* You’ve probably read the stories about Sen. Dick Durbin’s Sunday Facebook post…
Many Republicans searching for something to say in defense of the disastrous shutdown strategy will say President Obama just doesn’t try hard enough to communicate with Republicans. But in a “negotiation” meeting with the president, one GOP House Leader told the president: “I cannot even stand to look at you.”
* Republicans have flatly denied it happened, and so did the White House…
White House press secretary Jay Carney insisted that Durbin’s story just wasn’t true. “I looked into this and spoke with somebody who was in that meeting, and it did not happen,” Carney said. And Boehner’s spokesman, Michael Steel, said, “The speaker certainly didn’t say that and does not recall anyone else doing so.”
* But Durbin’s spokesman said the Senator stands by his claim…
Max Gleischman, a spokesman for Durbin, the Senate’s second-ranking Democrat, said, “Durbin stands by his comments.”
Even so, Durbin has so far refused to name the alleged insulter.
* And he’s even doubled down in a campaign fundraising letter…
Please, click here to send my campaign $16 — one dollar for every day of the reckless and irresponsible Republican Shutdown — or whatever you can afford.
There was one incident — largely unreported — that I cannot get out of my mind.
As Republicans went around the table telling the president their complaints and demands during a “negotiation” meeting, it came to a member of the GOP House Leadership who said these words to President Obama:
“I am so disgusted. I cannot even stand to look at you.”
I share this story because many Republicans searching for something to say in defense of the disastrous shutdown strategy will often say that the president just doesn’t try hard enough to communicate with Republicans.
Let me ask you: What are the chances of an honest conversation with someone who has just said “I cannot even stand to look at you”? […]
Please, click here to send my campaign $16 — one dollar for every day of the reckless and irresponsible Republican Shutdown — or whatever you can afford.
One dollar for every day that our federal employees sat at home wondering when they could get back to work.
One dollar for every day the reputation of the United States as a world leader was weakened by the Republican threat to default on our debt for the first time in history.
I really think that if you’re gonna make a comment like that, you have an obligation to name names once everyone in the room has denied such a thing was ever said - especially if you’re gonna try to raise money on it.
*** UPDATE *** Hat tip to some commenters for this report by Lynn Sweet…
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told a gathering of Democratic senators that a GOP House leader said in a private meeting with President Barack Obama he could not stand to look at him–an exchange reported by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and denied by the White House.
The Huffington Post’s Jen Bendery and Ryan Grim confirmed this exchange with two Democratic senators at the meeting and two Senate Democratic aides. I confirmed this with one Democratic aide who told me about Reid’s remarks at a meeting with the Democratic senators last Tuesday. […]
The GOP lawmaker in question is Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas). His office is denying that he made the comment.
So, this makes it easy for Durbin. Just explain where you first heard it and say who it was about.
*** UPDATE 2 *** More damage control…
The White House is taking back Thursday a slam leveled at Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) by Press Secretary Jay Carney over an alleged insult to President Barack Obama by a GOP House leader.
A White House official told me “While the quote attributed to a Republican lawmaker in the House GOP meeting with the President is not accurate, there was a miscommunication when the White House read out that meeting to Senate Democrats, and we regret the misunderstanding.”
So, it was the White House’s fault?
*** UPDATE 3 *** Durbin has posted something new on Facebook…
I appreciate this clarification from the White House that explains recent conflicting reports on the GOP quote. It is important now to move beyond the unfortunate events of the last few weeks and work together constructively so that we’re not faced with another shutdown showdown or debt-ceiling debacle.
- OneMan - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 10:55 am:
He isn’t going to say who… Who are we kidding..
Stay classy senator.
- Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 10:59 am:
The pattern of making outrageous, unprovable accusations is not new. Interesting that the WH denies the accusation. I would have expected at least a fig leaf for Durbin to hide behind from them.
Is is, however new to a highly ranked senator. What gives? He can’t be afraid of any of the competition being rumored for the upcoming election……..
- TooManyJens - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:00 am:
According to the Huffington Post (yeah, I know) Dem House and Senate aides have now named Pete Sessions. Sessions denies it.
