FRANKEN ? To Axelrod- "He really needed to know if the White House was going to lead?"

[kpete]

Axelrod Pressed By Franken, Sanders On White House's Lack Of Leadership On Health Care

First Posted: 02- 4-10 04:17 PM | Updated: 02- 4-10 05:43 PM

Shortly after Barack Obama addressed a Senate Democratic caucus meeting and urged them to push health care reform forward, one of the chamber's most progressive members took the president's closest adviser aside and asked him why the White House wasn't doing more to help.

Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) put pointed health-care-related questions to senior adviser David Axelrod following Obama's speech, multiple sources tell the Huffington Post. He was echoed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-V.T.) The gist of their concern was that the administration has not shown enough leadership to get legislation passed through Congress in the wake of the party's defeat in the Massachusetts Senate election. Franken insisted that "he really needed to know if the White House was going to lead," according to one Democratic aide.

Axelrod, by several accounts, didn't give a response that Franken found sufficient. And as the two continued to talk, Sanders eventually jumped in.

"My message is that the current strategy is failing and we have to stop being on the defensive," Sanders said, in a statement to the Huffington Post. "We also need to realize we're not going to get 60 votes for anything, so we have to look at a very broad, omnibus-like reconciliation bill -- including health care and jobs -- that will pass the Senate with 51 votes."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/04/axelrod-pressed-by-franke_n_449964.html

[msongs]

1. al is smart, he knows the score - Obama oughta read his book, "Lying liars...." nt

[rhett o rick]

8. Obama is smart to. And he has probably read Frankin's book. That's what scares me. nt

[pundaint]

89. I'm scared too, but because I don't think Obama is smart. If he's smart why hasn't he learned

that the Republicans are opposed to passage of legislation? If he's smart why does he continue to lie about things available on you tube? And if he is smart, and he's doing what he's doing, then he isn't good, and that is scary. I think he was cast for the part on looks and speech because after, Bush average seemed smart.

Our need was so great that we sucked this well-spoken, junior corporatist, into the mold of what we needed, but there wasn't enough substance there to make the hero these times require. The Job is bigger than the man, as evidenced by his inability to operate all the controls.

The same need remains, Obama has not accepted the role of Leader of Change, we need to find that Leader by '12.

[veganlush]

95. amen. you're right. i've come to the same sad conclusion...n/t

[TheKentuckian]

98. Intellect and agenda are very different things

The dude is bright, he's just a corporatist that wants to prop up the status quo.

[Political Heretic]

101. Obama is smart. He just doesn't want what you want.

Don't confuse not carrying your (my, our, working class families') agenda with being "dumb."

[Mithreal]

102. +1

[truedelphi]

107. It wasn't OUR NEED - Obama was chosen so that the Corporations could

Continue to make good on their plans to plunder the Middle Class.

Obama's appointments all show us who and what he works for. You look at Rahm, Geithner, Mike Taylor or Velsick (The last two being for Monsanto) and then you see clearly that Obama is someone cut from the Corporatist mold.

While everyone else here on DU seems so happy to praise Obama for stepping up to the Bully Pulpit this week and last week, and taking on the Repug forces - to me it stuck in my craw. Because he needed to do this a year ago, but instead he pretended that he had some huge pledge to fill regarding being bi-partisian. So that way he could work within the confines of the Tea Baggers and other organized chaos theatrics.

That way he could lose his momentum. And that way he could ensure that the Health Care Real Reform efforts would be forever lost, while the faux reform that helped out Big Insurers and Big Pharma would be enabled.

So that by Dec 23rd the only things on the HCR bill were things that made the Big Insurers happy.

He also ignored his Oct 2008 pledge to put reform of the Big Banks underway once it was obvious that they were not helping the Main Street crowd, but only the inner circle of Banksters.

He choose not to do that either - he simply SCOLDED them once or twice.

[zeemike]

109. What you want is Superman.

But you will not find him on this planet.

For me this is Deja vu all over agin....I have seen 4 eras of good hope dashed to the ground one after the other....first with JFK, then with Carter and again with Clinton and now Obama.
It is no coincidence that no progressive president has ever been able to work the levers of government.

I once heard Carter say with some solemnly that he was surprised at how little power he had when he went to the white house....and I think that a president that comes into office is soon briefed on the facts of life as it exists in our government.

[asdjrocky]

33. And he should read The Truth.

That's another great book from Al.

