Obama visits the Hill on Tuesday

Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:25 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Mike Viqueira

From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Barack Obama will be on the Hill next Tuesday evening to address House Democrats in a closed -door session, says a top congressional Dem source.

Recall that Obama received a hero's welcome from fellow Democrats when he made a surprise visit to the House chamber late in the primary season. Since then, there have been mutterings here and there about how he isn't communicating sufficiently with members of the caucus -- all of whom will be down ticket from the presumptive nominee.

Recently, Obama has brought in Phil Schiliro -- a veteran Dem staffer -- to work as a liaison.

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Comments

Strange place to hold a fundraiser.

Yeoman Harkins, Iowa (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:31 AM)

Word is that communication has improved significantly since that move. Don't forget, it took him a little while to consolidate control after early June - it's not been that long!

http://strategy08.wordpress.com

Dan, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:31 AM)

Obama is just letting congress know he intends to dissolve them when he becomes king.

Patrick Starr (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:32 AM)

"Since then, there have been mutterings here and there about how he isn't communicating sufficiently with members of the caucus "
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Is there anyone who ISN'T muttering about Senator Obama these days? lol

All this "change" has made alot of people very . . . oh we'll just call it "grumpy". That's the ticket. :)

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:33 AM)

Quick, get Vegas on the phone...I want to know the over/under on when Uncle Fluffy will make his next appearance on the Hill!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:34 AM)

2 more things on Berlin ---

If you go down into the subways in Berlin, lining the walls is the most beautiful marble. This marble was taken out of Hitler’s chancellery once it was destroyed.

There is a church in the western part of Berlin which was heavily bombed during WWII. After the war, the allies decided to keep the church standing as a reminder to the German people of how destructive war is. It has a huge crater on the side of it. It’s quite a sight.

I only tell these stories because I would love to see more people visit. It certainly is not the most beautiful city in Europe, but it could very well be the most historical city in all of Europe, simply for the role it played throughout most of the 20th century.

Has anyone seen any word as yet on the size of the crowd in Berlin that is gathering?

His trip reminds me of a 10 day road trip our baseball teams usually take in August out west. We all know it will be a make or break trip as September draws near.

When this trip is over, it looks like this will be a 10-0 winning streak for Senator Obama by the time he returns home.

And then it's VP selection time!

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:35 AM)

Wow, another new hire for the Obama campaign. I guess unemployment will be dropping soon, since Obama is hiring everyone in America to work on his campaign. Can't wait to see an Obama administration-he'll be hiring every resident of the state of Vermont to help cover up for all his weaknesses in every area.

Drill Baby Drill (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:36 AM)

"Some unsolicited advise, Dump Joe and Pat (as you have with Tucker), put in David in the AM, and consider Rachel for the 6:00 spot. Now I will stop being so presumptive. I assume MSNBC will be covering Barack speech today?
Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 9:53 AM)"

Sorry, Ron...no amount of coffee would keep me awake if David's show was on in the morning. Nothing against David - I used to really enjoy him sparring with Imus when MSNBC was airing his show - but his 6PM show is a SNOOZEFEST.

Joe's show is moderately successful, and I think that success has gone to his head. There's not enough room on the set for both his ego and...well, anyone else. I used to really enjoy his show when he first started it, but...

Sotired always talks about watching Imus instead of Joe. The probably with that is that RFD-TV is a corny channel (pun intended) - can't stand it. Plus I don't think Imus' show is as good after he got spanked.

MI Chick (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:36 AM)

WHY ARE SO MANY OF AMERICAN POLITICIANS BEING SO "WHINEY" AND "NARCISTIC".

OBAMA'S SCHEDULE IS HECTIC AND OVERWHELMING AS IT IS WITHOUT CONRGESSIONAL DEMS WANTING ATTENTION.

