President Obama talks with Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., along with members of his family, in the Oval Office, June 13. Rep. Dingell is the longest-serving Member in the history of the United States Congress (Photo by Pete Souza)
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White House: Statement from the President on the Retirement of John Dingell
Serving nearly six decades in the House of Representatives, John Dingell has earned the distinction of being both the longest-serving Member of Congress in U.S. history and one of the most influential legislators of all time. After serving his country in the Army during World War II, John was first elected to Congress in 1955 – representing the people of southeastern Michigan in a seat previously held by his father. In Washington, John risked his seat to support the Civil Rights Act of 1964, fought to pass Medicare in 1965, and penned legislation like the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act that have kept millions of Americans healthy and preserved our natural beauty for future generations.
But of all John’s accomplishments, perhaps the most remarkable has been his tireless fight to guarantee quality, affordable health care for every American. Decades after his father first introduced a bill for comprehensive health reform, John continued to introduce health care legislation at the beginning of every session. And as an original author of the Affordable Care Act, he helped give millions of families the peace of mind of knowing they won’t lose everything if they get sick. Today, the people of Michigan – and the American people – are better off because of John Dingell’s service to this country, and Michelle and I wish him, his wife Debbie, and their family the very best.
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U.S. Representative John Dingell (D-MI) at the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (You see the distinguished bald man way in the back on the far right wearing glasses? John Dingell is the man next to him. He’s wearing Ray Ban style glasses.)
Rep. John Dingell at the signing of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
This undated file photo provided by Rep. John Dingell’s office shows the congressman with President John F. Kennedy
1955 – Dingell was first elected in a 1955 special election to replace his late father, and was re-elected in every subsequent election.
President Barack Obama signs the Affordable Care Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington on March 23, 2010. Among those present were Marcelas Owens of Seattle, left, and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., right.
White House.gov
Thanks Congressman Dingell.
Wow!!!
Oh wooooooooow!!!!!
He was asking us on Facebook what we thought of the idea. I told him to GO FOR IT!!!!!
I had absolutely no idea Donna! Never mind Michigan - I want LOLGOP in the White House next!!
Came as a complete surprise to me as well. His campaign would be a hoot!!!!
If he debated his opponent on Twitter, he’d get 100% of the vote!
And so, folks, maybe we have just found the so-called ‘dark horse’ candidate we have been praying for! (mind you, VPB, Gov O’Malley, Deval Patrick, these are fine options as well) (confess-the thought of any rich white male occupying the WH ever again makes me feel ill)(I include HRC in that context)
I like the sound of President LOLGOP, perfect!!
It does have a certain ring to it, eh? ;)
Hmm? They didn’t include Wal-Mart?
An extraordinary man, an extraordinary life - thank you Nerdy, a lovely post.
Thanks, Chips.
I have always associated him with ObamaCare because I remember how hard he fought for that law. He did not back down then and he has never backed down or away from the law. He kept bringing up some form of healthcare reform year after year after year and I am so glad that he got to see President Barack Obama become POTUS, pass the Affordable Care Act, run on it, and win a second term.
Fighting for the Civl Rights Act - which in the long term, proved he was on the right side of history - and ObamaCare, despite all the odds and hate thrown at him. Now, that’s a hero and a leader.
Many more Democrats would be wise to take a page out of his playbook.
A warrior Nerdy, who remained true to himself all along the way. As you said, it would be nice if a few gutless Democrats could follow his lead.
Another lion leaves Congress. Thank you for your admirable service, Rep. Dingell.
What meta said.
For some unknown reason the RNC thinks I am a republican. I continually get survey to fill out with requests for money. As long as they pay the postage I return them with some choice words. But today I received a survey with a list of “repub. leaders” and a request to rate them from strongly favorable to strongly unfavorable. I thought I’d let all of you know who is on the list. Ayotte, Barbour, John Bolton, Jeb Bush, Cain, Ben Carson, Christie, Cruz, Daniels, Gingrich, Nikki Haley, Huckabee, Jindal, Kasich, Peter King, Martinez, Palin, Rand Paul, Ron Paul, Pawlenty, Pence, Perry, Portman, Condoleeza Rice, Rubio, Paul Ryan, Sandoval, Santorum, Tim Scott, Thune, Scott Walker, Allen West. There is a category for other. I checked all the above names as strongly unfavorable and for the “other” box I wrote in Joe Biden and checked stongly favorable.
LOL. Love your response. I assume they are trying to pick the next golden boy or girl to run for President in 2016. :)
Yes, I forgot to mention the survey called them repub. leaders as potential candidates for president.
