Can you imagine if Clinton had chaired a committee for a year but never held a hearing?

[ruggerson]

and Obama called her on it and her response was that she was too busy campaigning for the last twelve months?

The talking heads would be all over it.

Obama's excuse as to why he has never held a Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing will not be brought up by reporters, unless the Clinton team pushes it tomorrow.

[TheDonkey]

1. So does Hillary even chair a committee?

Or is she just kicking back for the past 7 years??

[Clintonista2]

11. I'm sure that Hillary doesn't chair a committee unless she's sure she can commit to it

Unlike Obama.

[MonkeyFunk]

18. Yes

she's the chair of the Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health.

They've met at least 3 times since June.


http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Subcommittees.Subcommittee&Subcommittee_id=103b2505-610f-4f02-9004-7917c159b4aa

[grantcart]

76. lol and once since July 26

[emilyg]

23. Yes.

[HeraldSquare212]

2. She's too busy to even release her tax returns or pass her appointment records as first lady on?

She must be much more busy than he is.

[pnwmom]

36. Since when do candidates release their tax returns this early?

Isn't it usual for tax returns to be released after the primaries are over?

My return isn't even close to being ready, and I'm not running for President.

[Cant trust em]

83. I'm sure that Hillary doesn't do her own taxes

If I were running for president and there was a possibility of this coming up I'd have my accountants work on this and send out the return as soon as it was available.

[leftynyc]

59. Do you have a comment on the OP

or is deflection your answer to everything? Is this how you think Senator Obama is going to win in the general?

[HeraldSquare212]

80. That was my comment - pointing out that she claims she's been too busy campaigning to release

her tax returns, which would take what - five minutes at a copier? - but then people blast him for not holding hearings because he's campaigning? See the point.

[leftynyc]

82. No, not really

He's being PAID to be a senator. That said, yes, Hillary should show her tax returns. Totally different subjects.

[rodeodance]

69. try contributing to the topic. Stay focused.

[HeraldSquare212]

79. She says she's been too busy campaigning to release tax returns, but slams him for not holding

hearings? How long does releasing tax returns take - a few minutes at a copier?

[FrenchieCat]

3. Hell, she's been at it for 35 years and still hasn't accomplished

her pet issue.

But thanks for the hypothetical, IF.

[jillan]

31. S-Chip is nothing?

oh - okay.

[jackson_dem]

47. Yeah

Call me when she brings real change like naming a post office.

[karynnj]

70. S-CHIP is great, but it was Kennedy/Hatch

who got it passed and designed it. It was based on a Senate bill originally written by Kerry/Kennedy, that was significantly changed to get sufficient support among the Senate Republicans.

This is NOT something HRC did that demonstrates that she can create a compromise bill. It demonstrates that Ted Kennedy could.

Clinton's role was lobbying Bill Clinton to keep it in the budget. Ted Kennedy said that neither she nor Bill were there at the start of the effort - so her campaign's insistence that she INITIATED it is a lie. You can't initiate something if you are not even there at the start.

[indimuse]

56. as opposed to your candidate..

that will take his ball and go home if does not win the nom( as Michelle Obama said on the stump!!!!!!!!)....quitter! that's the character and quality of a LOSER!

[grantcart]

78. see #77 below

[bluestateguy]

4. Sounds like a pretty desperate line of attack to me

nt

[rodeodance]

34. We have serious problems abroud. She smacked him good on that one.

[karynnj]

71. That would be true - if Biden and Kerry had held no hearings on Afghanistan

This is an incredibly significant issue in the SFRC - so there were 2 full committee hearings since January and at least one in the Subcommittee that Kerry heads that overseas Afghanistan. (the SFRC does seem to have a full listing of the subcommittee hearings - I can prove there was at least one. http://talkradionews.com/2008/01/senator-kerry-leads-discussion-on-saving-afghanistan/)

Would it have made sense for Obama, with staffers who are expert on Europe, to have held hearing on this because NATO is there? If you saw the press conference that Biden and Kerry held yesterday on Afghanistan, it is clear that these two Senators are coordinating their efforts on Pakistan and Afghanistan. It would have been showboating for Obama to call hearings on this when the two strongest Democratatic Foreign policy experts are working very hard on the issue.

[barb162]

38. Maybe you'll start hearing some desperation in Obama's voice

very soon, that is, if he doesn't keep avoiding reporters.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. fucking astounding....he really likes to tout about his being on that committee on the stump too

[barb162]

39. She whupped him good! n/t

[rodeodance]

65. she sure did.