BETWEEN MC CAIN WHINING ABOUT NOT GETTING MEDIA ATTENTION (POSITIVE, I SHOULD SAY) AND THE DEM CONGRESS WHINING ABOUT THEM NOT GETTING FACE TIME, I FEEL LIKE POOR BARACK IS HAVING TO BE A BABY-SITTER TO A BUNCH OF "MIDDLE CHILDREN" NOT GETTING ENOUGH TIME WITH "DADDY".

GROW UP AMERICAN POLITICANS!

IF YOU WANT ATTENTION GO ASK YOUR "MOMMIES"

THEY ARE FORCED TO LOVE YOU DESPITE THEIR BETTER JUDGEMENT.

PHIL GRAM WAS RIGHT...AMERICAN POLITCIANS ARE "WHINERS'

MR (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:37 AM)

GOD BLESS PRESIDENT OBAMA AND GOD BLESS AMERICA
J. Ellis, Virginia

And God bless Little Timmy too, who needs nationalized health care to fix his little leg.

Grayland Chance (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:37 AM)

Do members of the caucus realize that Senator Obama has been a little busy these days? Even if the Senator has not been to the House chamber recently he has the good judgement to appoint a veteran liason in his place until he has time to get there himself.

Dottie Swarthmore PA (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:37 AM)

Obama is just letting congress know he intends to dissolve them when he becomes king.
Patrick Starr (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:32 AM)

----------------------------------------------------

That's an odd thing to say given that Dubya has had no use for them during his reign...oops, I mean administration.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:38 AM)

A thought on the polls that "only" show a 6% Obama lead...I think the media misses something here. First, I do agree with other posters that the trip bump will take a few days.

Beyond that, what does it say about enthusiasm for McCain that Obama leads by 6%:

*in spite of being a black man in a country where a significant number of people still regard race as an issue.
*in spite of his "funny name".
*in spite of the fact that something like 1 in 5 people believe he was raised as a Muslim and 1 in 8 believe he still is a Muslim.

A lead of 6% given those circumstances in no way qualifies as "only". It's a huge accomplishment for Obama and a slap in the face for McCain.

I'm a white Obama supporter near the Appalachian region. Let me assure you that at least 5% of McCain's minority of voters is based on race alone. It may be a shame, but lets not pretend it's not real.

Virginia, Winchester, VA (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:39 AM)

If pandering is an event in the Olympics, the gold medal will definitely go to Obama. He's been going the extra mile just to get some photo op with foreign leaders to compensate his lack of experience...now he's back on the US on a roll...what a total phony...the American public can clearly see through all his dog-and-pony show.

Paul Revere (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:40 AM)

When was the last time McCain showed up on the hill? 2006?

New Wave (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:41 AM)

Next, Obama will appear in the Olympics where he'll run the 200m dash and is entered in the pole vault.

Chen Mieng, Redding CA (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:41 AM)

Dottie Swarthmore PA (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:42 AM)

Drill Baby Drill - I'd be interested to know why McCain outspent Obama by a couple million in June. What is he spending his money on?

As we saw once before, McCain doesn't handle his money very well. Remember his campaign was dead from fiscal mismanagement, but then the Republicans decided they really didn't like any of the other candidates. Is that fiscal mismanagement continuing?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:48 AM)

Recall that Obama received a hero's welcome from fellow Democrats when he made a surprise visit to the House chamber late in the primary season.
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-Mike Viqueira

Mike,

I was thinking the same thing buddy!

donna (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:49 AM)

Give Obama a break, FR. He can't be all things to all people. It's just been over a month since he wrapped up the Democratic nomination, and he's been busy assuaging Clinton supporters, raising money, working with the DNC and now his international trip. I'm sure he'll soothe the feathers of caucus members.

My two cents on Joe: I tried to watch him yesterday morning, but didn't last 10 minutes. It's his way or the highway, so I took the highway. You know which Republican I like? Kevin Madden. He and Paul Begala would be great on a show together. They're on different sides of the aisle, but they can "argue" their respective points without being obnoxious.

