John Conyers Tells Obama: 'Start Knocking Heads'

Earlier this week, Michigan Representative John Conyers told reporters that he'd like President Obama to start fashioning himself after a different model of politician if he wants to get health care reform passed:

"The president could take a few pages from Lyndon Johnson's book... and start knocking heads together," said Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Conyers, who spoke to reporters in Detroit, first came to Congress in 1965, the year Medicare and the Voting Rights Act both passed under the strong hand of Johnson, by then the president. Obama was not yet 4 years old.

Huh. You know, I thought that the whole knocking a heads was supposed to be a feature of tough Chicago-style politicians, and that Rahm Emanuel was going to be sending intransigent legislators fish-corpses through the mail! But Conyers is right. When it comes to swinging pipes, the White House basically manages to mewl their displeasure through well-placed, off-the-record quotes. And so you get laughable spectacles like this one, in the wake of Michael Bloomberg's narrow win in the New York City mayoral race:

"Maybe one of those Corzine trips could have been better spent in New York. Who knows?" remarked New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, who weighed his own run for mayor, referring to the White House's devout attention to the New Jersey contest.

"Maybe Anthony Weiner should have manned-up and run against Michael Bloomberg," shot back a White House official, who attributed the night's results across the board to anti-incumbent fervor.

GROW SOME BALLS, says the guy, hiding behind the cloak of anonymity! Viva Chicago!

That said, it bears mentioning that LBJ was, in many ways, a little unhinged:

Johnson lived to dominate, and he used crass behavior to bend people to his will. At 6-ft., 3-in. tall and 210 lbs., he liked to lean over people, spitting, swearing, belching, or laughing in their faces. Once, he even relieved himself on a Secret Serviceman who was shielding him from public view. When the man looked horrified, Johnson simply said, "That's all right, son. It's my prerogative." His favorite power ploy, however, seemed to be dragging people into the bathroom with him -- forcing them to continue their conversations with the president as he used the toilet.

You sort of get the feeling that Johnson would have waged his "War On Fox" in a much more entertaining and scatalogical manner! Still, I think that if you're looking for a Texas politician to model yourself on, a better example would be LBJ's mentor, Sam Rayburn.

RELATED:
Advice for Obama: 'Start knocking heads' on health [Real Clear Politics]

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Comments

[ChelseaC]

Obama is way overdue for knocking heads.

[ReedYoung]

That just doesn't seem to be the way he works. He gives opponents enough rope, and they all eventually hang themselves. It's fun to watch, but sometimes it does take too long. I would say that the Democratic Party leadership needs to start busting heads, but only Alan Grayson and Liberal groups separate from the DLC and DNC seem to have the guts for that.

[madisonhack]

At this point, I have to agree with ChelseaC and Mr. Conyers. Take off the gloves and get the stuff done that your constituents elected you to do.

Our patience is worn....

[ReedYoung]

I knew the stories about Rahm Emanuel's coarse, brutal efficiency at getting his way on legislation had to be exaggerated, but honestly, I was hoping there was a kernel of truth to the hype and that his toughness would be working for the agenda then-Senator Obama campaigned on. It isn't necessary to be as crass as LBJ was to put one's foot down, and sometimes that's the right thing to do. Republicans only respect strength. Occasional gratuitous displays of strength are recommended, to keep them in line.

[ChelseaC]

Hi Reed,
This health care bill is horrid anyway--it's not real reform--just a boondoggle for the health insurance cartel.

[ReedYoung]

I still haven't read all of HR 3962, but I think it has some merits. It also has some crap, but Anthony Wiener's agreement to let single payer go for now, signals to me that it's better than nothing. Or at least, it will be when -- not if -- the Senate pulls out the Stupid-Putts amendment.

[Truth Wins]

Why do so many people want President Obama to be someone else than President Obama? He is just fine the way he is.

And especially after reading about LBJ's really bad manners and his power games I am eternally grateful for such a decent American President like Mr. Obama!

[ChelseaC]

Hmmm, why would we want Obama to be more like LBJ? Because LBJ had the balls to get Medicare passed--yes-- by George, that's it.

[Truth Wins]

And Obama will get health care passed. Sure, that bill is only a meagre start. But the first version of medicare was meagre too compared to what it is today.

[madisonhack]

LBJ's first three hundred days created The Great Society. Mr. Johnson's foreign policy decisions are the ones that haunt his legacy, but he in terms of a progressive Democrat....he was great.

[Sundialsvc4]

I don't think we need LBJ again...

What we need are Senators and Congressmen who will ... stop betraying(!) their own country, and for nothing more than "imaginary money."

