March 19, 2010
Democrat not answering Obama’s call
Posted: March 19th, 2010 06:26 PM ET
From CNN Congressional Producer Evan Glass
Rep. Henry Cuellar, pictured here in a 2005 file photo, told reporters in the Capitol Friday he has so far refused to return the the president’s call because he first wants to decide how he’ll vote on the health care package.
Washington (CNN) - As President Obama holds face-to-face meetings and makes phone calls to House Democrats in a last ditch effort to gain enough support for passage of health care legislation, one fence-sitting lawmaker is refusing to answer a telephone call from the White House.
“If I have to talk to him, I’ll talk to him,” Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar said begrudgingly of a phone call his office received Wednesday from the White House. But Cuellar told reporters in the Capitol he has so far refused to return the call because he first wants to decide how he’ll vote on the health care package. The Texas congressman also acknowledged that it was “White House staff” that placed the call, but he presumes the president wanted to speak to him.
“At the end of the day, when we take a vote, he’s not going to be out there supporting me and running my elections,” Cuellar said of Obama. “It’s going to be up to me to run my election. And it’s up to me to decide on my own that this is in the best interests of my district.”
Cuellar, who is in his third term, voted in favor of the original House version of health care reform in November, but he has not announced his intentions this time.
He doesn’t have my respect. He clearly voted for the earlier bill in November.
He’ll fold or if he holds out he’s probably doing it for bribes or kickbacks later on down the line.
ALL of D.C. is corrupt. Both sides. You don’t get ther unless you are this day and age to some extent.
My solution would be a public hanging of them all for treason agains the Constitution, but that would probably land me in jail by those same folks “who know what’s best for us”.
I don’t care what he did in November, this since the bill is still not law and he is an obstacle as of today. One who should not be there. See the forest through the trees. We need a few more of him right now.
Is he anti-gun and pro-illegal immigrant? Possibly. But he is on our side on this very significant issue fundamentally not allowing himself to sell-out.
Also, anyone here who does not see the significance of a minority, Democratic Congressman refusing to take his President’s calls at this critical juncture is oblivious as to it’s political implications. He is doing the right thing against very significant odds.
I’m familiar with this politician…he’s a dem’s dem and I just hope there is no payoff & my guess is what he’s fishing / waiting for. I don’t think he’s in the middle of reading the bill to make up his mind.
However, I’ll take any vote that helps defeat this monster in front of us & I hope he’s getting pinched.
How would he know one is offered if he does not allow confidential contact to be established? It won’t be offered to a staffer, I can assure you of that.
I’m cynical & don’t trust him as he’s been in power way too long…he either is getting pinched by the voters and is playing the game or has an idea of what he’s being offered and is sending a message. I’m getting crusty about the whole thing safety.
Again, I’m with you and will take the no vote regardless.
He’s also not on our side with this issue in my opinion. He’s just holding out and playing hard ball with the Administration for back door deals that we will never hear about. Unless one has their head in the sand this is how the game is played.
I’ve bumped elbows in my life with all sorts of folks from my home state early in their careers from Boehner, De Wine etc. They ALL have done this at some level during their careers.
Just look at the ultra liberal Kucinich here as well. He was against it for such a long time because it “didn’t have a public option” and he’s now finally come around. Why would he all of a sudden get on board? Something will or has been given to him or promised. Most of the time it is funds from “legitimate” donors in that state where pressure is put on them to have them support a certain candidate during re-elections etc OR they receive personal contacts that help them financially in their personal realm. These types of deals are kind of like the thing where Obama as a Senator got one hell of a deal on that home he has in Chicago that went WAY below market value at the time. It saved him millions on the purchase and later in life if he sells it during an up market will make him millions.
I’m not trying to single you out here or anything, but my personal opinion is that this guy will cave once he gets what he wants in some way. That is how politics work and have done so for hundreds of years to a certain level. It’s just gotten way out of control the past 50-100 years. There’s really no way to absolutely verify that he won’t accept a call from the President or his staff unless you or I were there answering the phone. The biggest thing is why would he want to make this public? He is trying to create the feeling that he’s against it in a state like Texas where this bill is very unpopular. Is he up for re-election soon? Is he feeling the pressure from his constituents?
