How does one define "consulting with Congress"?

[vaberella]

Something odd is going on in the media world or the laziness of some people have reached an unnatural extreme. Basically---I went to this link: http://www.politico.com/arena/ And I thank Tx4obama for providing it.

However I have a bone to pick. The main crutch of many of the inputs by the various professionals seems to run on one meme "Obama DID NOT consult with Congress." This assertion was made by more than one professional in various forms and it boggled my mind.

One of the most commendable things about Obama's procedural follow-up, is not only did he follow procedure by going through the UN---tentatively moving until they have the majority of the international community on board, and follow-ed up with all leaders of respective country---was that he notified Congress. I am shocked that people are writing as though he never spoke to them. The first he did before they even went to the resolution meeting, was to bring this up to Congress and get their input. After the meeting and the voting they were briefed again--even the Senate was able to have a vote on it. <---Although a vote was not necessary.

If by consulting we mean being briefed and kept up to date as to what's going on, our role and so on. The knowledge is, yes, they were consulted. And I'm boggled by some of the comments but rather intellectual individuals who seem to not have read up on the information which clearly states that Obama did follow procedure by notifying Congress---several times and having meetings with the head of these houses in the situation room and devising the goal, and course of action. This really can't be denied.

But relatively intelligent people, seem to be denying it though or seem to be unaware of this fact. I have to wonder how seriously I have to take these people. I am no where in the professional field most of these individuals are at, however I can read a text and information. The presser released by Obama says he consulted them, none of the heads of congress claim they were never consulted---excluding Kucinich. And all the information is made extremely transparent because it's a UN resolution. So I'm trying to understand why there seems to be something lost....it's as though Obama and the Admin is speaking one language and everyone else is speaking another.

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 03/18/2011 <---note the date!
Obama consults with congressional leaders on Libya
By Felicia Sonmez

Updated, 2:15 p.m.

President Obama held a closed-door consultation with congressional leaders on the crisis in Libya on Friday afternoon, hours after a cease-fire was declared and one day after the United Nations Security Council authorized a no-fly zone and “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in the country.

The meeting convened 12:30 p.m. in the Situation Room and ended shortly before 2 p.m. A Senate leadership aide said that the meeting brought together leaders from both parties and both chambers.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) attended in person; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is currently leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to Italy, were among those attending by phone.

Obama is slated to deliver a statement on Libya at 2 p.m. Friday. He is scheduled to leave later in the day on a trip to Central and South America.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/obama-consults-with-congressional-leaders-on-libya/2011/03/18/ABc4iNq_blog.html

Boehner then issues a statement here:

The President is the commander-in-chief, but the Administration has a responsibility to define for the American people, the Congress, and our troops what the mission in Libya is, better explain what America’s role is in achieving that mission, and make clear how it will be accomplished. Before any further military commitments are made, the Administration must do a better job of briefing members of Congress and communicating to the American people about our mission in Libya and how it will be achieved.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/03/boehner-first-libya-strikes-ok-obama-must-consult-congress-furthe

Now this is the thing that kills me. How else is he supposed to brief you or consult with you if not having you within talks and meetings with all the information on the table and the situation room? I really had to sit there and wonder if I was under one impression of what consulting means, which may obviously be wrong, and what it is supposed to mean.

Every media outlet, and mainly the right wing ones and a good number of leftist sites are pushing this meme of consulting with Congress. Are they suggesting that Obama needed a vote and that would be considered a consultation? Or was the briefing meeting of several hours not enough? Since I'm sure every member of congress was made aware and sent a copy of the UN resolution. Or am I making some mistake here?!

I wanted to repost this timeline----

Obama authorizing force in Libya: a timeline
CNN White House Producer Shawna Shepherd

SANTIAGO, Chile (CNN) – There's no more serious decision for any commander-in-chief than to authorize the use of military force. While President Obama inherited two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military operation in Libya is the first new operation he has authorized since taking office.

Here's an inside look into how the president and his administration handled this important task as he was about to embark on a five day trip through Latin America.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

9:00 a.m. ET: National Security Advisor Donilon holds a secure conference call with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen on Libya diplomatic and military planning after U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 passed the night before, authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya and to use all necessary means to protect civilians.

9:30 a.m. ET: Donilon holds a secure video conference with coalition counterparts from the United Kingdom and France on the planning, “both in terms of our military planning and in terms of the Paris meeting the next day,” he said.

10:15 a.m. ET: President Obama receives his daily Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. Donilon said the briefing focused on developments in Libya, including military and diplomatic efforts.

11:00 a.m. ET: Obama meets for one hour in the Oval Office with the Vice President Biden, Sec. Gates, Adm. Mullen, Sec. Clinton, Donilon and his deputy Denis McDonough, Tony Blinken from the vice president’s office, Jim Steinberg, and Bill Burns. They reviewed “the detailed planning and a presentation by Admiral Mullen and a detailed plan for the events of the next day in Paris presented by Secretary Clinton,” Donilon said.

12:30 p.m. ET: Obama meets in the Situation Room with a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders on Libya for one hour. Some leaders attended the meeting in person and a larger group participates by phone.

2:22 p.m. ET: The president delivers a statement on Libya to the press.

Around 7:00 p.m. ET: President Obama meets with his National Security Council in the Oval Office to conduct a final review of the plans and concept of action. The group included Donilon, Sec. Clinton, Adm. Mullen, and Obama Chief of Staff Bill Daley. That evening, Sec. Clinton flies to Paris and the president departs for Brazil.
http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/21/obama-authorizing-force-in-libya-a-timeline/

[Countdown_3_2_1]

1. Definition: Congressional VOTE for military action.

no great mystery.

[vaberella]

2. so in order to consult means that you need to have a vote?

I wasn't under that impression at all. If it does matter, why is the Senate vote discounted...and why did the Senate vote but the House not vote?

[Clio the Leo]

3. Yep, MSNBC drove me bonkers yesterday....

.... CONSTANTLY saying "Obama did not consult with Congress."

..... except that he did. At least twice.