This whole thing sounds like a giant game of Capitol Hill telephone. Supposedly Harry Reid was the one who heard the comment at the meeting and told the rest of the Democratic caucus about it.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:01 am:
Yeah, Durbin really stepped on it here. He can’t continue as he is.
Put a name to it or apologize is right.
- MrJM - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:01 am:
Lynn Sweet says the GOP lawmaker in question is Pete Sessions and that Harry Reid is backing Durbin’s story: http://goo.gl/RXEtFw
I don’t see a Durbin apology forthcoming.
– MrJM
- William j Kelly - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:01 am:
I must say, for the record, that this lie is ALMOST as embarrassing as everything else durbin has ever said or done.
- Just Observing - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:02 am:
What’s even worse is that the Senator was not even present at the time of this alleged incident. How can he stick so strongly to this story when he can’t even personally attest.
- A guy... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:04 am:
Deeper in the article it was stated that Durbin wasn’t even in attendance at the meeting this statement allegedly occurred. So at best, it’s hearsay. The President didn’t hear it, the WH vehemently denies it. If it happened, we would have heard about it instantly. I wasn’t really prepared to call Durbin a opportunistic liar, until I saw he was trying to raise money with his sickening lie. I’m disgusted with Durbin. I can’t stand to look at him. If I were in his presence, I’d be more polite and not say this. I’d just say, we have differences that make me want to help you collect your pension Senator.
- qcexaminer - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:08 am:
Even before the WH denied it, I know Durbin was lying for two reasons:
1. “I am so disgusted. I cannot even stand to look at you” is something you might hear in a Middle School girls bathroom—circa 1958, but not likely in the WH among adults.
2. Durbin claimed someone in the leadership of GOP said this. He might be able to pin this on some rookie GOPer, but the leadership—totally bogus.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:09 am:
I agree with MrJM.
- A guy... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:09 am:
Oh, Harry Reid is a witness…no wonder they’re looking for someone else to say the WH and Jay Carney are lying. If this happened, Jay Carney would be telling the world instead of Dick Durbin repeating what another guy said and Harry confirmed. Yeah, sure.
- JoeInPeoria - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:10 am:
Important fact to remember on this story is that Dick Durbin was NOT in the room, so he did not hear any of the comments made. Politico is my source for this fact.
So, by definition, Dick Durbin is repeating Hearsay, or what the average person would call Gossip. He should know that since he is a lawyer.
The fact that he continues to push this Hearsay comment, when no one in the meeting has confirmed the comment, shows his bad judgment and/or his strong partisanship. He wants to pour more gasoline on the fire, probably for political fundraising.
And, then he complains about the lack of bipartisanship in Washington!
Some of us remember when he used to give strident pro-life speeches years ago throughout Illinois. One has to wonder why he changed his abortion position, if not for his own advancement in the Democratic party leadership.
I will gracefully allow the gentle readers to come up with the proper adjectives/nouns to describe the behavior by such a politician.
- Mason born - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:15 am:
So Durbin is standing by hearsay. It was bad form to repeat. To me naming a name doesn’t help unless he can provide a source that was at the meeting to confirm it. Apparently Harry Reid thank you MrJM. Otherwise instead of hearsay someone said it it becomes hearsay so and so said it which is to me no better.
- reformer - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:17 am:
Sen. Reid backs him up, and another senator might as well. It seems to me it’s premature to conclude this matter is proven and Durbin is guilty.
- FormerParatrooper - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:18 am:
Hearsay, an all out lie, I don’t know. Now I am wondering what was going on in the room since a smoke screen is up.
- Adam Smith - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:19 am:
Durbin has completely gone around the bend. Like many others in the past of both parties, his delusions of grandeur have overtaken his senses. Everything is acceptable in his quest for political victory.
Durbin was once a reasonable voice that could reach across the aisle. As he’s risen on the power ladder he’s become more and more detached from common sense and civility.
That’s not to say he’s alone. It’s just time we realized we have a senator who’s not going to do a damn thing to find a solution when he can make a frothing, histrionic tirade instead.
- Mason born - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:20 am:
I also agree that he won’t apologize.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:21 am:
When the White House backs up “the other guys” in a he-said, she-said, you might want to let it go.