I got one of those too….don’t know how they got my name. Beside Newt Gingrich, I wrote “Are you kidding!” Beside Rick Perry I wrote “No Brain” and beside Paul Ryan I wrote “No Heart.” Then I drew a big X through the whole page and wrote a choice message up at the top.
I got a similar one from Romney’s campaign in 2012, and did something similar, and never got another mailing from them. Like you I make them pay the postage.
That is indeed a rogues’ gallery!
Well done Diane… your checking other & putting in Joe gave me a LOL moment :) Strongly Favorable :)
I thought some of those Republicans were dead already. Or at least I hoped for some form of “gone” back to their home states.
:D :D :D :D :D
Well done, Diane!!
I do that also and amazed at how poor the GOP microtargeting is if they have the likes of us on their mailing list. You could find out in 2 seconds how strong a Democrat I am.
Way to go Will
This is awesome. Thanks Will!
I’m slowly falling in love with Will Ferrell…
Notice how we fall in love with those who appear supportive of our President, and fall out of love with those who don’t? :) :)
How bout that hf. I’m wired that way and I ain’t ashamed to admit it :wink:
Me neither! :)
yes, we know you are too :lol: and we don’t want no 12-step program either!
Exactly - we’re perfectly fine just as we are. :)
♥
I am supportive of our President. But Chips doesn’t love me any more.
No, no, I do Japa. True, I’m bitter and won’t ever forgive you, you ogre, but I still love you.
Really? I will have to correct that….
In the movie, Anchorman, sound track - saxophone music performed by my nephew, Katisse (LA jazz musician I’m always going on about!) ;)
MP - that’s great!
“Sane Republicans”, in Arizona (or anywhere)?? I thought they were driven to extinction by the ‘crazy republicans’.
I think its more likely they have been silenced by the “crazy republicans” but even they couldn’t sit by and let this one happen.
The Chamber of Commerce and those “sane” republicans have seen the $$$$ disappearing - only reason for this. And those “sane” republicans were for the bill - before they were against the bill - money talks.
Rep. Dingell first arrived in Congress, when he was 29 yrs. old, when Eisenhower was president. Pretty amazing. He said he is hoping his wife, Debbie, will run for his seat. I wonder how old she is. LOLGOP would be interesting—-and enjoyable.
Wow, when Eisenhower was president, that is just amazing!
dotster, Ms Dingell is 60 y/o, and a vibrant, very well known and influential MI Democrat.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/02/24/debbie-dingell-favorite-to-replace-john-dingell/5787641/
Bob - do you know enough about Michigan politics to say if Debbie DIngell would have a good shot at winning? would love to have a strong woman take Rep. Dingell’s place if anyone must. His perspective is a real loss
BOOM indeed!
Those in denial NEVER see the absurdity in their unabashedly twisted logic.
KaBoom :!:
Fantastic Tribute, NW!! Thank you!!!
Thanks, Bob.
You’ve created many fine ‘front pagers,’ NW, and this is yet another!!! Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Seems they caught a clue ….
YES WE MUST
Jim messina was at the WH last week. I’d like to hear from him on this issue.
I suspect he and David Plouffe got quite an ear full from #PBO :)
Pretty certain this is your doing’ bobfr, sir! You put the pressure on, consistently and matter-of-factly. You made it impossible for them to remain silent and uncommitted. For this, our thanks!
Very kind of you MP, but I think forces way larger than my tweets were unleashed on #PrioritiesUSA!!! What matters is that they got the message and now know we will be unrelenting in holding them and every Dem PAC and Dem Leader accountable for their #GOTV efforts.
Yes WE MUST
Yes there were forces, but you definitely were part of it Bob! I do recall this tweet from you on Friday, which was just one of the many tweets that you had posted in reference to this PrioritiesUSA “sitting-out” announcement. :) :)
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/02/21/chat-away-330/#comment-959993
yes WE MUST :)
Thank you hf :) We each do what we can, every day. That’s what matters.
“One voice can change a room, and if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it can change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world.”
Gee, now who said that? Hmm? :lol: :wink: I think you are this quote personified Bobfr. So modesty aside, you keep on keepin’ on
sir… Oh tireless Twitter warrior!!! #ThePeopleUnitedCanNeverBeDefeated.
#ThePeopleUnitedCanNeverBeDefeated
Thank you PSLA!! Rest assured, I’ll never stop!!
And This!
This!
This is excellent, because Axe was one of the first to respectfully call them out for their earlier “news.”
Agree, Jacqueline!
When Axe and Bobfr get on your behind, you will straighten up and fly right! :-)
Thanks for the warning! :)
Scared me straight too! HA!
