by Mark Silva
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel does a lot of working out and dining out with lawmakers these days, and it has lot to do with checking out the stances of his former colleagues on Capitol Hill on the issues that matter to his boss.
Emanuel, a former congressman from Chicago, starts many mornings with a workout in the House gym, according to a report from Hans Nichols of Bloomberg News. Emanuel lifts weights, Nichols reports, but "the real exercise is gathering political intelligence from his one-time colleagues about congressional action on health-care and energy legislation.''
Emanuel ends some days "doing the same, dining with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at Bobby Van's Steakhouse, three blocks from the White House.'' This is one of D.C.'s top eateries.
Emanuel, who does "an enormous amount of sit-ups," is "doing what he's always done," says Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), "He's whipping us," Meeks says of Emanuel's skill at rounding up votes. "He's trying to figure out where we are."
Bloomberg suggests that Emanuel, "known for his tough tactics and profanity,'' also has "the ability to persuade at low volume and often over a glass of red wine. Emanuel rotates a roster of Republican lawmakers into his bi-weekly dinners at Bobby Van's, gauging the strength of their opposition to the president.''
"We're trying to get the backroom scoop about what's behind the headlines, behind the stories," says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican former representative from Peoria, Ill., who often joins Emanuel at these dinners. "You can really get to know somebody over dinner and a glass of wine."
See the full report on Emanuel at Bloomberg.
Comments
The above article rates a 9.2 on the Rahm fawn-o-meter.
With the Soviet judge giving it a 9.9.
Posted by: Speaking Truth to Power | May 28, 2009 8:58 AM
What a job huh? Working out and eating out at the nicest places in Washington DC on the taxpayer dime. I guess the recession doesn't bother the almighty Rahm!
Posted by: nancy | May 28, 2009 9:38 AM
Who cares? How about asking Rahm why the White House is only closing car dealerships that have contributed to Republican candidates and leaving the ones who have contributed to Democratic candidates untouched???? Isn't that a bigger story Mark??
Posted by: Joe | May 28, 2009 10:09 AM
What makes you think the govt is paying for those dinners?
Posted by: Brian | May 28, 2009 10:55 AM
since we're talking about his night life, why is his nose always running the next day? he sure says he has a cold a lot of times; i hope it's not swine flu.
Posted by: Dan Steeleman | May 28, 2009 10:56 AM
Why should I care about Rahm workout/eating schedule?
Why do you feel that I should be made aware of these fluff facts today?
Were you told to publish this by Rahm in order to show what a regular guy he is?
Posted by: Al in Chicago | May 28, 2009 11:16 AM
I love that so many of the commenters have no idea of what makes business run and judge it on their own perception of of their work on the construction line or working for the electric company or in a union.
Posted by: mzmarlena | May 28, 2009 11:30 AM
Posted by: Joe | May 28, 2009 10:09 AM
Joe, if you have any PROOF that "the White House is only closing car dealerships that have contributed to Republican candidates and leaving the ones who have contributed to Democratic candidates untouched" then let's see it. Otherwise, stop being a whiny little Republic Party toady.
Posted by: BC | May 28, 2009 11:37 AM
In reference to some comments, since when is working hard a bad thing in America?
Posted by: Liz | May 28, 2009 12:23 PM
Joe, if you have any PROOF that "the White House is only closing car dealerships that have contributed to Republican candidates and leaving the ones who have contributed to Democratic candidates untouched" then let's see it. Otherwise, stop being a whiny little Republic Party toady.
Posted by: BC | May 28, 2009 11:37 AM
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Read this story.....it might actually enlighten a partisan hack like yourself.
Posted by: Joe | May 28, 2009 12:36 PM
Fascinating journalism.
Posted by: JUST SAYIN | May 28, 2009 12:53 PM
Thank you mzmarlene, BC, and Liz. The country runs on politics in the best sense of the word and, except for the last eight years, always has. Joe, put down the bong. Rahm-bo knows this well; the people in charge before him didn't have a clue. I'm so glad we have competent people there now, regardless of party.
Posted by: Joe A. - Lakeview | May 28, 2009 1:19 PM
this may seem like b.s. to most, but isn't this basically his job description? Keep tabs on the dolts in Congress and find out where bam bam will have support. The best way to do that is in a small setting-dinner-working-out. I hate the guy's politics, but he's effective
Posted by: scotty | May 28, 2009 1:52 PM
What makes you think the govt is paying for those dinners?
Posted by: Brian | May 28, 2009 10:55 AM
Um, are you kidding me!?
Posted by: alex | May 28, 2009 2:20 PM
Joe, if you have any PROOF that "the White House is only closing car dealerships that have contributed to Republican candidates and leaving the ones who have contributed to Democratic candidates untouched" then let's see it. Otherwise, stop being a whiny little Republic Party toady.
I'm a registered republican, and even i think they need to shut up for a little while. They're not doing the party any good by making an issue out of everything. Now's not the time to try to steal the limelight, too late.
Posted by: Joe | May 28, 2009 2:23 PM
RASPUTIN RAHM!
Posted by: Harold Reimann | May 28, 2009 5:24 PM
Joe, you partisan hack, Overall, 88 percent of the contributions from car dealers went to Republican candidates and just 12 percent to Democratic candidates. (fiverthirtyeight.com), so you figure it out. And then apologize.
Posted by: Flo | May 28, 2009 8:24 PM