Doubling down drags this out and taints the White House.
This should have been out of the news cycle in one day. Doubling down keeps this alive.
Now we must ask and wonder: Who is telling the truth?
President Barack Obama?
Or Harry Reid and Dick Durbin?
Tune in tonight at 9 to find out.
Sheesh. Way to go, Senator.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:22 am:
He wasn’t even in the room?
Come on now. Unbelievable.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:28 am:
Whether Durbin got the wording of the quote 100 percent correct, how can anyone be surprised at an allegation of rudeness and disrespect by the House GOP toward Obama after:
1) the “you lie” sotu incident
2) the “go f yourself” from boehner to reid outside the oval officdur
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:28 am:
–A White House official told me “While the quote attributed to a Republican lawmaker in the House GOP meeting with the President is not accurate, there was a miscommunication when the White House read out that meeting to Senate Democrats, and we regret the misunderstanding.” –
Well, that clears things up, lol.
- MrJM - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:30 am:
“A senior White House official said that a full explanation of the misunderstanding is available at the healthcare.gov website.”
– MrJM
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:30 am:
Mr.JM strikes again!
- kerfuffle - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:31 am:
So in this case the White House/President does communicate….they/he just does it poorly?
- Mason born - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:34 am:
Okay so now after the second update this is a gigantic cluster frack. If this is due to the White House screwing up the transcript how did they not clean this up before it got to this point. I mean couldn’t they send a copy of the transcript to Durbin’s office.
Question. It it is the WH fault should Durbin still apologize?
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:34 am:
I believe Dick Durbin.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:35 am:
The rest of #2 of my previous post was “during the january fiscal cliff talks”
Given this backdrop of House GOP relations with Democrats it does strain some credulity for Boehner to get all that indignant about such an allegation being leveled against his caucus.
- Siriusly - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:36 am:
The President was for botching all forms of message management before he was against it
- AFSCME Steward - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:36 am:
This isn’t the first time that Durbin has behaved recklessly. Unfortunately, he probably won’t have a serious challenge. Even if what Durbin reported was true, it was during a period of emotional turmoil as fingers were being pointed back & forth about the government shutdown. I wonder why Durbin is not reporting what some Dems were saying about GOP leaders ? I’m sure there were some real juicy comments from his side as well. Additionally, what relevence is a statement by a house member from Texas to Senate voters in Illinois ? Durbin has been a left-wing bomb-thrower for a long time. He needs to go, but probably will stay.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:37 am:
=== how can anyone be surprised at an allegation of rudeness and disrespect by the House GOP toward Obama ===
Ummmm… now that it sounds like the White House got a bit reckless and essentially made up the quote while briefing Senate Democrats, that does seem a bit surprising.
The quote attributed to “a Republican lawmaker” is “not accurate” and was relayed by the White House during briefings of Senate Democrats by the White House.
So much for Durbin being the dunce. The White House never should have “miscommunicated” that story while rallying the Senate Democratic troops.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:44 am:
Well played, MrJM!
- Powell - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:44 am:
ok, so now both Durbin and Sessions can raise money off this flap and we will still never know the truth.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:47 am:
=== “A senior White House official said that a full explanation of the misunderstanding is available at the healthcare.gov website.” ===
MrJM, I bout p&&d my pants when I read that one! It made my day.
- Timmeh - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:49 am:
“Even if what Durbin reported was true, it was during a period of emotional turmoil as fingers were being pointed back & forth about the government shutdown.”
Which makes it worse, if it was said. And it is at least as bad as bringing it up now that the shutdown is done and we’re trying to get back to business.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:49 am:
So, to put a conspiratorial bent on this, I know that Durbin continues to push this hearsay bs so that the clusterfudge that is the ACA website SNAFU isn’t the lede on the 6 o’clock news. I heard that from the other guy in the room.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:54 am:
Sounds like the White House must issue 2 apologies now.
One for healthcare.gov and one for making up that quote.
- A guy... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 11:59 am:
I think this is what Durbin gets when his Chief of Staff calls the WH asking for help. Bad communicators being saved by worse ones.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:18 pm:
Yeah I told Sebelius not to hire Mitt’s IT Staff for the website. As for the Republican commenters commenting on Durbin’s classiness, or lack thereof, look in the mirror.