Don’t Mess with Bobfr! Ha!
#ScaredNotScared
:D
Great that Axelrod is still chiming in on this 10 days later. The push back was needed. For Priorities USA to have stated publicly and quoted on their original intent was fatuously wicked.
Whoever made the decision to sit out the 2014 election ought to be slap side their stupid head.
RIP Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Groundhog Day etc. guy, Harold Ramis— AND Barack Obama supporter!
I love this Pope. He is the Obama if Popes. The Pope of Hope.
NW, this is a beautiful tribute to Congressman Dingell. I remember him as a fierce warrior when I lived in Detroit.
Brainwashed by American Evangelical missionaries, who are propagandizing and spreading hate and discrimination around the world.
Knew our Ambassador Power would be on it ….
Good point …
I just remembered this:
As we come to the end of Black History Month, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind some and enlighten others. We all know there were others that came before Dr. MLK Jr., but even he had a mentor and someone he looked up to. Before Dr. King there was Vernon Johns.
http://www.vernonjohns.org/tcal001/vjtofc.html
What a treasure, Yardarm. Saved to read it fully. I must admit I skipped ahead to the “final years” section to see what happened to him, and found these two paragraphs of note. So much of what Dr. Johns said is totally attributable to today’s citizens, no matter their station or place on our country’s useless “color wheel.”
(Sorry to copy so much here, but as you know, this is only a very small part of the link, and I thought it should have some context.)
“Dr. Johns Speaks at Simmons University, Louisville, Kentucky” … It is not enough for a man to be dependent on jobs made by other people. The colored man must become interested in creating jobs and the source of economic wealth … He spoke to twelve graduates. He said colored people are academically literate, but socially illiterate. “We are steak conscious, but not steer conscious; we are bread conscious, but not grain conscious.” I have a suspicion that the power and force of the colored citizen is not keeping pace with his literary and academic achievements. He concluded that the group is advancing greatly in civics courses, but are only mediocre in citizenship …
and
Probably in later summer 1960 there occurred a debacle for Vernon Johns at a convention of white and black preachers. About 150 preachers had met for lunch at the Seventh Baptist Church in Baltimore. It seems that Vernon was especially bothered by a white preacher’s sermon on Christian salvation about “being washed in the blood of the Lamb.” Following the end of the preacher’s talk, Johns immediately stood up, not waiting for any pleasantries. Branch … reported that Johns said that “The thing that disappoints me about the Southern white church is that it spends all of its time dealing with Jesus after the cross, instead of dealing with Jesus before the cross.” Of course, Johns was exactly right. Jesus as the spokesman for the poor was largely ignored by white Christians, who preferred to talk about the forgiveness of private sins through atonement and Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice. As Johns correctly said, “The church has not formally denounced the Sermon on the Mount. It has merely let it slide. I want to deal with Jesus before the cross. I don’t give a damn what happened to him after the cross.” But although Johns was right, he was still wrong, politically and socially speaking. Both sides were embarrassed by Johns’s remarks and the tentative brotherhood of black and white Baptist preachers in Baltimore was stifled as a collective movement. Soon afterwards Johns was asked to resign his position at the Maryland Center. He drifted off again to the sermon and lecture circuit. The Center no longer exists …
… Branch sounded disappointed in Johns, expecting the prophet to be silent. But a prophet cannot be silent, cannot be a politician. It is simply not in the cards.
It will shock alot of folks even today.
Legitimacy ….
I thank the representative for his 58 yrs in office. Historic and admirable.
I did call for his retirement in the mid 2000s at D’Kos. I was severely attacked.
I don’t like to see politicians stay that long in one post. Rep Dingell replaced his father who died in office. I hope that LOLGOP runs and not his wife. I am glad that he is retiring on his own terms.
In a democracy, it is always better to have a diverse group, not diversity in having different members of ONE family in on district. Yes, it is up to that district, no doubt. But between the father and son…….almost a Century of One family as a representative is Not the American way.
Nena, If a person is being beneficial and contributing something to the good cause, then I don’t feel we should call for them to step down.
Did you call for Charlie Rangel or John Conyers to step down?
Yes, I did many times GGail and still do today. I admire Conyers. I have issues with Rangel.
The only one I never called for his retirement was the late Beloved senator Ted Kennedy. I didn’t for he was not taking salary, but $1 and the loss of his siblings serving US. I was for the retirement of the late Robert Byrd. My opinions, of course. But the ones that mattered most were those in the states or districts that elected and re-elected their congressional officer.
New post!
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/02/24/a-tweet-or-two-42/
Jay’s WH presser. 2-24-14