On the recordSeptember 29, 2016
in this Republican Congress--especially as we head out for yet another unearned recess--I feel compelled to comment on how Republicans have treated the President of the United States during the last 8 years. History will look back and note that the Republicans in Congress treated President Obama with unprecedented disrespect. No one expected them to agree with everything that he did or tried to do, but Americans deserve better than the way Republicans behaved toward President Obama. A day or two after President Obama was elected the first time, Republicans met here in Washington--all the Republican big names--and they came to two conclusions. No. 1, Obama would not be reelected. They failed on that one quite miserably. But No. 2, they would oppose everything that President Obama tried to do, and they have stuck by that without any question. America would be better off with a responsible opposition party that found a way to make its differences with President Obama clear without treating him with such contempt. But, sadly, that is not what they saw from Republicans over the past 8 years. President Obama is the first President to be denied a hearing on his budget. He is the first President to be denied a hearing on a Supreme Court nominee. President Obama is the first President to be asked to show his birth certificate. President Obama is the first President who has faced over 500 filibusters here in the Senate.…





