Clinton and Obama on the Hill

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:52 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Clinton and Obama should be on the Senate floor today voting shortly after 11:00 am ET.

There will be four votes...
-- a Republican energy/gas bill (needs 60 votes to advance; expected to fail)
-- a Democratic bill to suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (also needs 60 votes; should pass)
-- a flood insurance bill (should pass)
-- and a procedural vote allowing state and local first responders collective bargaining rights (this vote is considered the primary reason the candidates are here... to show union support)

In the past, Clinton and Obama have used opportunities like this to meet and greet their Senate colleagues on the floor. During one long voting session, the two actually sat down together and chatted. However, the last time they were on the floor together they never crossed paths.

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Comments

I don't imagine Clinton and Obama are being any too cozy right now. I'm sure they'll be lobbing for supers, though...

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:04 AM)

I heard she asked him if she could borrow $5 for a latte

mary lee w atlanta georgia (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:11 AM)

Number 2 on the list is really important it might bring a little relief to our pockets . I hope that Hillary and Obama do take a moment together so they can at least pretend to signal a call for unity in the party.That would be the graceful thing to do .

Brian M. De. (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:11 AM)

One credit that truly should be given Hilary is her attendance record in the Senate while campaigning - which really put Obama and McCain to shame.

That to me is an indication of one's conviction to serve the country - above personal aspirations.
Call her whatever you want to call her - and boy did Obama's supporters had a field day coming up with names - but she has proven by actions what truly is in her heart.

I can only hope that after all these, people give her the respect she deserves. And Obama's camp and supporters realize how much they need her in the GE. Half of the dems voted for her after all.

Enough of the flowery mud sling, if you are all calling for a unity of the party, it goes two ways. Words do and can hurt - enough to throw people off the other way. Be warned, there's not enough independents and cross over repubs that can out number Hilary's supporters.

MSNBC please post this.

Joyce, NY (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:13 AM)

Class I think most of the lobbying is done it is just a matter of making them known and proper timing.I think that we have been a check formation and just waiting patiently to say mate.

Brian M. De (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:14 AM)

What is the Flood Insurance Bill? What is it about?

Mary Pitts (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:17 AM)

I sure hope they (the Obama & Clinton camps) meet soon. I still think (the) Clinton(s) can come out of this smelling like roses if they turn to earnestly helping Obama win the general once the primary season is over.

However, I don't think its right to place the two of them on the same ticket. Too much baggage to haul around. And their ideology is drastically different.

Robert, Boulder CO (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:18 AM)

Careful Barack......don't get too close to her today! Ignore her (that just kills her) and talk a few more Supers over to our side!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:21 AM)

The MSM should pay Clinton's debt. The MSM provided the vehicle for her illusory march to the Presidency long after it was clear she had no chance.

John Doe (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:23 AM)

I'm glad to hear about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I was wondering why we were still filling it, since gas prices are through the roof.

Marihelen (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:23 AM)

I do hope they can eventually reconcile. As a nation, we must all move on to the more important issues ahead.

Lilly - Maryland (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:24 AM)

The Strategic Reserve is not to be released except in times of national emergency "Katrina" or during war if our middle eastern shipments are interupted, this puts America and the military at great risk.

The Truth Hurts (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:25 AM)

I wonder if "Alzheimer" McCain will be in his Senate seat to catch up on his nap time. The old geezer needs all the beauty rest he can get now that he has to face Barack Obama in the general election.

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:27 AM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
It must be great to make a 150k a year and not even show up for work 90% of the time.

twocanpete (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:28 AM)

It looks like someone is pranking patty,sd,ca by turning in comments with her name on it. For once I actually agree with patty that whatever little cowardly creep that is out there pranking her and others should be brave enough to say whatever he or she has to say under their own name.

I noticed some of them over the past few days and I thought she had gone schizophrenic. Look she has no need of any help to make her sound any more stupid than she herself does.

The fine folks at First Read that are posting our comments have plenty enough on their hands than to have to play traffic cops here trying to filter out prank posts. Let's not allow some cowardly jerk to ruin our reader comment fun.

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:29 AM)

Barack Obama...."Present!"

Shabby, Florida (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:32 AM)

A part of the 'healing' process for the Democratics will be for Hillary to come out publically and 'denounce' and 'renouce' any and all who pander and promote falsehoods about Obama (accusing him of being Muselim maybe because of Obama's name - taken after his father's name), 'renounce' and 'denounce' any accusations of Obama not being a Christian, and apologizing for any perceived slights or racial innenudos that pander to people's fears.

annie oakley (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:36 AM)

no offense mary lee but whatever way you slice she still has more $'s than him and more than likely you too

Ernest Hernandez (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:37 AM)

Watch Hillary squawk about the pledged delegate defection. Remember she was the one arguing that ANY delegates could switch. BUT that was when she was wanting them to switch to her.

TLA (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:39 AM)

Should be interesting to see how many "supporters" gather around Obama vs. Hilary while they are on the hill. I'll bet Hilary loses that one too.

