Obama: "Did You Hear That, Dennis?"

[babylonsister]

:D

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022868.php

'DID YOU HEAR THAT, DENNIS?'.... President Obama held another public event on health care reform this afternoon -- his third in the last eight days -- and this time spoke a raucous crowd in Ohio.

And not just anywhere in Ohio. The president spoke in Strongsville, Ohio, which just happens to be represented by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D), who doesn't "think" he can vote for health care reform.

There were quite a few important moments in today's speech, but one of the more amusing came early on. Obama begins every speech thanking local officials who are on hand, and today was no different. After thanking Gov. Ted Strickland (D) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), the president touted Kucinich. And when the applause died down, a man in the crowd shouted: "Vote Yes!"

The president stopped and said, "Did you hear that, Dennis?" Pointing to the man in the crowd, Obama added, "Go on; say that again."

Video at link~

-Steve Benen

[denimgirly]

1. I wish Obama was as Forward about the Public Option and Single Payer

Dennis is not the villain.

[babylonsister]

2. What part of 'the President touted Kucinich' didn't you understand?

No one in this thread said Dennis is the villian, not yet anyway, and not me.

[Donnachaidh]

8. they have to have a boogieman

Guess we don't need to see if that meme came out of the grassroots. :eyes: It's actually a repuke tactic.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. Are you saying Obama is?

Let's be clear on this.

[NorthCarolina]

53. Obama doesn't want a public option....that's just the simple fact of the matter.

and you are correct, Dennis is NOT the villain here. The insurance companies have clearly won, but I applaud Dennis for his principled stand on behalf of middle class and poor Americans...even the ones too stupid to recognize his motive and intent (and there are apparently plenty of them here on DU that fit that description).

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

61. Goes to show that when Obama is really passionate about something, we hear his loud

mouth. If he really wanted the public option, we would have heard him shouting and being forceful.

Such as wasted opportunity. :(

[Mojambo]

3. Obama has never had a problem taking on the left. n/t

[ProSense]

5. Obama has never had a problem taking on Republicans.

He's fighting to pass the agenda he laid out. Do you think he should simple cave to those who are attempting to distort it?

FYI: Every progressive in the House and Senate support this bill. Oh, except Kucinich.

[rhett o rick]

15. I guess it depends on what you mean by "taking on".

If by "taking on" you mean giving in to, then I would agree.

Interesting that you spend more time bad mouthing Dennis than you do the right.

[ProSense]

16. Why?

"Interesting that you spend more time bad mouthing Dennis than you do the right."

Is it your belief that Kucinich should get a pass for declaring his willingness to kill the bill?

I expect the right to be assholes, and your claim is more disingenuous nonsense.

[rhett o rick]

26. I dont agree with Rep Kucinich on this, but respect his willingness to stick to his principles.

you say the President is willing to take on the republicans. I am sorry but I have seen very little evidence of this. Why havent I seen Rahmbo on TV taking on the republicans? Or heard about how he is kicking republican butt? How many republicans have been converted? How many concessions has the administration given away?

I just which you would spend more time attacking the right than the left.

[Forkboy]

19. This will blow some minds, but I'll defend Prosense here.

Interesting that you spend more time bad mouthing Dennis than you do the right.

I've spent more time here on DU attacking Dems than Repubs. I know what Repubs stand for, I know what they want to do. I expect nothing but garbage from them. When it comes to Dems I expect better, and hold them to a different standard. So I criticize them. I have a voice in my Party, not in the Republican Party. Prosense is just coming at the same attitude from the center whereas I come at it from the left.

[rhett o rick]

28. I hear you. But I just get sick and tired of the continuous bashing of the left. Rep Kucinich

wants better legislation not worse. Yet the DU-DLC element attack him as if he were worse than the right.

[Forkboy]

59. Oh, I fully know that as well.

Obama takes a lot of heat from the Left, and for posters here who truly believe in Obama (and I don't mean that in a negative way) DK represents this element of the Party all too easily. And DK is more than happy to assume this role. He knows he's a huge bullseye for these people and still does what he thinks is best. It's both his best and worst feature (as it is with anyone).