They are here to serve us not themselves. I doubt we will ever be able to change the machine for past generations have been oblivious to this ever so subtle push. Now it’s so big unless we had another revolution type event it won’t be reversed. They will not give up this power easily. As of now I’m not holding my breathe with this guy. He true colors will show and looking at his voting record on past things one could already make a case for his general view on things.
Did I state or imply this somehow? Or might you be the one making an implication? Either way, I’ll place minimal effort to debate you as I am on your side and then some overall. I just see something rather remarkable here all circumstances considered.
I have not a clue how the story became public, but do you not suspect that actions such as his are not looked on extremely dis-favorably by the Democratic run administration right now? Think they might remember his show of blatant disrespect one day down the line as they literally go-for-broke?
I sure hope so. Because number one it shows that he cares about them more than his affiliation with Obama, the hero of all American minorities. And number 2 it shows that maybe his constituents just don’t like it, which is also likely good.
Agreed. Especially if groups like MoveOn.Org threaten to run another canidate against him in a primary race. Its already happened to some that said they would vote “no” and when threatened with a primary, switched to “yes”.
Hard to disagree with this, no doubt. I guess it boils down to several scenarios, none of which may be apparent to us in the future.
Is he doing it for constituents who he knows are unhappy with the bill due to the financial implications, or are they unhappy because it doesn’t provide enough entitlements? Maybe a local would know, but certainly not me.
Regardless, it is a stinging, disrespectful public blow to an already over-stressed president and administration from a member of their own party. I at the very least can and do appreciate that at this critical time.
If he votes yes after all this anyway…I’d say screw him but thanks for at least further embarrassing the president and not just falling in line.
Check out his district layout…It runs across a territory of both conservatives & libs. I think at this point those against this bill are MUCH more vocal but I know for certain there are areas supporting this legislation.
Alot of his area has voters which call themselves ‘La Maquina’ or The Machine…single lever dem voters. Most are anti-abortion (catholic) and pro gun. They complain about their reps voting against their will in these areas and when I ask why they support them in the election, it’s always, “Cuz I’m a Democrat”
He isn’t doing this stall to think it over, he’s using it to weigh his chances of re-election come November if he goes for a ‘Yes’ vote. Also, probably seeing if Pelosi is going to try and do the ‘deem and pass’ BS.
Possilby in your last paragraph where you stated that if we didn’t see it that way we were oblivious. I still don’t think he cares about his constituents. Most in politics don’t really unless it risks their re-election. Rule number one as stated before and on this board is ALWAYS to get re-elected.
Not really. Both parties play this game all of the time for kick backs for their area with funds to help them look good etc etc. This is nothing new. It’s been that way from the beginning of time. It’s not disrespect. I wouldn’t put it past them to have leaked this on purpose to help him save face locally in the press, but in reality the outcome is known behind closed doors. I still don’t know why this is so hard for folks to understand. It’s grandstanding at it’s finest until they get something that will help them.
Again I personally believe it’s just an act/front to save face for as long as possible. We’ll never know until the situation has an ending and the votes and folks are outed, but I’d be my money on the poney that says he votes for it in the end.
Only the final vote counts. If he votes yes, he can say he wasn’t swayed by back room deals and voted on his convictions, which may help him get re-elected. There’s a lot of hatred and threatened re-election possibilities for those whose votes were bought. So it may just be a very shrewd political gambit.
If he votes yes and gets a sweetheart deal that’s even better than Kuchinich got, then it shows he’s shrewd yet again.
Only if he votes no can you say he’s bucking his party for his overall constituency and the good of the country. All the pre-vote posturing is meaningless in the end.
The comments are interesting, thanks for posting this. I was starting to think this thread was too simplistic, but maybe there was something to my gut feeling afterall.
See how it goes soon enough I guess. Hearing now that they don’t have the votes again. This will go down to the wire.