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:49 AM)

Liberalim is a disease. Where ever it is implemented, there is nothing but misery. Examine all the big cities in the country, all liberal, and all a complete mess. Poverty, disease, murders, unemployment. Go out to the suburbs where conservatives rule, and everything is humming along nicely. Liberals think they can vote themselves a raise, have someone else pay for them, and love to be told what to do by some so called authority. Look at Detroit (broke), Chicago (gangs and murders), LA (infrastructure crumbling) San Fran (socially demented) Miami (drugs, illegals, and the violence that follows each). On and and on it goes.

Liberalism IS a disease.

C. Carlton White, Orlando FL (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:50 AM)

MI Chick: Thanks for the insight. I now prefer Harry Smith over Joe, and I grap the mute button whenever Pat Buchanan comes on. I do enjoy your posts. Keep writing.

I guess I get frustrated sometimes. Last night Chris Matthews was wondering why Barack and Bill Clinton haven't been seen together. For God's Sake Chris, Barack has been out of the Country for a week. Give him time to get home, take a shower, shave, whatever.

These poll numbers to not reflect "the trip" as it will take two or three weeks for the information to soak in to the country's collective conscious. But in two weeks the numbers will increase. Also, Chuck did not sufficiently address the discripancy, counting the third party candidates. Chuck is correct that Barack is working on his perceived weaknesses, while McCain is visiting Bush 41.
Thanks again MI Chick

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:53 AM)

The Dems need to get off their *sses and do some work for a change, and stop hanging onto Sen. Obama's coat tails.

OBAMA/BIDEN, 2008!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:55 AM)

What if he is going to the Hill to announce to the House DEMs he is selecting Speaker Pelosi as his VP choice?

Chuck, NY (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:58 AM)

That's an odd thing to say given that Dubya has had no use for them during his reign...oops, I mean administration.

Pete - Albany, NY

That would explain Bush compromising with Congress on the housing mortgage bill that he had threatened to veto. That would explain him asking Congress to authorize his use of force in Iraq, when he didn't have to ask.

Liberals. Blinded by the light of something shiny like Obama.

Taylor Dukaine (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:00 AM)

Been reading posts disagreeing with Chuck Todd's analysys that this is a referendum on Obama. I agree with Chuck T.

This is Obama's election to win, not McCain's. Everyone agrees that the economy/energy and the war/CIC credentials will be the deciding issue. The issue not talked abount is "race", is America ready to elect am Afro-American as President.

So the choice is whether the US is ready to take a chance with a relative newcomer with limited foreign policy and military credentials. Are they willing to trust a black man that has been unjustly painted as an unpatriotic, treasonous Muslim whose patriotism has been consistently challenged or take the safe way out and stick with the tried and true. It is a referendum on Obama's exeperience and ability to lead.

One can only hope that Americans will vote their hearts and minds and give this country the leadership is demands and urgently needs.

Obama '08

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:08 AM)

The only reason Bush is signing bills is becuase the Republicans in Congress is so afraid that they will not get re-elected that they are siding with the Democrats against the President, and he knows they will override his veto.

Hey C. Carlton White, tell us some of those cities where conservatives rule and everything is humming along nicely.

GAB, Austin, TX (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:46 AM)

C. Carlton White, Orlando FL

OH? After 8 years of "conservatives" in power, look at the great results!!

Terry, IN (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:46 AM)

When Barack's on The Hill, he's not going to speak to the entire congree of reps and senators?

oh wait, that's for the POTUS to do!

It's July, let's just call the race now and anoint Barack! That is what MSNBC (Barack's Propoganda Department) wants!!

ReaganDem84 (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:52 AM)

Wow, another new hire for the Obama campaign. I guess unemployment will be dropping soon, since Obama is hiring everyone in America to work on his campaign

posted by Drill Baby Drill
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I guess there is still a segment of the population who likes an authoritarian style leader who pretends he already has all the answers.

Eileen, Portland, Maine (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 12:08 PM)

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