[southernyankeebelle]

37. I read it and it was brillant. As usual Franken is right. We need more

Wellstone, Sanders, and Frankens. They are the only ones who truly care for the lower middle class and the working poor. I called Franken's office and told the aide how much I appreciate his service even if he didn't represent me. I told him we are all watching.

[pleah]

2. K&R

[emilyg]

3. k/r

[Mojambo]

4. Bernie and Al. Two of my very favorite Senators. n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Memo to Al......YOUR Senate is screwing things up

Maybe you should crack the whip and get them in line considering it's YOUR house.

That's like me finding out I have termites in my home and asking my neighbor to take leadership in exterminating them.

[mucifer]

6. Al has been writing a sponsoring some great legislation especially for a freshman.

[Cali_Democrat]

9. I like Al very much

Perhaps he and Bernie should get the Senate Dems in line on health care and stop looking to Obama all the time for everything. If we get it through the Senate, we get health care reform done. End of story. The Senate is the road block here.

[mucifer]

11. so you really think a freshman senator has as much power as the president of the USA

[Cali_Democrat]

14. No

My point is that Bernie, Al and some others should take it upon themselves to get health care reform through THEIR Senate and stop looking to Obama to get it through the Senate.

They are Senators after all. The Senate is the problem here. You better believe Obama would sign a public option bill if it was on his desk.

[Lorien]

17. Obama would sign a bill with a Public Option? Then why hasn't he demanded one?

[Cali_Democrat]

20. Because he knows how pathetic some Dem Senators are.

Even if he demands one, so many Senators are beholden to the special interests that they won't budge.

[The Hope Mobile]

67. Kinda like the 20 million Obama got from the health

industry during his campaign.

[Hutzpa]

78. Now, where did you get that fact from?

These are the same lies republicans told and now democrats are picking on it too.

[HughMoran]

94. Health Professionals gave Obama ~ $12M of that number - blaming doctors for supporting Obama?

Noun 1. health professional - a person who helps in identifying or preventing or treating illness or disability

Perhaps they are for reform as Obama has been claiming?

[kenfrequed]

79. Right...

So the best way for Obama to try to get something done and signed is to sit back and triangulate like a Clinton?

No, I think sometimes the president does have to wade in and try to push for legislation he believes in.

[mucifer]

23. It's really worked well for Kucinich. I think Franken and Sanders are doing the best they

can. They are constantly speaking out about the rights of Americans. They do their best to sway their colleagues I don't know what you expect them to do.

President Obama is finally speaking up more on what needs to be done. But, he should have done this earlier.

[The Hope Mobile]

66. Really???????????????????

Then why did he say that he never campaigned on a public option (even though he was videotaped doing so?)

[JDPriestly]

91. Bernie and Al have been doing their parts. It's people like Nelson who

have not. Bernie and Al have no leverage over a guy like Nelson, but Obama does. Obama has a lot of influence at the DCC, and they gave huge sums of money to Nelson to put out ads in his state opposing a public option.

So, yes, Obama is at fault on this one. He is not pressuring those who voted to weaken the health care bill to a worthless sham. Obama is on the wrong side on this.

[treestar]

24. In the Senate, yes

The Senate does not work for the Executive branch. It's not like an employer-employee relationship.

Al is in the Senate. Therefore he has more say in it than people who are not in the Senate.

They can't get things done, so they blame the President. Classy.

[laughingliberal]

57. I'm not blaming the President. If he just keeps his hands off we can kill this awful bill. nt

[laughingliberal]

51. It generally takes someone with a bully pulpit to get recalcitrant Senators in line

Too bad we don't know anyone who might have access to a bully pulpit...

Then again, I hate the Senate bill so maybe benign neglect is the best policy

[Mithreal]

83. The same folks are impervious to the logic

Not like President Obama is the head of the party.

Not like he sticks his nose in any other representative's face when it suits him.

Not like he would ever make deals with special interests and become an industry enforcer for those deals.

Not like he would demand progressive amendments be killed.

Not like he would ever take money from lobbyists.

Not like he would ever do anything non-transparently.

Not like he is steering the ship of state.

Discussion here is degrading faster and faster, or maybe it is just my mood. Truth is unwelcome to too many. Too bad spin doesn't vote, would be another landslide.

[Puglover]

93. Honestly ignore is your friend.

I have never had anyone on my list until this crap started. It really really helps.

[Mithreal]

96. I hear ya. I think what you are saying is wise.

I have used ignore, but only as a temporary measure.

