This week in ugly politics: Landry snubs White House
U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-Grandstanding, is taking some heat even from his allies on the right after firing off a press release Wednesday morning bragging about his refusal to attend a meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss the budget impasse clogging the aisle in Congress.
Landry says in the statement released by his office that he — demagoguery alert! — didn’t “intend to spend my morning being lectured to by a president whose failed policies have put our children and grandchildren in a huge burden of debt” and that he wasn’t interest in “going to the White House to negotiate with myself.”
The Times-Picayune reported the story Wednesday, quoting Norm Ornstein of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, who pursed his lips at Landry’s posturing: “It is more than a little arrogant,” Ornstein told the Times-Pic. “It belittles the office of the presidency and shows that Landry has little understanding of the political process, the role of the constitutional institutions, much less basic politeness.”
The right-leaning Louisiana Hayride website also caught on to the story, characterizing Landry’s refusal to show his face at the meeting, to which about 200 House Republicans attended including the other five Louisiana GOP members, as “off message” and “rude.”
... written by Gene Broussard , June 01, 2011 - 09:08 pm
Landry is even less than a pea-brain. His is the type of politician who makes Louisiana appear more backward than those countries below the border.
... written by The Original Northsidian , June 02, 2011 - 12:19 am
Gene, that is what Landry is trying to accomplish. Getting all of the pea brains to vote for his re-election. He is playing us dumb asses like a fine tuned violin!!
... written by Morrow , June 02, 2011 - 12:29 am
Shame on him. He brings shame on his state, his constituency and his family name. I'm sure his father is real proud his son was able to snub the president of the United States. He's a little foolish man playing little foolish, borish games.
... written by I like it! , June 02, 2011 - 12:44 am
What is the point of meeting with the demagogue in chief, anyway. Obama proved himself to be rude and classless long before Rep Landry refused to meet with him. Why waste time on niceties when they aren't reciprocated. I salute him for at least being honest about his position and choosing not to engage in hypocrisy. Too bad the rest of the Republicans in Congress don't have his brass.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , June 02, 2011 - 01:58 am
To each his own and two birds of a feather belong together, and nevah the twain shall bend to kiss each others ass.
... written by Harold , June 02, 2011 - 08:14 am
It's pretty clear that Landry is just doing ridiculous stunts like this to try to out-conservative Charles Boustany in 2012. Unfortunately for Landry, I'm pretty sure undermining the presidency of the US will not help him at all. While Acadiana is conservative, it is not disrespectful nor close-minded to debating hot button issues like the budget.
... written by New Iberia , June 02, 2011 - 11:38 am
I, for one, am proud to have someone representing me in Washington that has a backbone and is not going to be pushed around by a clueless executive. The countless requests for meetings w/ BOERME and DOI regarding the moratorium that went unanswered are reason enough to disregard this, in the words of Limbaugh, "man-child" of a President.
... written by Neal , June 02, 2011 - 11:38 am
He should do his job and represent his district by going to the meeting and telling the president he cannot vote for the plan because he thinks it will hurt his district back home, if that is what he mistakenly believes. This way he's just bringing shame on his district.
... written by jimbo , June 02, 2011 - 11:39 am
I support him. he is correct. every time the republidiots meet with obama he just makes an ass of them. the first luncheon he told McCain "I won remember". the last time they met was over the budget and cry baby speaker went it for 65B to cut and come out with 30-35b which ended up they say at 350,000 in cuts. so what did they end up agreeing on with obama this time? Jeff promised not to play the political game, and this just proves it. If more of them played this way, maybe obama would get it!
... written by ragin_cajun , June 02, 2011 - 11:48 am
Walter --
" demagoguery alert! "
Please explain in detail why you think the two remarks you quoted from Landry's press release are demagoguery? Looking at the definition of the word demagoguery, I don't think Landry made an appeal to popular prejudices or made a false claim. The two quotes from Landry don't distort Obama's position or his record. And there's no appeal to emotion in the remarks you quoted.
