House Democrats are scratching their heads, trying to figure out why President Obama won’t talk with them about policy — especially when election season looms.
“It’s hard for us to fathom,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly, The Hill reported. “I mean, is it just lack of full staffing and resources? Professional commitment? Is it a disdain for the legislative branch? I mean, what is it? People like me want to be allies — I mean, I am an ally. So work with us, reach out to us. You know, we’re not the enemy.”
Mr. Connolly said that he’s not complaining about the White House’s outreach on logistical and political operative matters, The Hill reported. But when it comes to foreign affairs — he sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee — and the “bread-and-butter of congressional relations and the policy front,” the silence from Mr. Obama has “made our jobs harder,” he said, The Hill reported.
Mr. Connolly’s not the only Democrat to complain.
“Not being consulted ahead of time — that just makes people crazy,” Rep. Raul Grijalva, who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told The Hill. “Let us know ahead of time. Call us in when you’re developing something so we can give you our ground-level reality check about how this is going to work.”
From Rep. Jim Moran: “Certainly, Bill Clinton saw us as his offensive line and so he attended to the nurturing of his offensive line. And I don’t think this president, this quarterback, invests all that much time and effort into the care and feeding of his offensive line. You can still win. It just makes it a little more difficult.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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