When you read the Constitution of our country, "it's all about The Congress." The other articles and roles are all but an afterthought. The Government of the United States is not the Presidency; it's the Congress. And if the people who are in the Congress refuse to do their jobs, and to the very highest standards of conduct that mankind is capable of, then what in the hell are they doing in the Capitol when they ought to be in a Supermax prison.

[ChelseaC]

The President is the LEADER--hello!
And it would be better if he didn't take over 1.3 million plus smackaroos from the insurance cartel.

[Truth Wins]

The President is not the same as a d.ictator.

[darr]

Excellent post Sundialsvc4!

[realpolitic]

Obama does have to be more Chicago and less Hawaii. He needs less cordiality and more arm twisting. The public knew exactly where he stood on the campaign trail and I, for one, am surprised by the timidity since he was elected to office. He has tremendous moral authority and intelligence and needs to cajole and deplore and promise legislators what is necessary to get health care reform passed and climate change legislation passed. Otherwise, he will be regarded as a medicore president, although far superior to the war criminal Bush.

[dyennior]

John Conyers could have initiated impeachment proceeding in 2006 when he became Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. But he didn't. Hmmnn.

Obama is not LBJ thank goodness. No other leader has been able to achieve the things that Obama has. He has a tentative agreement with the Russians for partial nuclear disarmament.

Obama stopped the installation of missiles in Eastern Europe that would have increased tensions with the Russians. Now the US and Russia are cooperating more regarding Iran.

The Health Care Reform is on track.

The latest CHANGE is that Obama has not rushed to decide what to do in Afghanistan. If he goes against the advice of the military, that is big.

Stay tuned good people.

David

[realpolitic]

Yes, he is doing good things, but I still want to see more of an active, decisive presence. As Jon Stewart may have said, Bush had resoluteness only lousy policies; Obama has great policies and I would like more resoluteness.

[ChelseaC]

David,
You call that health care reform?
Please--it's a gift to the insurance industry.
Real reform looks like this--and it's cheaper and more importantly, provide CARE to ALL:
http://www.pnhp.org/

"So much of what is paid by our "leaders" is just theater for the masses. The little folk get comforting lies, whilst the rich get millions in bailouts" (that would be the insurance cartel).
Bots!

[madisonhack]

Pelosi wouldn't let Conyers do a thing that was "off the table."

[CaliTLC]

Agreed.

[toggan]

A lot of people are "intelligent"--the issue is can he lead? Will he lead? When? I say it is really stoopid to reject your base as many times as he. That's no way to win re-election, not in this new millennium. People are more impatient, fickle, and less loyal. They want to see concrete results on pertinent issues and he has shown a weak lead on Health Care Reform (with the Public Option please!). Do we thank someone at re-election time, who has ignored our petitions and has a chief-of-staff who has shown perpetual contempt, by voting him in again? I submit to you: NO. A resounding No. I am not looking for a timid leader who ignores me, thank you.

[realpolitic]

Yes, but he still has to get the health care reform bill passed in the senate, which means they unfortunately must compromise with those who would like to see nothing done at all. Obama should tell Americans exactly what he wants then just use the process where you do not need 60 votes to get the bill passed.

[Scentedflower]

you are not a child, you are an elected official, to make decisions for the Americans. So, start woiking.

[realitytrumpsbull]

'Start knocking heads' doesn't sit well with me. If you read through some of this legislation, they're now talking about making health insurance MANDATORY. In english, that means that....The Government can take legal action against you for not having this insurance. Question: Don't the CEO's of these insurance companies make enough money already, as it is? 20, 30, 40 million dollars a year? If Conyers et. al. really want to do a public service in the health dept., then they could start by analyzing, and publicizing, the operating costs of one single hospital for say, a 30-day period, and then work with the states to do similar analyses of the other hospitals/­healthcare institutions throughout the 50 states, and find out the Big Question: Where does all the money go? I like the fact that the government is going after Medicare fraud. This type of fraud tends to affect the elderly, who are the most vulnerable group you could think of, especially in light of the fact that our cognitive abilities tend to diminish with age.

I think fraud should continue to be the key emphasis in the healthcare debate. Under any solid evidence of fraud, start putting insurance companies/hospitals out of business. That'll reform them, post-haste. Nothing like losing your business license to motivate you to straighten up, and fly right.

[OzzieTonto]

realitytrump, you want to know what the hospitals are doing? Employing legions of minions who argue with the insurance companies and 'health care providers' about who's gonna pay the bills. -Billion-dollar industry, all on its own!

All because you don't have a SINGLE PAYER...

[ChelseaC]

Indeed, this is NOT REFORM!