For Obama, the question that I have isn't always he what he does or doesn't stand for, but does he stand for either side at all? He's so afraid to be seen as ideological that he's just not half as bold as he could be, either for things I do or don't agree with. And I totally struggle with that squishy middle concept...always have, always will. Take a stand, and let's go from there. I think a lot of people are attracted to people like DK and Dean and others for this reason, though it's not a foolproof way to gauge support by any means.

Be wary of people who say they support anyone no matter what, be it DK or Obama or anyone else (and DU is rife with both). Both sides take positions based on personality far to often for my tastes, but neither will ever admit it. ALWAYS question their agendas, even if you tend to agree. Maybe even more so then. :)

[phleshdef]

21. The "right" isn't going around calling itself progressive while voting against progress.

[rhett o rick]

29. Rep Kucinich wants better legislation, not worse. But you bash him.

The DLC / Blue Dogs vote with the republicans more than Rep Kucinich, but you give them a pass.

[phleshdef]

49. Kucinich wants shit that isn't passable this year. I want what is passable.

[girl gone mad]

30. If yuo mean taking them on as in putting them in his administration..

yes, you are correct.

[rhett o rick]

31. Yes, he really took on Bernanke and Paulson. And all of Bush's DOJ. nm

[Smashcut]

33. Really? Where were single payer advocates at the health care "summit?"

I saw plenty of Repukes there, and many of their ideas were discussed. Obama's even using a few of them so he can call the effort a success. Where are the ideas from the left???

[IndianaGreen]

57. If Obama needs Dennis that bad, then it means Pelosi doesn't have the votes

If Pelosi had the votes, the House would have voted already.

[phleshdef]

7. Or taking on anyone for that matter. But the left has certainly treated him much worse lately.

[RaleighNCDUer]

23. What you get from the universe is a reflection of what you put into it.

If the left is treating him badly, there might be a reason for it.

[rhett o rick]

34. Yeah right after he choose pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation.

Then he choose Rahmbo, decided to stay in Iraq and Afghanistan, keep the Patriot Act, domestic spying, Bush's DOJ, let DADT ride, keep the MCA, NAFTA, CAFTA, and the WTO. And he decided to keep rendition and Guantanamo. Try terrorist suspects in military tribunals as the republicans wanted. And turn a blind eye on the Bush war crimes. Yeah that's when the left became vocal. Besides, he wont match the Chinese tariffs to save our jobs. Doesnt support either single payer or the PO.

But the above are all ok with the DU-DLC group.

[babylonsister]

38. Wow. I can post a list of positives, but you wouldn't care about them.

Why is that? Nevermind. I don't want to hear about your tunnel vision, but wonder if you think the status quo we endured for the past 8 years was better. Because those were the two choices we had.

If you can think of anyone who'd be better at this at this moment in history, I'd love to hear it, because I can't.

[phleshdef]

51. That person just straight misrepresented the truth on Gitmo, Iraq, DADT and many other items.

So no, they aren't going to care about the positives. They understand nothing about what it takes to govern. They just want what they want and they want it now, like a petulant child.

[rhett o rick]

70. That's no way to carry on a discussion. I did not misrepresent the truth. We are still in Iraq and

I will be happy when we are out. But I wont believe it until it happens. Until then it is still just a promise. Re. DADT, there is no excuse for that stupid policy to exist. After a year in office the President wants a year more to STUDY the situation. You have to admit that's bullshit. Gitmo? Is is closed and I dont know? I care about the positives, but hard to overlook the Bush crimes going unpunished, etc.

[phleshdef]

71. Iraq is pretty much done. Gitmo closing is a congressional approval issue.

DADT is in the works. So yes, you definately misrepresented the truth. You are acting like a child whos parents are driving you to Disney World, but you are pissed because you aren't there yet and thus claim they aren't really taking you there.

[rhett o rick]

77. Listen to yourself. "pretty much done", "in the works", Gitmo isnt his fault.

To use your asinine analogy, I am like a child on the way to Disneyland but pissed because the car is going 5 fucking miles an hour. There is no excuse for not having DADT fixed by now. And now another year to study. Give me a fucking break. Study what? And why wasnt that year study started a year ago?
Answer me this. Do you truly believe we will ever leave Iraq? I mean "it's pretty much done". Didnt the President say he would see Gitmo closed? Well, now it's Congress's problem?

