A few moments later he grew angry and began attacking liberal groups for failing to understand how the supplemental bill, of which he is a sponsor, would affect the war.
The liberal groups are jumping around without knowing what the hell is in the bill, he bellowed. You dont have to cut off funds for an activity that doesnt exist.
The language we have in the resolution ends the authority for the war, he added. It makes it illegal to proceed with the war. You dont have to de-fund something if the war doesnt exist.
It is unclear if Obey was aware he was being videotaped. Most of the video is shot from waist level. House rules for the media stipulate that members of Congress must approve when they are being videotaped. But this footage was apparently not shot by a member of the media.
Obey stressed the need for liberal groups to understand that cutting off military funding means de-funding important military programs, such as hospitals for veterans.
Im not going to deny body armor. Im not going to deny funding for veterans hospitals and for defense hospitals so you can help people that have health problems. Thats what you do if you go against that bill, he added.
Asked about passing a resolution to end the war, Obey screamed that they did not have the votes.
We dont have the votes to pass [a resolution], he yelled. We couldnt even get the votes to pass a non-binding resolution one week ago. How the hell do you think were going to get the votes to cut off the war?
You cut off the funding, an onlooker replied.
How, if you dont have the votes? Obey roared in response. That bill ends the war! If that isnt good enough for you, youre smoking something illegal. Youve got your facts screwed up.
We cant get the votes! Do you see a magic wand in my pocket? he continued, opening his suit jacket as if to display an empty pocket. We dont have the votes for it. We do have the votes if you guys quit screwing it up. We do have the votes to end the legal authority for the war, thats the same as de-funding it.
