Today’s House Democratic Caucus meeting got out of control. Here is some info provided by Roll Call that are sure to entertain (get out the popcorn, it’s good):
One unidentified lawmaker went so far as to mutter “f— the president” while Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) was defending the package the president negotiated with Republicans. Berkley confirmed the incident, although she declined to name the specific lawmaker.
“It wasn’t loud,” Berkley said. “It was just expressing frustration from a very frustrated Member.”
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.) was also overheard saying, “We can’t trust him” not to cave to Republicans and extend the tax cuts again in two years, according to a Democratic source.
The anger aimed at the bill was widespread. As Democrats moved to block the bill from coming up on the floor, chants of “Just say NO!” could be heard by reporters outside the room.
Berkley is one of the few Democrats publicly supporting the package. While the Nevada Democrat said it wasn’t necessarily how she would have written it, the bill should go forward in her estimation because it is “chock full” of tax cuts that will help the working class in her state.
“I’m not willing to play Russian roulette to see who blinks first,” Berkley said.
This must have been an interesting, and dare I say entertaining, meeting. But several concerns arise from the type of language that seems to have been directed at Obama.
For starters, Tea Party activists were (and still are) frequently criticized as being “racist” for criticizing Obama’s policies. Will the media be levying such charges against the House Dem caucus based on similar grounds?
It’s troubling that when a Democrat speaks so crudely, it’s referred to as Rep. Berkley put it, “just expressing frustration”. But if a Tea Party person is frustrated and speaks out, it is motivated by hate and racism.
I look forward to tonight’s Olbermann “Worst Person in the World” calling out the “unidentified lawmaker” on this matter (I won’t be holding my breath).
Post your bet on who the “unidentified lawmaker” is below. We are betting Alan Grayson.