- David P. Graf - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:21 pm:
Considering what others in the GOP have said about Obama, shouldn’t we be giving the benefit of the doubt to Durbin?
- Huh? - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:22 pm:
Given the degree of vituperative rhetoric that is spewed around these days, it would not surprise me one bit if somebody of the rabid right wing ilk made the statement.
Regardless of whether it was said or not, nobody is going to announce that they were so disrespectful of the President. Secondly, It is a class act for the White House not to expose the person.
From before the President was sworn into office, the rabid right have been doing everything they could to hinder the President’s programs.
- grand old partisan - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:34 pm:
=== how can anyone be surprised at an allegation of rudeness and disrespect by the House GOP toward Obama ===
Allow me to rephrase….
How anyone be surprised at an allegation of frustration and anger by someone who was called to the White House only to have the President say, “we aren’t going to negotiate with you.”
- the unknown poster - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
Huh?
Be fair now. From before the President (Bush) was sworn into office, the rabid left wing had been doing everything they could to hinder the President’s progress.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:37 pm:
OK, people, get back to the topic at hand. Deletions will follow.
- JoeInPeoria - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:37 pm:
From Politico, to those who have been led to believe that Dick Durbin attended the meeting where the alleged comment was made.
“It’s worth noting that the only face-to-face meeting between Obama and House GOP leaders was on Oct. 10, and Durbin was not present. ”
Source:
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/trash-talking-president-barack-obama-98777.html?ml=po_r
- Anon III - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:38 pm:
Let’s just briefly assume that the “story” (as described in Durbin’s fund-raising letter) is true. It would seem that such disrespect for the President would not go unchallenged in the meeting.
What then did the President say back to Rep. Sessions? What did others in both leaderships say in response to the Sessions comment?
- the unknown poster - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:43 pm:
Harry Reid backs up Durbin. Well that settles it. Is that the same Harry Reid that claimed Mitt Romney didn’t pay income taxes for years? Was that claim ever proven?
- Judgment Day (Road Trip) - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:44 pm:
This just looks like some schoolyard attempt cooked up on the fly by Harry Reid and Dick Durbin to embarrass/deflect the House committee holding hearings today on ACA (Obamacare) implementation. What a cluster.
Total amateur hour. Durbin’s coming across as being a ‘Professionally Offended’ type.
- Mason born - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:47 pm:
Okay i think we need to work on Reading skills. See 2nd update. This was not said. Didn’t happen. The question now is how does Durbin clear up the mess.
- train111 - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:47 pm:
The real adults can come to DC at any time…..
Buehler….
Buehler….
Buehler….
- Mr. Grassroots - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 12:58 pm:
The finger is being pointed at White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors. He passed on a “readout” of the meeting to Reid and Reid told the Dem caucus. Remains to be seen if he is hurt by this. What did he hear and when did he hear it.
- olddog - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 1:38 pm:
Sounds like the White House is covering for both of them. Not that it really matters.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 1:54 pm:
From a Trib story just posted:
“The original Durbin Facebook post remained up today. Asked Thursday if anyone from the White House had urged Durbin to remove the information from his Facebook page, Carney declined to say.”
Seriously? The White House has come out and clarified the fact that THIS NEVER HAPPENED.
But we’ll just let our comments and allegations stand without amendment. While we fundraise off an event that did not occur.
As someone put it above, “Stay classy, Senator.”
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 1:55 pm:
FKA that story has been up since last night.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 2:06 pm:
Methinks someone apparently can’t read dates or times (yeah, that would be me).
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 2:22 pm:
fwiw, I just checked, thinking it would be fair and proper to commend him for correcting his post or taking it down now that new facts have come to light.
There is so much negative and misleading stuff in politics today, and I did not like to think I may have been contributing to that mentality based on an outdated story.
So much for that. Senator Durbin’s post is still up on his page at www.facebook.com/dickdurbin
No comments, no amendments, no retractions, no clarifications. I get that we live in hyper-partisan times, but it would be nice if corrected that, said he was wrong or just took it down since it has no basis in fact or reality.