[grantcart]

77. yes it is astounding outrageous that Sen Clinton has had exactly

one more hearing than her sub committee in 8 months than Obama and that was 4 months ago. You are consistent in embarassing yourself.

Why don't you, before you hit the "easy" button on your moral outrage:

1) find a real issue

2) check the facts

1 more hearing in 8 months great super really impressive you got us there wow amazing fucking astounding

[anamandujano]

86. I was wondering if he was bragging about it. It looks good on his resume

like so much other stuff that he has done sh*t to work at.

[zulchzulu]

6. The last thing Hillary needs to remind people is how she chaired the 1993 healthcare failure

Her act is almost over.

[anamandujano]

87. It would be nice for Obama if we could sweep that under the rug

since it shows how committed she is to the issue, and how much fire she is willing to take for us.

It makes one wonder if Obama could withstand a $300 million co-ordinated attack.

Since he's not even willing to try, we'll never know.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

7. Yeah ... that was lame. What a Bozo.

[KittyWampus]

8. It's possible to conduct business without formal hearings. You've never been on committees

or worked with organized groups in any capacity, apparently.

[Forkboy]

9. It may be one of the only openings she has left.

But I don't think this issue will resonate much with everyday people. Most people think politicians don't do anything anyways. :)

She has to find something quick or this is over next week.

[ruggerson]

15. It's already over. It's been over for weeks.

This debate would not have changed anything unless Obama strangled her onstage.

[Forkboy]

22. Bet that video would hit Youtube pretty quick.

:D

[tammywammy]

33. He wouldn't do that

He would have totally whacked her with a folding chair though.

:evilgrin:

[ruggerson]

35. lol

[Independent-Voter]

57. Off the top rope no less. Anyways, Her Shrillness screwed the pooch last night. She's toast

[leftynyc]

60. Do you always use baby/freeper names for

people you disagree with? How childish to you wish to be?

[babylonsister]

10. Realism; he's running for president and hasn't been there to chair

anything. I'm glad he told the truth and didn't try to spin it. Neither one of them have had much time to do anything but campaign for months now.

[barb162]

43. Hillary is running for president too and she can chair her subcommittees.

Right?

[jackson_dem]

48. Yes, just like Biden and Dodd chaired their committees

Obama is the only one not doing what taxpayers pay him to do.

[Hippo_Tron]

52. Perhaps that's why they are not in the race anymore

And as a taxpayer I'd much rather see Obama spend his time campaigning so that he can get elected President and get us out of Iraq rather than hold subcommittee hearings that will make little difference.

[babylonsister]

49. Can she? What has she chaired lately? How much time has she

devoted to anything concerning the Senate lately?

[barb162]

73. Of course she can. Obama can't

[babylonsister]

81. Prove it; provide a link. Oh, that's right, you can't. nt

[Sensitivity]

54. no, please link

[barb162]

72. No? What's that supposed to mean? Hillary's committee link is below

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Subcommittees.Subcommittee&Subcommittee_id=103b2505-610f-4f02-9004-7917c159b4aa

[Colobo]

12. Obama was honest. I admire that.

[indimuse]

58. Obama was honest..?

let's see how honest he is after March 3...is it 5 hours...an acquaintance...10 years...20...no money...lil' money...iraqi nuclear energy deal ( on the down lo of course)???

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. he NEVER held a fucking MEETING....NOT 1...never mind hold a hearing

[barb162]

40. He might have to make a decision; then he can be criticized for taking a position

He likes criticizing others for their decisions.

[MrsBrady]

14. I agree.

The press does give him a pass on quite a bit.

[jlpohio69]

17. 14 months have passed and not one meeting???

At least he was honest about it, but that does not excuse going this long with no meeting.

[high density]

16. Well he is running a presidential campaign

All three people in this race have this same exact issue, so it's not exactly something they can use to point fingers at each other.

[jackson_dem]

28. So were Biden, Dodd and so is Hillary and they all did their jobs

This is more evidence the "agent of change" is basically a non-entity in the senate.

[barb162]

41. Same with his several years in the IL legislature: AWOL

[sykalla2]

19. Please refrain from attack St. Obama and implying there are double standards. Thanks *nt*

[emilyg]

24. Welcome to DU.

The official home of double standards.

[barb162]

42. LOL , is it okay if we just state outright there are double standards? n/t

[rodeodance]

64. Please stop whining that there is NO double standard.

[Muttocracy]

20. Clinton subcommittee

http://clinton.senate.gov/senate/committees/index.cfm
chair of one subcommittee
Looks like it met once in October, July, and June so it hasn't exactly been a hotbed of activity either.