[ReedYoung]

"If Conyers et. al. really want to do a public service in the health dept., then they could start by analyzing, and publicizing, the operating costs of one single hospital for say, a 30-day period, and then work with the states to do similar analyses of the other hospitals/ healthcare institutions throughout the 50 states, and find out the Big Question: Where does all the money go?"

What money the hospitals get is spent on treating patients. The waste, fraud and abuse is all within the insurance and pharmaceutical corporations.

"I think fraud should continue to be the key emphasis in the healthcare debate. Under any solid evidence of fraud, start putting insurance companies/hospitals out of business. That'll reform them, post-haste. Nothing like losing your business license to motivate you to straighten up, and fly right"

I like that idea. Add to it that all rescission is fraud by definition, except when the insurer is able to prove in a court of law that the applicant committed fraud when applying for insurance, and then I like it a lot.

[realitytrumpsbull]

I second that emotion, here's a link from MJ on your recission:
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2009/06/healthcare-ceos-shoot-themselves-foot

Do you think we'll watch one or more of the bigger health insurance companies 'go away'?

[jerrypl]

Mr. Conyers, Obama does not have the guts you have!!! You need to knock him up first before he grows a couple of **** and gets tough.

We are all disappointed. So, where is the Change We Can Believe In?

http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com

[lemonyashes]

It went straight to...... he!!, oh I mean center right. Obama somehow with all his "intelligence" believed that his being elected along with a majority of Democrats voted into the House and Senate meant the people wanted him to lead center right! Huh, I thought it was a mandate to lead us center left. Then after Obama's impressive victory he admonishes the left over and over again while trying to please and/or appease the right or the conservative Dems at every turn. Then the progressives are left wondering who Obama really is and what is he doing and why is he doing it we get that "Obama never claimed to be a liberal" and that is too bad if the progressives got the wrong idea about Obama! I thought he was said to be one of the most liberal democrats in the Senate. WOW, I would have wanted Obama to declare his Blue Dog status and/or Republican views before I voted for him or made donations to his campaign. So I won't be voting for Obama nor donating to his campaign next go around even if I have to vote Republican because at least I'll know exactly who I'm voting for.

[Eris23Skidoo]

Voting republican won't fix anything. Those who fail to remember the mistakes of the past are doomed to vote Nader.

[Jer1957]

This Va Dem--and ex-Detroit resident--proudly acknowledges his mid-1980s votes for John Conyers. Only John's Medicare-for-All bill (HR 676) --blocked by the Dem leadership--is really a reform of our crazy health-care system-- and not a bailout of HMOs and their bankers.

What Rep. Conyers may find painful to acknowledge, when it comes to such bread-and-butter issues---is that B. Obama is more the Ivy League-trained Wall Street loyalist--than heir to MLK.

[Rope-A-Dope]

It's the members of congress that have tied the hands of Obama. I would not look for Washington DC to accomplish anything anytime soon...gained seats by the GOP will simply bring things to an even greater halt in the country.

IT'S TIME FOR THE MEDIA TO ACTUALLY REPORT ON WHAT THE GOP HAS STOPPED IN THE SENATE...IT'S SHAMEFUL. THEY SHOULD ALL BE THROWN IN GITMO.

[brt929]

Please. Conyers is exactly right. He doesn't literally mean "knock heads."

LBJ got Medicare through by involvement in the process. Obama has been almost entirely detached, without even providing a clear blueprint.

If this fails, this entirely Obama's failure. Not Congress. Congress represents 435 different districts, and it is Obama's job to build consensus.

[Rope-A-Dope]

naive... if you think Obama, or any other president, has any chance to build consensus you are not thinking straight. washington is a failed place... what you claim is a glaring deficiency in Obama is really just a glaring gap between a guy who wants to do the right thing and the criminals in the congress

[lastep]

go home Conyers........45 years in congress is 40 too many

[a270]

in his district he would be replaced by another big spending democrat. Handouts to all the voters until it is too late and the government goes bankrupt.

[satanlite]

Nimrod.

[chronic]

All of his spending is still way less than the spending of most members of The Republ!can Cr!me Syndicate.

[moongal6]

You want spending? I got your spending right here; take a peek.

http://www.lafn.org/gvdc/Natl_Debt_Chart-2004.gif

[SonofLiberty1]

You have a job and healthcare right?

[Lemmy]

Is his wife in the pokey yet?

[edgarcaycedoc]

It seems to me that Obama needs to lend the power of the presidency to his agenda. So far it seems as if he made campaign promises with the naive belief that if he wanted it, and Democrats controlled Congress, all he would have to do to see it come to pass was sign a bill forwarded through both houses of Congress.