WB Mark (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:40 AM)

If Obama wins the nomination, the support is really beginning to swell behind an Obama / Clinton ticket. Unless some thing changes, I think it will be the only way to truly bring the party together after such a long primary process, and ensure victory in November. At this point it will be the only way Obama will get my vote.

Chris from Indps, IN (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:41 AM)

Both Clinton and Gore have supported using the SPR to ease gas prices before; Bush opposed it of course. This is a political issue. For people wanting more on the history of the debate, try this link. It summarizes it pretty well.

http://money.cnn.com/2000/09/21/economy/gore_oil/

Count me with Clinton and Gore, and against Bush on this one (and most ones).

Marihelen (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:45 AM)

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve has no noticible effect on what we pay at the pump.

TLA (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:46 AM)

OK this is bad timing, we should all be thinking about unity.
But you know, I wish all those women, militant in their support for Hillary because she is the first woman with a chance, would pause to consider just how ugly a precedent she could set for future women presidential candidates (much less Dems) -- particularly if she somehow won the Office. Others who follow may not have the profound name recognition advantages she has had, but worse, would be burdened with proving that all ambitious women are not blatant opportunists, willing to say and do anything to "win", and feel that women are and must be entitled to be arrogant and self-serving in order to prevail. I know my three sisters and I are all 40+ women. We have had our share of working, establishment battles. But this has not dimmed our ability to see the writing on the wall nor our hope that others will, for the sake of our Country, the Dems and future women.
--Women for the best candidate '08, whomever they may be.

TheNest (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:47 AM)

Great Post F-R. A break from the Race and a glance of what Washington is actually doing.

Thanks!

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:47 AM)

The democrat lead Senate just voted for higher gas prices for Americans. Once again, stupid goofy liberals who want to see the American people suffer vote against lower gas prices. Once again, the liberals tell America that they must suffer. People will soon have to chose between food and gas, and the vote today suggests that liberals do not care about the American people.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:49 AM)

annie oakley

They still can't get Hillary to admit she made a mistake when she voted for the war!!! She doesn't DO apologies

Terry, IN (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:51 AM)

I'd love to see Gov. Kathleen Sebaulis from Kansas or Sen. Claire Mckaskil from Missouri as VEEP. Both of these woman are smart and strong and would bring the woman's vote. Hillary is just the wrong person with huge negatives. Lets get the right woman in there to change Washington and truely make this a democratic year to remember!!

Brian, FL (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:53 AM)

No offense taken Ernest Hernandez

I'm rich like Hill ... God Bless Us

mary lee w atlanta georgia (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:55 AM)

Brian M.:

If it's so important, why did the Democrats wait until it's 97% or more full? Could it be politics? They're going to buy you with that meaningless last 2-3%?

Meanwhile, the reserve is, for all intents and purposes, full. As it should be. Further, if oil prices keep going up it means it was filled with cheaper oil, which is also responsible.

But the Dems will pass this because it's theirs and it's so meaningless that enough Senators will vote for it. Meanwhile, they will reject a substantial energy/gas plan simply because it's a Republican bill.

Yeah, you folks just keep making more and more sense.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:56 AM)

If Puerto Rico votes don't count why bother with a primary? Chris Mathew says they can't vote in the General. If he is taking the General into consideration, then he would know that Hillary would beat John McCain on the electorial system and Obama would not. You can have it both ways, Mr. Mathews.

Seating Florida and Michigan is important. It's not the voters fault thet a few democratic leaders decided to set up their Primary on the wrong date. Let's be fair to the people and let their voices be heard, then decide. What is the media afraid of. Hilliary might win popular vote and it might not be such a clear path for their darling.

gina fernandes (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:59 AM)

People will soon have to chose between food and gas, and the vote today suggests that liberals do not care about the American people.
jerry/corpus christi texas
------------------------------------------------------
But it's okay for Bush to spend 3 TRILLION dollars (borrowed from China) in Iraq and you don't see THAT as "liberal'? Give me a break! The 'liberal" label isn't going to stick this year either! Get use to saying President Barack Obama!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:00 PM)

Chris from Indianapolis

Obama would be making a fatal mistake to choose Hillary as his running mate. He would be the one person standing between her and the White House. His children need their father. He should choose Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano or one of the other many qualified female candidates. That should satisfy Hillary's supporters.

Obama/Anyone but Hillary Clinton 2008. Integrity matters and the Clintons have none.

Sick of corruption, sick of the Clintons (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:00 PM)

Hillary Who?

Larry Oregon (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:00 PM)

I wonder how Obama voted????? "present" is not an option.

Dan (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:28 PM)

How about an Obama-Clinton ticket? An Obama CHELSEA Clinton ticket? Think about it--a white working class woman (she "only" makes six figures from her job, not 108 million) and she wouldn't contradict Obama's message of being a D.C. insider like both of her parents...

james (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:35 PM)

Clinton wants to be sworn in as our commander-in-chief to uphold the constitution---and she can't even uphold her signed agreement with the DNC? That is a very, very scary thought!

