Waxman: Obama's "Very Active" Agenda

Henry Waxman did a brief interview with The New York Times Magazine this Sunday. I guess they couldn't get in touch with the mayor of Paris! He doesn't say much but it's still worth noting for a few things. Obama probably does have a "very active" domestic agenda planned and I doubt free marketers and mostly anti-regulation types are going to like it. His defense and International Affairs appointments shouldn't fool us.

Also, Waxman and Pelosi clearly have an agenda of their own - whether Obama, or we - like it, or not.

He disses American car makers, Republicans and makes a bailout joke. For the most part, he comes across as a highly partisan, mostly un-likeable guy. 

Q: This seems like a symbolic shift — California environmentalist unseats Michigan congressman who propped up the auto industry.

A: We’ve had our differences on environmental issues. I think we need new leadership in the committee in order to move a very active agenda being proposed by the Obama administration.

Q: You certainly did that (oversight), as President Bush well knows.

A: When Bush became president, there wasn’t a scandal too big for the Republicans to ignore. They didn’t want to look at the treatment of prisoners in Abu Ghraib or Guántanamo. They didn’t care that billions of dollars were being wasted with contractors given special deals.

Q: How much time do you think Congress should spend investigating possibly criminal activities committed during the Bush administration?

A: We ought to create independent committees to evaluate some of the problems under Bush. I was pleased Congress set up an independent committee to look at war profiteering in Iraq.

Q: How do you get along with President Bush? Does he have a nickname for you?

A: Not to my face. I haven’t heard it yet.

Q: Your critics accuse you of being incorrigibly partisan.

A: I’ve probably authored 20 or 30 major bills which became law. There wasn’t a single bill that didn’t have some Republican support.

Q: Can you name one Republican you like?

A: Congressman Tom Davis. He just left.

Q: Is that why you like him?

A: There are other Republicans I think well of who are still in office.

Q: I’m surprised you don’t drive an American car.

A: This car was made in Kentucky by Toyota. The last time I bought an American car, they had to ship it in from Canada.

Q: What did you learn at the grocery store?

A: That my father extended credit to too many people and eventually went out of business.

Q: If he were around today, he’d be extending credit to even more people.

A: If he were around today, he might be in line for a government bailout.

There isn't too much else, read it all unedited here.

Comments

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

Really? You mean Obama intends to do what he was elected to do? Riviting.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Henry Waxman did a brief interview with The New York Times Magazine this Sunday. I guess they couldn't get in touch with the mayor of Paris! --"

I did not know the Mayor of Paris had a committee chairmanship in the US Congress.

[MarkJ]

"I did not know the Mayor of Paris had a committee chairmanship in the US Congress."

Given Waxman's sorry record as a congressman, I think the Mayor of Paris (who happens to be gay and was actually born in Tunisia) could do a much better job, don't you?

Henry Waxman: Proof positive that you can truly "fail your way to success."

[TheSpartan]

What's your problem with Waxman buying a Toyota? It was made in the US by American auto workers. When Detroit makes a car worth buying Americans will buy it.

[mojo]

AKA "The Butthead from Beverly Hills"