And you ignored the other issues i raised. Are you happy that Pres Obama is choosing to give the Bush war crimes a pass? Are you happy we are continuing to violate the Constitution via the Patriot Act and MCA?

[rhett o rick]

75. Please dont put words into my mouth. Of course I care about the positives.

Some are major. But the country is crashing and sorry if I am impatient at getting things turned around.

Tell me if you are happy with the fact that Pres Obama wont prosecute the Bush war crimes. Or wont fix the Patriot Act, MCA or end domestic spying. I understand that Bush wanted to trash the Constitution, but I am not at all willing to accept Pres Obama doing the same. Are we better off than under Bush? Hell yes, and I appreciate that. But that is still no excuse for continuing to violate the Constitution. And if something isnt done soon to fix the problems that lead to our economy crashing, it will crash worse.

I will never understand why Pres Obama choose a piece of crap like Rick Warren. I took it a little to personal I guess.

When Pres Obama choose Rahm Emanuel, I was disappointed but willing to let the president have "his man". Maybe he would be as effective as Karl Rove was only for our side. But I dont see Rahm kicking republican ass, I dont see him on all the news shows pushing HCR, I see him bad mouthing the left. My only conclusion is that he is done with us.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

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[grantcart]

27. Bernie Saunders has no problem promoting this bill

[Mojambo]

46. I don't oppose the bill

I don't strongly support it either.

I certainly don't support the DLC lead attacks on progressives or the president consistently taking a harder line with the left than he has with the right. The guy has bent over backward to appease conservatives.

[rhett o rick]

90. I will go with Sen Saunders but I am very upset with this bill. nm

[Kind of Blue]

4. Good for the man in the crowd.

Thanks for the link.
KnR

[IndianaGreen]

41. It was Gibbs

:9

C'mon, it was a plant at a carefully orchestrated political event.

[O is 44]

52. wow, you're just a ball of negativity...

and the letter he read to the insurance company execs about that poor woman must been one of his staffers. sheesh you're sounding as desperate as the Republicans.

[IndianaGreen]

56. I remember when Obama wrote a beautiful note to a LGBT woman in the military

that was facing discharge because of DADT. Obama's words were beautiful and encouraging. Obama did nothing! LGBTs are still being discharged under DADT.

[O is 44]

58. Obama also told her that this will be done

legislatively, he was right up front with her on this issue. You have every right not to like his approach, but I am always curios as to why your anger never seems to be directed at the body that writes the legislation.

[Kind of Blue]

62. You poor rabid dear. I actually feel sorry for you.

:9

[Hippo_Tron]

72. In that case they would have somebody less obvious than Gibbs yell it, wouldn't they?

It is a carefully orchestrated political event and all.

[Cha]

74. Yeah.

:)

[Larkspur]

6. Wonder if the crowd would tell Obama to fight for a robust Public Option or Medicare Expansion?

Obama controlled the stage, so he controlled the message, but what would happen if a single-payer supporter rebuked Obama?

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[GreenArrow]

13. No mandates!

Hear that, Barack?

[NJmaverick]

10. Way to go President Obama!

:bounce:

[Cell Whitman]

11. would have been nice if the crowd all started chanting "PUBLIC OPTION!!" in unison

that would have been nice. If they did it for about five minutes.

[vaberella]

12. Oy...My President is TEH awesomeness. n/t

[liberal N proud]

14. I love how he can collect on those opportunities.

[Myrina]

18. ... and did DK follow up by asking the crowd if they'd like Medicare for all?

"Did you hear that, Mr. President????" :eyes:

[Forkboy]

20. I so wish a gay man had been in the crowd to ask questions of Obama.

[Go2Peace]

22. Political BS unless the President does the same to the DLC Representatives

I can understand, to a certain point, strong feelings about this. But this is pure THEATER, because while Kucinich takes a principled stand and gets "called out" and becomes the whipping boy for many here, the DLC scum are not getting the same treatment.

