aware of that, part of what has kept it illegal for so long. Change is gonna come, soon, though only if we stand up and demand it.
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)We already know how he feels about the French
riverbendviewgal
(4,253 posts)on reading the Wiki on him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Sessions
jsr
(7,712 posts)beerandjesus
(1,301 posts)I puked a little in my mouth.
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)...anyone can edit it. If it's missing a section about Sessions' well-documented racist tendencies, then it can be edited and, if it's edited back you can appeal to the Wiki moderators and they can lock it down.
SamYeager
(309 posts)You know, the one that rammed through a rules change so that the shutdown was guaranteed.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)Showing one again that Republicons are not just racist, but also Fascist Pigs who HATE all that is good about the United States of America.
Response to RockaFowler (Original post)
Post removed
ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)That, I believe, is what they poster was referring to.
ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)bashing bullshit has to stop!
I wonder how many phone hours that region bigot has spent to help Democratic candidates win in Texas?
My guess: NONE!
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)which way did those states vote. and I live in Iowa? it's generally blue. MN is blue. Relative lives in Austin TX although has been thinking of moving south of the border but she's called herself a yellow dog. I hear more about blue dogs. Both a term nobody knows much of anymore since we just call them Conservadems
Hestia
(3,818 posts)David Pryor, former Senator and Governor from Arkansas, describes the term. Kinda describes me
broiles
(1,367 posts)IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)missing one leg and a few teeth.
Zen Democrat
(5,901 posts)Don't put them in the category of Blue Dogs - which are almost extinct except for the Clintons and their pals like Ed Rendell or Harold Ford, Jr., etc. Yellow Dogs can kick some Blue Dog ass.
You people who don't live in Texas are NOT on the front lines so don't pretend to be. More people from overwhelmingly blue states should move to Texas to counteract the hard core religious vote. These dumbasses are following what their beloved pastor gods say.
GTurck
(826 posts)are liberal/Progressives in Texas and most of the rest of the country. Blue dog Democrats are conservatives.
Texas is full of so much hubris because of its size and history. It is very impressive but it carries a great deal of human folly and pain.
Hubris comes from thinking that mistakes or weaknesses don't matter when in fact their denial is what drives tragedy . There is much good in Texas but many Texans don't want to acknowledge the state's undeniable weaknesses socially and politically to correct them; instead they boast.
Yellow dogs don't boast about Texas they work to make it better.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)They bring a lot of negative attention to the Southeast. Sad, really. My wife and I just spent a week in Houston/Galveston to Louisiana border and had a wonderful time and met: some amazing folks.
IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)But it remains my mission to remind people that not every person who bashes a politician in a particular state is bashing the entire state or region. Otherwise some of us could be accused of America bashing, because yes, there are way too many crooks everywhere you look. Doesn't mean we shouldn't go after them though, no matter their location - or even party.
Your target certainly had it coming himself this time, however.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)Let's say "A fucking RW texan". But I'm right there with you. Couldn't agree more. Hell TEXAS voted that idiot cruz into office. That's all I need to know about texass.
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)need a correction from time to time. either way. just another crazy loon from the Right who thinks he has the moral high ground
efhmc
(14,731 posts)As usually we were enormously outspent. Our fellow Democrats in other states use us like an ATM to provide money for their candidates but NEVER stoop to help us. You might want to note that all Texans did not vote for this sicko and for you to put us all in that category is WRONG!!!! God, I get so sick of this.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)in one basket.I said RW texans. If that not clear enough, than so be it. A MAJORITY of TEXAS voters put cruz into office. That is that.
efhmc
(14,731 posts)PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)suggest you delete it. State is basically turning Purple don't let the reds win by stooping to their level
efhmc
(14,731 posts)whttevrr
(2,345 posts)bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)the follow-up question is "Which one?", as it could be Pete from Texas, or that well-known Klan apologist Jefferson (how apropos) from Alabama.
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)indicate it did not happen, really is confusing
If he is providing some sort of cover for the republicans, then he better pull his head out of his ass, and realize that this racist bullshit has to stop, and this is more than just being directed at him, it is being directed at the office of the presidency, and the people who elected him twice
BumRushDaShow
(129,118 posts)so as to not give any more fodder to the RW M$M noise machine. As it is, the way that it was revealed adds more levity and note that he and Durbin were once co-Senators from IL, so probably was done as some "hometown" assistance.
And when since can the oppressed "pull their head(s) out of their ass(es)" to realize they are being oppressed? Folks know, trust me. This is just bullshit and people in the "majority" need to fucking step up to the plate and handle this crap dished out by their own.
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)President for taking as you said "the high road"
It is pretty obvious my post who I was referring to. He is the President of the United States.
Harry Truman shoved it back to Douglas MacArthur when he went out of bounds, and this comment is out of bounds, it is NOT a trivial thing, and the President has been constantly insulted since he assumed the office.
He has been called a liar, and ever other name by these thugs, enough is enough.
politicaljunkie41910
(3,335 posts)What's the President to do? Say lets take this out back behind the WH? I'm sorry but it's apparent to me that even many supporters here don't understand the burden that is on this President, with him being the first black president. The right wing lunatic fringe would like nothing more than to get a reaction out of the Angry Black Man. They already make shit up every day. If I could throw a punch on the President's behalf, I would. But I don't want to see my President stoop to their level. Hopefully the next black president, will have an easier time. Hopefully when he's out of office, Malia and Sasha will open a can of whoop ass on the whole bunch. I know I would if it were my parents.