Obama plays by the rules (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:38 PM)

No matter where she would happen to fall on a potential ticket, I will not cast a vote for Hillary. I was bothered by the inevitability argument right from the beginning, and have become disgusted by her continued reinventions and pandering to different interest groups: talking tough, talking "motherhood", talking a gas tax holiday. And now, with repeated rhetoric about white, blue-collar voters, it seems she's stayed in the race solely to provide a White alternative to a man who's running as much more than just a Black man. There are plenty of immensely qualified female Democrats, any of whom would make a remarkable running mate for Obama. I hope like hell he's not persuaded to take Clinton on the ticket. Let her go back to pretending she wants to serve the state of New York, now that her carpet bagging didn't earn her the nomination.

Chris, MI (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:45 PM)

Think Obama and Clinto will be a force to recon with. BOTH have strong points and also weak points.
In my opinion, thses two would be the power house in DC. Whoever gets the nomination, the other one needs to be the VP.

Cornelia Huebscher, Sitka, Alaska (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:50 PM)

She and her campaign are spinning this West Virginia election so much they'd better watch out 'they don't all fall down" from dizzy. I sure hope Obama does not feel 'obligated' to put Hillary on his ticket, why should he? She's just not the one, she just not qualified to truly be vice-president to Obama.

RuthieM (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:05 PM)

NO - Obama/Clinton ticket. BAD IDEA!!! NO Status Quo!!!

YES - Obama/Hagel ticket!!!!!

Cubanamericanwoman - OC - CA (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:15 PM)

The way to bring the party together is to start talking about judges who want the state to usurp a woman.s control of her body and to regulate abortion procedure that can and can not be done. Obama will be a star in that conversation yet he will do it in such a way to not antagonize the opposition. Obama stated what qualifications the vice presidential nominee should have what he thought were Clinton's strongest attributes, there was no overlap between the two lists. Obama is smart enough to know that there are some Clinton voters who will never vote for him, W. Virgina has a higher than average concentration of these voters. Clinton is not going to help with these and her presence on the ticket will be a magnet for opposition voters.

Ronnn, No. Florida (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:21 PM)

Eric from Salinas: My mother has alzheimers, and I do not see any humor in your words suggesting that Senator McCain is afflicted with that terrible disease. Second, you will find out just how slow to draw Senator McCain is after he trims Obama in the first debate. While long on rhetoric, Senator Obama is not a good debater when he appears in front of a knowledgeable audience. Finally, you should be very happy that Senator Obama's only substantative legislative project, Senate Bill 2433, or the Global Poverty Act will soon be voted on in the United States Senate. As you know that bill unleashes a whole new wave of taxes on Americans in order to raise $845 billion to combat poverty in third world nations. As Michelle Obama has stated, "Americans really do not desire much, and they are quite eager to give up their piece of pie so that others can have their pie." Open up your wallet, Eric, Barack and Michelle are coming!

Rattlesnake Bob, Greenville, IL (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:33 PM)

I know some republican will vote for Hillary so that she can feel good about herself. If I were Hillary I would have sat down and wonder what happened to all her popularity and having been on front pages of many news papers in the country. It is not that people are not voting for her because she is a woman, wrong. It is because she had so many issues, while in Little Rock, her husband's infidelity with so many women, if she was that strong why did she not divorce Bill? She also has some issues of not telling the truth, she lies to cover the lies and go on and on. Hillary can stay in the race as long as she want but the race has been over from the time she lost 11 states. Go Obama 08.

madea, Grayslake, IL (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:42 PM)

I wonder the current election is influence their voting.
----
For discount on Obama t shirts $8.99 & Up.
http://www.MyObamaStore.com

www.MyObamaStore.com (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:52 PM)

No VP for Hillary. She is old Washington everything that Obama has campaigned against.

Larry Los Angeles Ca. (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:53 PM)

Joyce you are absolutely right. It's not what you say, it's what you do. Notice Obama has been missing in action 2 years from his chairmanship of the Afghanistan oversight committee.

Margaret, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:04 PM)

All I know is that Obama better not even think about repaying her campaign debt. I would be furious if I thought that money I gave to his campaign was helping her at all. She is responsible for the way her campaign finances have been managed and I REFUSE to pay (literally) for her mistakes.

Caryn, Washington DC (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:13 PM)

It did not take Hillary too many minutes to ask Obama for campaign money....help with her $20M debt. Go away, Hil....you LOST long ago. You know, after Iowa, and TX delegate count, and then 12 in a row. Gee...why couldn't you win just ONE during that time? Please America...someone with honesty & integrity = anyone EXCEPT Hillary.

C.Myles/Chincoteague, VA. (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:14 PM)

Everyone should go to <www.house.gov>. There you can see what the bills are about.

Anthony Kinslow, Randallstown, Maryland (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:24 PM)

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