I suppose it is easier to hit a liberal below the belt, as you know that Kucinich will still vote for most Democratic initiatives anyway, because he won't let Politics move him against his principles.

So the political opportunists, the DLC democrats, who are really the villans here, they get no "touting", they are tolerated and "understood". Poor little conservatives who want to keep their jobs.

Pure THEATER

[Jennicut]

24. I love how people freak out over this. DK probably is not going to change his mind.

So this is not a big deal, either way. It is not incredible pressure, nor is it likely to work.

[xocet]

25. +1 to Kucinich, -1 to Obama

It is too bad that President Obama is almost the definition of a leadership vacuum. It is too bad that instead of rallying people for the public good (i.e., universal, single-payer health insurance) - he allowed congress to put corporate good before public good.

Only recently does he exercise leadership, but it is against his own base that he directs his arguments.

[Raineyb]

32. Funny when the single payer people were screaming to get attention

at the beginning of this kabuki dance the amount of attention given to them by the White House was zero.

This is more than a bit disingenuous.

[IndianaGreen]

35. To Obama: Do you hear the American people?

Check the polls, buddy!

Obama and Democrats' Health Care Plan

RCP Average 2/13 - 3/8 -- For 41.3, Against 48.9

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_and_democrats_health_care_plan-1130.html

[jgraz]

37. Obama to IndianaGreen: of COURSE I do!

I listen to a broad spectrum of Americans, from Bank presidents to Insurance CEOs. What more do you want?

[IndianaGreen]

39. and you listen to the likes of Rick Warren

a man that supported the death penalty for LGBTs in Uganda.

[jgraz]

45. Hey, as president I need to consider all sides of an issue

Just because a guy's in favor of killing gays, that doesn't mean we can't reach some sort of compromise. Maybe we just kill a few gays... or only the really gay ones... :shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

48. There you go! That's bipartisanship at work!

:evilgrin:

[jefferson_dem]

40. Repug after Repug has been saying that exact same (almost verbatim) all day.

On the House Budget Committee...They've been droning on and on about "listening to the American people". Of course, I'm not accusing you of being a Repug. I just found it interesting to see the same thing here.

Carry on.

[IndianaGreen]

42. GOP has no solutions. The Left supports single payer, Medicare for all

[jefferson_dem]

43. Here.

RT @michellemalkin GOP Rep. Mario Diaz Balart: Demcare bill is a "wet, smelly dog" that American ppl don't want. #hcr #wreckonciliation

[jgraz]

44. More guilt by association

One can only assume that your DU handle means you're pro-slavery. :eyes:

[jefferson_dem]

60. Hey...

if you're feeling guilty, don't come whining to me with your self-loathing self.

PS: If I ever trumpet Repug arguments (verbatim) against Democratic policy initiatives, I hope you call me out too.

[vaberella]

83. In the end most people don't know the difference because all they hear is NO in the end. n/t

[O is 44]

54. I agree Jeff_Dem alot of the rhetoric

sounds a lot alike. "carry on" I have no doubt they will do just that.

[depakid]

36. Yet calling out Bunning would have been "too partisan"

Go figure.

[Mojambo]

47. Yup.

In a nutshell, there's the problem.

[Phx_Dem]

55. Obama didn't "call out" Dennis. His constituent did.

"Your own congressmen who has worked tirelessly on behalf of working people."

Yeah, that's really calling him out!

[depakid]

69. My point is that the President ought to be calling BOTH OF THEM OUT

And many, many more just like them- on many other issues.

[phleshdef]

63. After watching it, I can't believe some people are petulant enough to have been offended by that.

It was off the cuff and mostly humorous really. It wasn't some uber-serious "call out" as some are pretending it was. It was nothing to be offended over in the slightest, regardless of your opinion on the bill or Dennis or the President.

[vaberella]

82. IF you saw the whole meeting---people were laughing and really boisterous.

I'm surprised some on DU aren't saying that guy was probably a paid shill by the Obama Admin, or more likely Rahm Emmanuel, to make DK look bad.

[Clio the Leo]

64. cant wait to watch it later! NT

[ProgressOnTheMove]

65. DK is s good man but it is time to represent, once this is through we have a shot once again at ...

progress.