Even with dishonest debate that happens here sometimes, I use it for the opportunities it provides and that would be lessened somewhat if I disengaged. So I see even dishonest debate as providing a fulcrum of sorts. If one wants to strengthen muscles, it requires resistance.

I don't know. Before too much longer I will be out knocking on doors again but not for the national Democratic Party again anytime soon. I will just be focusing on my local Dems who I know and respect even if I disagree with sometimes.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

60. Reid has been one big EPIC FAIL as Majority Leader in the Senate IMHO

And where is MAJORITY WHIP Durbin? What the hell is he doing these days?
:wtf:

Maybe Bernie, Al, (Sherrod) Brown (and/or some other Dems) should take the lead in rallying the troops in the Senate since they're obviously upset about the lack of leadership on HCR and other things. Obama's certainly got their backs but he can't move legislation through Congress. As for Reid and Durbin: Lead or get out of the way and let somebody who actually cares take the reins!

[disndat]

73. "Make Me Do It"

As FDR asked the people, to overcome his Republican opposition.

[Lorien]

15. Franken isn't the top dog here, Obama is

Obama was hired to lead the party and steer the agenda. His "hands off" policy doesn't accomplish that.

[Cali_Democrat]

18. Al's Senate is the problem here

Not the White House.

[mdmc]

21. Didn't the Senate already pass the bill?

right?

[still_one]

25. No, I believe you are wrong. What Al and others are asking is that they

need to do an alternative strategey. strong implication on reconcilliation, or budget reconcilliation which DOESN'T require 60 votes but a simple majority

[Cali_Democrat]

30. Obama has nothing to do with reconciliation

If they're looking at Obama to handle reconciliation, they're looking in the wrong place. Obama is in an entirely separate branch of govt and he has nothing to do with the reconciliation process. It's like foisting the Senate's problems on the President.

Not buying it.

[still_one]

38. He can tell the leadership to do it. Do you think bush or Johnson just let

Congress have a free reign?

Obama is head of the Democratic party

[Knight Hawk]

40. WWCD

What would Clinton,either one,do? Or any real leader LBJ? FDR? Obama is many things including very intelligent but simply does not have the personality to be a strong leader in these perilous times.

[still_one]

42. They need a new DNC chair also. If Mass didn't tell you Kaine wasn't up to the job

then you are not paying attention

As someone mentioned in another thread Dean should be put back in while there is still time to save 2010

[SharksBreath]

65. There very few strong leader's in the D party including Obama.

That's the problem.

Look at the stunt Shelby pulled.


If a (D) did that to Bush on anything they would try to find a way to have him removed from his seat.

The GOP would scream "The (D) is hijacking the Senate for pork while our country is at war."

[Cali_Democrat]

46. He can't just tell the leadership to do it.

You think those conservaDems will go for it just because Obama says to do it? You're naive. These are separate branches of government and Obama doesn't control the legislative branch.

BTW....Obama is not head of the Democratic Party, He is the elected President of the United States.

[still_one]

49. you don't need those conservaDems to pass hcr through reconcilliation

with a public option, just a simple majority, and yes, he could tell the majority leader to push it

There are deals made all the time

Maybe you didn't catch it by Reid said if the republicans were going to continue to filibuster judges, he would do it without them

There are all kind of things that can be done

Single payer could be extended through budget reconcilliation if they wanted to. bush did it

They don't need the conservaDems or the republicans, just a simple majority

The simple fact is that actions speak louder than words, and I suspect they don't want a public option because of back-room deals that were made

[laughingliberal]

59. +1 nt

[skyounkin]

75. Keep making excuses for him.

He IS the head of the democratic party and has not shown what he wants done.

Will he sign a bill done through reconciliation?

Does he prefer the senate or house bill?

Does he want the bill fixed than passed?

Does he want it as it?

Does he still want snowe on board?

Can you answer any of these?

[GOTV]

48. It's the nation's problem and therefore it IS Obama's responsibility ....

... hopefully Obama won't try to use your "What can I do? I'm only the president" excuse.

I don't think it will prove popular in about 10 months.

[laughingliberal]

58. President Obama was working with the House & Senate to get differences ironed out & they were making

progress. Luckily, he has stopped all that and now we can let that horrible Senate bill die.

[laughingliberal]

52. I think it's a good thing the White House is ignoring the bill

It's a horror, anyway. If they can't fix it letting it die is best.

[liberation]

68. There are 99 other senators, it is not "Al's senate"

There is but one American president, and yes... it is "Obama's presidency" now.