Are you sure you understand what demagoguery means? If you like, I could provide some examples of real demagoguery so you'll get the idea...examples from your own hand, in fact...:)
... written by Miss Manners , June 02, 2011 - 06:11 pm
I agree with Harold. Acadiana might be conservative, but not rude. Landry is rude, arrogant and it is now clear why so many in his own party want him to be odd man out. A press release to brag about snubbing the President of the United States? Classless.
... written by Independently Conservative , June 02, 2011 - 06:32 pm
I have met Jeff Landry on a few occasions, and he certainly does not come across as either rude or arrogant. After seeing how President Obama has treated Republicans with utter disdain and open hostility (they are to be punished as "the enemy" remember), I think Landry's comments are absolutely appropriate. If the beltway folks like Ornstein are flogging him for bucking the pathetic Washington status quo, he must be doing something right. Kudos, Jeff!
... written by Farrow , June 02, 2011 - 06:47 pm
I am from Landry's district and I do not support him. His refusal to meet with President Obama is embarrassingly sophomoric. Both sides of the political spectrum must practice moderation.
... written by holeinthedonut8 , June 02, 2011 - 06:48 pm
This is a complete race to the bottom...who can out "against" the other?
Which Republican can make the faithful believe they're the one that has their best interest at heart?
The party of no has a problem with how to just out NO the other guy.
Landry and his ilk embarrass our 19th century culture.
La-last and working hard on it. Seriously our state is last in nearly everything measurable and our freshman rep is playing a power hand against the president. Dumbass. This is life not david and goliath.
... written by Don T , June 02, 2011 - 07:57 pm
I am extremely glad that Landry refuses to be talked down to by Obama. Extremely glad. Obama is the demagogue, he is a bully, a habitual liar, and he means us harm, all of us.
... written by scottman , June 03, 2011 - 12:31 am
Well at least Wisconsin is getting rid of their tea baggers maybe St. Martin Parish will wake up and get rid of theirs.
... written by TRH , June 03, 2011 - 02:36 am
How is this any worse than POTUS race-baiting with talk of republicans going to the "back of the bus"?
Landry isn't the problem, the DC culture is.
... written by rambeaux rawlings , June 03, 2011 - 12:49 pm
Why would Landry brag about being rude and disrespectful? Because he thinks his constituency would approve. His lack of class is a reflection of our own. See some of above commemts for confirmation.
... written by ragin_cajun , June 03, 2011 - 01:20 pm
Scotsman--
You have that backwards. The way you need to lookat it is....st. Martin has gotten rid of their socialist, now Lafayette will get rid of theirs.
... written by BoFred , June 03, 2011 - 01:50 pm
Nothing gets accomplished if you refuse to participate. To refuse to participate as a gimmick for your next campaign is shameful and maybe a dereliction of duty. My dad & I rarely agreed on politics in his later years, but as a veteran of the Korean war, he absolutely demanded I respect the "office of the Presidency" even if I didn't like the man holding it, and so I always have. George the Second was tough, but I did because its the American way. You can't be critical of some kook burning the American flag if you disrespect the highest office in our country. So Mr. Landy's gimmick isn't impressive and shows what a little man he really is.
... written by proud Republican , June 03, 2011 - 05:00 pm
HI have known Jeff for a long time. I think he should have gone to the meeting. He could have gotten more done and heard on a level with his piers and the rest who serve our government. All need to remember that we elect those who serve us. Not always what they want or think. It's like a preist speaking. It should represent the church not his own view. Jeff works for the people of La. Not for Jeff
... written by proud Republican , June 03, 2011 - 05:18 pm
Jeff could have done more for the state if he attended the meeting. He works for us not himself. With this negative press it may be a short political life for him. Sometimes it's better to listen than be heard
... written by Gene Broussard , June 04, 2011 - 11:21 pm
Yes, New Iberia, and that is all part of being from New Iberia. Better referred to as Minusbille.
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