The comments on that page are a mixed bag, too. A weird combination of insulting, crude and semi-amusing. No fun for the intern monitoring all that stuff.
- Anon - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 2:24 pm:
But why should Durbin care? He’s fundraising off it and he’ll still be re-elected. People can vent in blog comments and tweets all they want but the fact is there will be no repercussions. There never are in Chicago/Illinois unless the Feds indict (and this isn’t such a case..heck, even indicted they still win their seats!)
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 2:31 pm:
FKA, your timing is off again. See Update 3.
- Mason born - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 2:33 pm:
To give the devil his due. Well done Senator.
- OneMan - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 2:56 pm:
Also I have raised what I can with this, also please not I did not apologize for repeating something that turned out may in fact be false and giving the impression that I heard it myself directly…
- the unknown poster - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 3:12 pm:
a non apology apology. Nothing to see here, move along now.
- the unknown poster - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 3:15 pm:
Smooth move Senator. Open mouth, insert foot and kick vigorously.
- Sue - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 3:26 pm:
what the unnamed person should have said is Mr President your legacy will be being responsible for enactment of the Unaffordable Care Act
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 3:38 pm:
Again, Durbin really stepped on his. What a rookie mistake for a veteran. Embarrassing.
He should be thankful that the White House is bailing him out from this stupid unforced error, but you better believe they’re honked at him.
The other guys are tearing each other apart, plotting primaries against their own for 2014. What’s the point of giving them something to rally around?
The first rule of politics is, when the other guys are self-destructing, let them.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 3:43 pm:
ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE!
Kudos to Senator Durbin for making a new post. The retraction isn’t quite as forceful as the original statement but at least he made an effort. That is more than some would have done.
As far as I can tell, that post went up shortly after my last comment. He must have posted that literally minutes afterwards or darn nearly at the same time.
Good for him for walking that back. It was the right thing to do.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 4:03 pm:
===He should be thankful that the White House is bailing him out from this stupid unforced error, but you better believe they’re honked at him.===
I’m pretty sure it was the White House that helped put Durbin in this situation. If it wasn’t the WH that started the Sessions story, then the WH ought to be mad at Reid more than Durbin. As far as I can tell, Durbin is guilty of being too aggressive in trying to defend Obama. I highly doubt the WH is mad at him for that.
Somebody in the WH decided the story wasn’t worth dignifying and they cut off Durbin at the knees. If anyone should be honked off, it’s Durbin. He got thrown under the bus.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 4:17 pm:
The lesson here appears to be twofold:
Do not make up statements your opponents never said and spread them to rile up the troops.
Do not repeat stories based on hearsay when you weren’t even in the room.
This entire episode was unnecessary and easily avoidable.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 4:23 pm:
47, you might be right.
Either way, from a purely DC partisan point-of-view, it distracted for a day or two from the ongoing GOP civil war.
- Just Wondering - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 4:25 pm:
Durbin — First Rule of Climbing Out of a Hole — Stop Digging in Deeper.
- walkinfool - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 5:22 pm:
It is apparent that Dick Durbin heard that this had occurred, and passed it on. Others have backed him on it.
It’s still a stupid thing to for him to say and use.
To call it a “lie” by Durbin, is itself unfair and over the top.
Given the personalities involved, and previous disrespectful behavior, it rings true — but now there’s no way of knowing for sure.
- BobInPeoria - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 5:38 pm:
The alleged incident happened on October 10, per my Politico reference above.
So, why did Durbin not bring this remark up until 11-13 days later, if he really thought that it was such a bad comment?
I believe that he may have created the controversy so that he could use it to distract the media during the hearings on the Obamacare website failures.
Oh, and of course for fundraising purposes also.
- WilliamO - Thursday, Oct 24, 13 @ 9:42 pm:
Whatever. Durbin should have kept his mouth shut. Maybe he’s learned something–after all, he’s almost certainly going to run again and be one of our US senators for another loooong term, so let’s hope he did.
- Tony - Friday, Oct 25, 13 @ 8:35 am:
The Democrats will try anything to take the public focus off THEIR and I do mean THEIR botched Obamacare fiasco!!!