[a270]

the economic stimulus bill was a disaster. It did not grow the economy and has saddled us with a huge amount of debt. Same thing with the bank bailouts. Should have let them fail and establish a government bank after the fact if it turned out there was no credit available to those that survived.

What we have now is an economy that is not spinning off the tax revenues needed to fund the expanded welfare state. Democrats have to wake up to reality and balance the budget by slashing spending.

[bungle]

"Democrats have to wake up to reality and balance the budget by slashing spending"

nice lay some more ppl off nice job hoover....

where n/m

[satanlite]

Nimrod.

[jameshat]

where was the spending slashing when W was in office?

[uhuhuh]

Conyers should take his medicine and lay down and take his nap.

[kylie]

Maybe you're the one that should be, "taking a nap"--It sounds like you already took your medicine.

Conyers is correct.
President Obama needs to stop surrounding himself with Clinton-people, and start listening to his constituents.

We chose to support him, because he did not have the corporate ties that Bill and Hillary and many Democrats do.

They have become bland imitators of the corrupt and compromised Republicans, that the Country were so angry at.

Unless the Democrats start regulating banking, Wall Street, we are going to get nothing that will help the economy or real health care reform.

The American people have been compromised again, and again so that Corporate can be nurtured and pandered to--at our expense.

Conyers is absolutely right about admonishing President Obama to listen to the voice of the people and no Blue Cross.

[jameshat]

its much more than just regulating bankung. there should be prosectuions and clawbacks. and as far as other legislation conyers is 100% on the mark. obama has to grow a pair

[Timothy2700]

I think ALOT OF US AGREE WITH YOU CONGRESSMAN!!

[a270]

the economic realities of an interconnected, competing world disagree. The US economy is saddled with financing the mega deficits the democrats are running. Quoting Mr. Scott, the economic engines of the economy can take the strain much longer!

[macday]

Spammer post same crap over and over

[suzjazz]

John Conyers is one of very few members of Congress for whom I have tremendous admiration and respect. He isn't afraid to do the right thing. I wish he were President.
I voted for Obama because I thought he had the courage to stand up to the health insurance companies and their lobbyists. Now I'm hearing that Obama favors the "trigger" because it's "more progressive." My understanding of a public option trigger is that the public option would kick in only if and when the insurance companies refuse to lower their rates and make them affordable. This is trusting these companies to do something they have never done and will never do. In effect, it is just a stalling mechanism. It gives these dishonest companies time to pretend to give people a better deal so that the trigger will not take effect. What's progressive about stalling something we need right away to cover the 14 million people who have lost their jobs and with them their health insurance?
I seriously doubt that John Conyers meant by his comment that Obama should literally drag reluctant senators into the bathroom as Johnson did. What he meant was, Show some leadership! This is not just about what the President wants, it is what a solid majority of the American people want: health care reform with a strong public option, which means no triggers, opt-ins or outs, or any other nonsense and sleight-of-hand loopholes favored by the right wing.

[buckeyedave]

Why the tremendous admiration for a "representative" of the people encouraging the president to impose socialism on we the people? Not the president, nor the congress, nor the supreme court have the legal power to do that.

[edgarcaycedoc]

I assume you never use paved roads, never get your mail, never got an education, never accept help from the fire department or the police, and are willing to have all the military protecting the rights of all Americans--except for you and those who do not believe in socialism. Socialism is represented in all the aforementioned.

[satanlite]

The "socialism" thing is a lie told until nimrods believe it's true. It appears to be working.

[LeAnn Cammack]

OMG!!! Not SOCIALISM!!!

The horror.....

/end snark/
European countries seem to do just fine. So does Canada. Anyway, we are already a mixed-economy of socialism and capitalism - ever heard of unemployment benefits, Medicare, Social Security? And yet we still have capitalism. The problem is, it's not real capitalism - it's corporate socialistic welfare. It's deregulated monopolies.

Health care for everyone would mean that we would not be anchored to low-paying, dead-end jobs; jobs people keep because of the insurance benefits. More people would be able and willing to start their own business, because affordable health insurance would be more readily available.

Health care would enable a burst of productivity as people start their businesses, revitalize their small businesses by adding health insurance as a benefit, and go to work for a company they love but that does not have insurance benefits, because they could buy it afford to buy it on their own.

I don't know why the Democrats are not making this argument.

[macday]

Where is the socialism he is imposing?We are socialist nation the Military is government run the are police departments and fire departments all Government run and the biggies are Social Security and medicare both socialist programs so go ahead with your republican lie spouting and fear mongering