[Raine]

66. Obama worried about the one liberal who

has the guts to go against him, why such concern if DK is so "ineffective". :shrug: He's determined to pound that one voice into the ground. :yoiks: Go ahead throw us liberals under the bus but don't come with your hand out for votes or donations in 2012. :mad:

[LWolf]

67. Since DK was there to welcome him to Ohio, I'm sure he heard it.

When a president shows up to speak to a crowd, he's a hell of a lot more likely to see people who agree with him than not; that's why they showed up.

Too bad Obama doesn't hear those who DON'T support his bad "reform."

[goclark]

73. They sure sounded Fired Up to me! nt

[stevenleser]

68. K&R

[Zomby Woof]

76. I guess I am a DU oddity

I like both DK and Obama. This place has been a shitfest lately with all the idiotic bickering. Say I am naive, addle-brained, or whatever you want, but yes: I like and support both the president *and* Congressman Kucinich.

All this posturing over who is really left or center or whatnot is just the kind of litmus test bullshit the teabaggers pull on each other in seeking control of the right. While I find both Obama and Kucinich admirable people who represent the best our party has to offer, I am not a blind "party man". I can offer plenty of examples where Obama has frustrated me (tribunals, Partiot Act extension, etc.), and plenty where he has done well (the stimulus kept many people's health insurance going through the COBRA subsidy, and it did - and does - create jobs; the Ledbetter Act finally codified equal pay for women into law). And Kucinich has been an important firebrand for progressives. I welcome his passion and advocacy for the causes we support. But I do not agree with either of them 100% and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This endless infighting is as mindnumbingly tedious as the primary wars, Hillary vs. Obama, Clark vs. Dean, etc.

So yeah, call me a strange DU bird. I like 'em both.

[Number23]

78. You are an oddity. And thank GOD for oddities

Because as you said, this BS "I'm lefter than you!" game that so many here have chosen to consume themselves with is such a waste of time, energy and effort, particularly when people's LIVES are in the balance.

I think Obama is fantastic and have had very few issues with DK in the roughly 15 months that I've even been aware of his existence. Obama has done things that I am profoundly proud of, and has done other things that I'm not happy about. DK's decision to vote against health care reform is unconscionable to me, but the endless fighting over this man who will never come out of Ohio and never be a major player is idiotic and a total waste of energy. And like you, I find the endless fighting over both men mind-numbingly tedious and just flat out f*cking stupid as well.

[Yeahyeah]

79. Kucinich listens to his district every day,Who's Obama listening to?

[babylonsister]

80. Huh?

Did you see this appearance yesterday in Ohio? Sure seemed to me Kucinich's constituents want health care reform whether he's listening or not.

And Obama was listening to the lady who had to drop her insurance because she could no longer afford it, then was diagnosed with leukemia. You might want to go to video; it was enlightening.

[Yeahyeah]

84. I always go by noises on videos.

[vaberella]

81. I'll take a wild guess here.

His corporate masters...like the Republicans. Funny enough it's the corporate masters and Republicans who want him out of office and don't want health care reform.

[freddie mertz]

85. Maybe Dennis was listening closely enough to notice that the woman the prez was talking about...

Would not benefit much if at all from the plan Obama is pushing.

That was not a great moment for anyone who actually cares about HC REFORM.

[babylonsister]

86. And she'd benefit from anything Kucinich could "realistically"

offer at this point? Do tell what that might be.

[freddie mertz]

89. He could conceivably hold out for something better if he is "the" vote needed.

Unfortunately, that lady is guilty of being an American citizen, at Michael M. put it.

[grahamhgreen]

87. Sorry - we must vote no (my congressman too) UNLESS there is a mechanism for a public option or Med-

icare expansion.

Otherwis e the bill is just a give-away to big insurance.

[notesdev]

88. Suddenly Dennis is important!

That's the real news here, after him having been marginalized for as long as he's been in Congress.

[Cha]

92. He's no more important than

the block of Dems who are voting for Health Care Reform. It's a Team effort.

[ShortnFiery]

91. IMO, that was "a trashy moment" ...

I was disgusted. :(

[Name removed]

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