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Subcommittees.Subcommittee&Subcommittee_id=103b2505-610f-4f02-9004-7917c159b4aa

NEITHER of them has been doing their job as Senators as far as I'm concerned.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

21. also the "ethics reform" bill Obama keeps touting about....NEVER PASSED

[sykalla2]

27. Liar!

It's been listed as an accomplishment COUNTLESS times on DU.

DU = Democratic Underground.

Don't you get it, DEMOCRATIC = MAJORITY RULES, so stfu.

Facts don't matter, only the will and convenient memory of the majority do.

[jackson_dem]

29. The one that brought "change" to Washington?

It banned lobbyists from buying meals for members of Congress--unless they were standing up. That is change you can believe in!

[Barack_America]

44. You seem to be factually challenged.

I'm not surprised.

[sykalla2]

25. Deleted

[Seabiscuit]

26. Hillary would be crucified by the press, but Obama seems to get a pass because he was "campaigning"

WTF??? I don't get it really.

[barb162]

45. His campaigning must be more important than her campaigning.

:sarcasm:

[jackson_dem]

30. His committee is on Europe, our biggest economic partner

It isn't like he has a token committee.

[jillan]

32. Especially a committee as important as that.

[barb162]

37. I'd like to see the reporters get on his case about this.

And no I can't imagine reporters not getting on her case.

[Labors of Hercules]

63. Why should we care what reporters think?

Do any members of Congress (other than Hillary and her campaign) think Obama is not performing his Senate duties well? With the endorsements he has received from his fellow Senators, I would say that answer is probably NO, but I'm waiting to hear them speak up before I just buy into Hillary saying his subcommittee is not able to get the job done because he is not holding meetings.

Every committee I've ever worked on that wasted time in meetings was far less effective in getting the job done. Especially with all the means of communication at our disposal today, meetings are just for show, and the real work is done outside the boardroom.

[rodeodance]

68. The press has not done its in vetting BO---very kid glove approach.

[barb162]

75. Usually unless reporters get a story out, voters don't find out who the slackers are.

[barb162]

46. He can't show the world that he really doesn't know shit about foreign policy

[Yossariant]

50. I'd like to be shocked, but the MSM is jamming this guy down our throats.

There was a time, in the not too distant past, when DU'ers would have complained.

But times have CHANGED.

:shrug:

[casus belli]

51. Great idea. Suggest her another dead end. n/t

[robbedvoter]

53. Not really. Remember Cheney antirerrorism commitee? May 2001? Some people

are teflon, some are velcro - and no, one is not born with it, it's a Media thing. (librul media as I actually saw it called on DU
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4782165

[OzarkDem]

55. Obama is all about promoting himself

doing his job and serving constituents is secondary. He needs to go back to Congress and learn how to represent people.

[burythehatchet]

61. Yes. E-mail this to her. She should run with it. n/t

[Pryderi]

62. As president, Obama will be more effective than being a mere committee chair.

[rodeodance]

67. stock up on the pillows

[barb162]

74. He's never been effective in the Illinois legislature on Congress n/t

[karynnj]

66. There have been at least two hearings on Afghanistan

They were held by the entire committee because of the importance of the issue - not because the chair of the area that overseas the near east (Kerry) or the chair of the area that overseas Europe and thus NATO (Obama) were not doing their jobs.

http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/hearings/2008/hrg080130p.html

http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/hearings/2008/hrg080130p.html

There was also a hearing in the near east subcommittee shortly before the January 31, 2008 whole committee hearing. (The website seems to only list the whole committee hearings. I knew of the other because I start DU in the JK group :) ) Here's a link to what was covered in that hearing. http://talkradionews.com/2008/01/senator-kerry-leads-discussion-on-saving-afghanistan/

IF Biden, as chair of the SFRC and Kerry, as chair of the committee that oversees Afghanistan were neglecting their jobs, HRC would have a point, but they haven't.

[oasis]

84. Chairmanship or presidency, Barack provides the "inspiration" while others do the heavylifting.

:dunce::dunce::dunce:Bottom up "leadership".

[Straight Shooter]

85. Barack for "inspiration"; everyone else for "perspiration."

I see him jetsetting a lot as POTUS, and delegating everything he possibly can to his "underlings."

[oasis]

88. He's just "too cool" to be bothered with all of that administrative stuff.(eom)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

89. Just Words Just Speeches.......watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgNj6nd4i4M