If you are trying to equate the responsibility of both Obama and Franken in this mess, you are being extremely disingenuous in your narrative... which seems to operate under the premise that no responsibility can be placed upon Obama for his utter lack of leadership in this respect (hopefully his latest spiel with the senators may be a turning point regarding his somewhat hands off approach he has taken up to now). At least that is the only conclusion I can reach from seeing some of the logical dissonance in some of your posts in this thread.

[treestar]

26. This simply does not apply

The party does not control the government as one entity. The Congress is separate from the Presidency.

[Cali_Democrat]

29. Exactly. Obama was elected to be President of the United States

He wasn't "hired" to be the party leader. It looks like some people failed political science in high school.

[whathehell]

108. The president IS the head of his party!

[mdmc]

19. Didn't the Senate already pass this shitty bill

haven't they done their part?

[Cali_Democrat]

28. It's a shitty bill

We need a better one out of the Senate if we don't go the reconciliation route. I'm not sure the Dem congress members have the back bone for reconciliation.

Sad.

[itsrobert]

31. Aren't you expecting a little too much from a Junior Senator who just took office?

New members are expected to be seen, not heard. Not that Al has been silent.

[Cali_Democrat]

32. Al needs to get active and clean up his own house

Of course he didn't make the mess, but it is his house. Don't ask your neighbor to clean up your own filthy house.

[asdjrocky]

34. This is a joke, right?

[Cali_Democrat]

35. It's a joke

Al Franken's Senate is getting things done. :sarcasm:

[asdjrocky]

36. It's not Al Franken's Senate.

Harry Reid is the Senate leader.

President Obama does need to lead on Health Care and he has not shown nearly enough leadership so far.

See, I thought you were joking because everyone that takes anytime at all to educate themselves knows that Al can't "whip the Senate into shape" being a freshman Senator. That being said, he's done some fine work so far and continues to.

[muffin1]

74. It must be.

Some folks here will never get it. Obama should have started and PUSHED for single-payer. IF it got negotiated down to a public option, he should have PUSHED for that. He is doing little more than sitting on the sidelines. That dunce, Bush, managed to get through almost everything he wanted, with a much smaller majority. Hell, even when we had a small majority, he managed to get his policies through.

The past few days, Obama's numbers have risen. All it takes is for him to tell the truth, call the repukes on the bullshit every frigging time they spout their lies, and show some passion for our causes.

And for god's sake,he needs to stop trying to make the teabaggers love him. He could capture bin Laden, and kill him with his own hands, and they would still find a reason to hate him. GIVE IT UP!!

[Puglover]

92. Every response from this guy is a joke in this thread.

The most powerful man in the world needs to wait for a freshman senator to get his house in order. I have heard everything now. However in the spirit if civility I'm just going to confine it to my ignore list.

[Jazzgirl]

43. Memo to you.

Do some research and see the bills Al has submitted. They are really great.

[Cali_Democrat]

45. He has submitted great bills and he's a great Senator

Now he needs to take it one step further and clean up his own house. His family members in the Senate are screwing things up.

[skyounkin]

76. How?

Oh...he can't....

[Forkboy]

44. ....

:eyes:

[LSK]

50. so, your a Senator coming up for re-election this year

Who would you rather have campaigning hard for you?

1) President Obama

2) Al Franken and Bernie Sanders (to whom the majority of voters will say "WHO?")

Who also leads the nightly news whenever they speak or whatever they do??? See choices above.

Its really frustrating to have to explain the blatantly obvious.

[T Wolf]

63. How is a rookie Senator with no power supposed to "crack the whip" on his colleagues

who have shown no inclination to do anything positive on health care?

Excusing Obama for not leading will not get him to lead.

[burning rain]

77. He could threaten to write a book about them.

Boneless Chickens might do as a title. Either that or Wimpy Wimpity Wimps: Jellyfish, Senate Democrats, & Other Spineless Creatures.

[avaistheone1]

69. I don't think Harry Reid would be leading the Senate if he didn't have Obama's approval to do so.

[Cali_Democrat]

70. Wasn't Harry Reid the leader even before Obama became Prez?

:shrug:

[avaistheone1]

90. Indeed.

However, once Obama came to power I am confident Reid would not have continued as leader without the nod from President Obama.

[pundaint]

86. If the party owns the white house, the President is the party leader. To suppose otherwise

is not a serious position.

[DesertDiamond]

100. I think comparing Obama to a neighbor misses the point. He's part of a TEAM, one of the 3 branches

of government. And I agree, he needs to take more leadership to help make public option and jobs happen. And IMO he can start by getting us out of those effing wars! Those billions of dollars need to be spent HERE!