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)Believe me, I understand. And I personally would love to take the entire GOP out behind the woodshed myself - even though I might need just a little help from some of you guys. I'm no ninja, after all. Just the thought is delicious, though.
cry baby
(6,682 posts)He pretends to be polite, but that's all for the CSPAN cameras.
I suspected before that he was just acting, but this incident confirms my suspicions.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
dem in texas
(2,674 posts)During the mortgage bubble, Countrywide gave him a sweetheart deal on a mortgage. He has had a lot of financial problems or so I read in the paper.
I heard him on local radio before they met with Obama saying that the repub's were going to make Obama "an Offer" - Ha! He was so foolish as to think that they had the upper hand.
There is a Pete Sessions blog that documents all the stupid things he does.
You can always count on a Texas repub to say or do something to embarrass the state.
meegbear
(25,438 posts)Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)Racist and corrupt.
beerandjesus
(1,301 posts)Sessions spokeswoman Torrie Miller said Thursday that the lawmaker never made those comments.
He did not, Miller said. I think it was made clear yesterday from Jay Carney that the exchange you are referring to did not happen.
So he didn't say it?? Well, I hope he's ready for that primary challenger from the right!
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)Jay Carney emphatically denied the incident happened, so, who's telling the truth here?
alp227
(32,034 posts)magical thyme
(14,881 posts)Or was Durbin one of the senators informed by an aide?
Because unless he actually witnessed the event, he should never have made it public, or certainly not without confirming it with other actual witnesses. Without good corroboration, it just becomes an embarassment, where it could have been a real, er, "teaching moment."
Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)so, like you, I think Sen. Durbin shouldn't have even put it out there in the public.
Kingofalldems
(38,459 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)vaberella
(24,634 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)it really didn't happen the way it was reported?
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)I read somewhere else that Durbin learned about it from someone else's account of what happened in the meeting. Something nasty probably happened, but I bet it got twisted as it went down the grapevine, explaining at least in part Obama's denial.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)malaise
(269,061 posts)somewhere
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)Stuart G
(38,436 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)Durbin claimed in a weekend Facebook post that a House GOP leader told President Barack Obama that the leader "cannot even stand to look at" him during a recent negotiation over the government shutdown and raising the nation's debt ceiling.
Both the White House and House Republican leadership refuted the quote after it gained traction on Wednesday. On Thursday, a White House official said that there was a "miscommunication" when the White House provided a readout of the meeting to Senate Democrats.
While the quote attributed to a Republican lawmaker in the House GOP meeting with the President is not accurate, there was a miscommunication when the White House read out that meeting to Senate Democrats, and we regret the misunderstanding," the White House official said in a statement.
Stuart G
(38,436 posts)It would be kinda honorable to deny it ...and Obama has class. .....
Not trying to take the country to the level that Sessions is at.
But my gut says, yes he said it, and was proud of it..
AlinPA
(15,071 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)throw Sen. Durbin under the bus by denying this happened?
Kingofalldems
(38,459 posts)Ranchemp.
(1,991 posts)besides asking a question?
AlinPA
(15,071 posts)Notice they are now saying "miscommunication", always a good way to cover things over.
Zen Democrat
(5,901 posts)ffr
(22,670 posts)I looked into this and spoke with somebody who was in that meeting and it did not happen, Carney said during his daily briefing.
Sessions spokeswoman Torrie Miller said Thursday that the lawmaker never made those comments.
He did not, Miller said. I think it was made clear yesterday from Jay Carney that the exchange you are referring to did not happen.
What's confusing is the WH denies the exchange. Session's Spokesperson denies the exchange, but Durbin does not refute what he said about what was said.
And Boehner can just go pound sand, the douchebag that he is! And Sessions is a Tea-hadist from Waco, TX. So, I'm leaning towards that it did take place and the story is true.
Zen Democrat
(5,901 posts)AlinPA
(15,071 posts)To me what is odd is that the GOP wants an apology for something that makes their base happy. IMO whoever said it is proud today that he/she insulted the Black President and pleased their base in doing so.
Blue Owl
(50,427 posts)Who is worthy of his gaze?
Stuart G
(38,436 posts)and both were wrong, unless that happens, I believe their version.. Now, Obama is trying to cool heads. Sessions could not admit it..... Reed has more truthfulness than any because of the interactions with Boehner ...Why? cause Boehner did indeed finally admit that there was a deal, that he could not keep.
So...because Reed has been correct on this ugly stuff before, people would believe him. Don't know about Durbin, but what would be the reason that he made it up?? Reed has got to deny it, which hasn't happened yet..Evidently, it is the opposite. If Reed makes a statement saying he is wrong..I will go with him, although it took him a long time to get ..a backbone...
grantcart
(53,061 posts)at the White House said.
Durbin and Reed shouldn't have been referring to anything this sensitive unless they heard it personally.
Stuart G
(38,436 posts)laserhaas
(7,805 posts)may (hopefully one day soon) - cause them to implode.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)sandyshoes17
(657 posts)It's only for GOP benefit. He will become a hero to his base, and it will erase the anger they have for him "caving to the dems". The fools that they are, they will all try to one up him, it can get out of hand with these idiots. IMO they should just let it go. The media is doing this to help them