[TacticalPeek]

7. Tell it.

More like this.

[mdmc]

10. Bernie and Al RULE!

[Mike_03]

12. I don't understand at all. I love Al Franken, just wrote a post thanking him, and was attacked.

I must be in a time machine. To me, Al Franken is just what we need, particuarly where it pertains to matters involving the entertainment industry.

But I am apparently clueless.

[mucifer]

27. I agree. This is a weird thread. Al and Bernie rock!

[laughingliberal]

53. You must never suggest that the president is not doing everything perfect

If his attitude towards health care reform is benign neglect, it must be the right thing to do. After all, look what great legislation we got from his hands off approach all through the summer and fall.

[Mike_03]

13. Please enlighten those of us who like Al Franken. What is the deal?

NC

[mdmc]

22. Al rules and stands up for what is right..

that is the deal my friend

[laughingliberal]

56. Any suggestion that the President is doing or not doing anything perfectly will be vehemently

attacked here. He is perfect and his ways are not our ways.

[Eyerish]

16. K&R

[EmeraldCityGrl]

39. Who is suppose to be the liasion between the President

and the democratic congress? First, it's pathetic Frankin has to
rely on running into Axelrod to get an important concern relayed
to the president. And secondly, if Obama does not aggressively
support the healthcare bill, why doesn't congress take the initiative
and do what needs to be done. It's not as if they need Obama's
guidence on how to proceed. The repubs are giving them nothing.
They need to proceed as if they're not even there.

[laughingliberal]

55. I think the President's hands off to let Congress work is just perfect

See how well it's worked, so far? Now, he just needs to leave them completely alone and we can, finally, kill this monster the Senate almost forced on us.

[Pharaoh]

41. Love Bernie and Al! n/t

[GOTV]

47. Al Franken and I both agree. Obama's been watching HCR from the stands ...

... by which we mean he's no where near as involved as he should be.

[laughingliberal]

54. I love Al but he needs to leave the president alone so this horrible bill dies

After all, Obama was making progress in the negotiations between the House and Senate. If he reengaged, they might pass this disastrous bill.

[Myrina]

72. +10

Thank you. :hi:

[DisgustedInMN]

61. I wish every politician I worked ..

.. to help put in office, was working as hard for us as Al does. Unfortunately, some seem to only notice us when they are looking for donations, votes, or boots on the ground. Senator Al actually listens to us and ACTS upon it. Maybe he can lend his balls to the White House for a while.

[Mari333]

62. ..

[Blue Owl]

64. The difference between Al Franken and Norm Coleman

is astounding!

[Mithreal]

105. +1

[Mithreal]

106. +1

[xchrom]

71. Recommend

[onehandle]

80. Go Al! nt

[grahamhgreen]

81. Nice to see the President forced to hear our voices!

[Mithreal]

82. What Bernie said. We need to be on the offensive!

damn

[Gin]

84. Sanders is frustrated..so are Franken and Warner...something

has got to change....the dems look weak and confused...I couldn't stand shrub but his thugs did get what they wanted..
the thugs get all the face time...make all the moves...what the hell is going on in Congress?

[Mithreal]

87. The fish rots from the head down

It's Third Way politics that is eating our party alive.

[yurbud]

85. ''omnibus reconciliation bill including health care and jobs that only needs 51 votes''

Just do it for Christ's sake. Nobody in the real world gives a fuck about Senate rules.

[Mithreal]

88. +1

[femrap]

97. I love AL.....

no one intimidates him....hell, he survived being a stand-up comedian! Such a terrific dude.

[alp227]

99. The Democrats who are leading the most in health care reform have helped stall it.

They are: Ben Nelson, Bart Stupak (I begin thinking Simpson or stupid), Mary Landrieu, and any other Blue Dog or DLC worshiper. Franken is right: The man who promised health care as a candidate has been a mere spectator in all this.

[Mithreal]

111. But that candidate is as powerless as us. Must respect certain separations.

:sarcasm:

[davidwparker]

103. Go Al. Go Bernie.

After the first year, don't wait for the Obama administration to lead.

Congress is a co-equal branch of government. You don't need a by-your-leave from Obama for anything. You won't get it anyhow.

Past is prologue.

[shireen]

104. Sanders & Franken ... my dream team.

They're my kind of progressives. :thumbsup:

[WillyT]

110. Go Al !!! - K & R !!!

:woohoo:

:kick: