Must-see: Great, and emotional, comments from Sen. Jon Tester on Oval Office meeting today

[highplainsdem]

Tweet from NBC's Maritsa Georgiou, with video:

Link to tweet

Found that thanks to a tweet from Michael McFaul:

Link to tweet

[tblue37]

1. Deafie here: could you provide a brief summary, please? Thanks.

[babylonsister]

7. Tester was very sweet, in awe of

the invite and being in the White House.

[tblue37]

27. Thanks. nt

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

8. Senator Teslor was impressed. Talked with Biden for an hour and a half.

Said even the doors were oval.

[tblue37]

28. Thanks. nt

[Maraya1969]

9. Tester had never before been in the Oval office but he went there today to meet

with President Biden and he was talking about how awe inspiring it was. Even the doors are oval, (did not know that) He was talking about the pictures of past presidents on the walls.

I'm surprised that he was never in the office before now. He seemed genuinely thrilled to have had the opportunity to be there.

[tblue37]

29. Thank you. nt

[highplainsdem]

11. Here, a quick transcript:

Last edited Thu Feb 4, 2021, 12:35 AM - Edit history (1)

"No, I'd never been in during any other administration. Pretty amazing room, and it truly is an oval office. The doors are even oval." (Laughs) "It's, uh, it's pretty amazing. The pictures of past presidents are hung on the wall -- Washington, Lincoln, FDR, others. The bronze busts that were there -- that I didn't even get a chance to look at, by the way, We pretty much came in and sat down and talked for, I don't know, an hour, an hour and a half, something like that. And then, of course, we left, because we had other meetings on the Hill that we had to get to. It was, uh, I'm going to be honest with you -- it was pretty emotional for me. And I told the president that. The fact is, Joe Biden is where he is due in part to the work Mike Mansfield did. And I told him that Mike Mansfield would be very proud today, looking down on Joe Biden." (Smiles) "It was a very special experience. And I will tell you that I'm not easily in awe of different things, but this was (unintelligible)"


Sorry I couldn't quite get that last word.


EDITING after reading the very helpful reply below -- Tester's final words there were "this was pretty cool."

[Grown2Hate]

13. "This was pretty cool." And the rest of your transcript

was PERFECT, thank you!

[highplainsdem]

15. Thanks! I'm not sure why I couldn't get the end of that last sentence, which seems clear as I

listen again after reading your post. But I think I was trying to make one word, not two, out of what he said as his voice dropped there. Plus it probably didn't help that I had MSNBC on at the same time, though turned down low while I had the volume all the way up on that tweet.

Again, thank you!

[Jarqui]

24. That was really wonderful of you :) ..nt

[yellowdogintexas]

25. Mike Mansfield was the one who convinced Joe to stay in the Senate

after his wife and daughter were killed. If he had left the Senate then, we would not have him as President now.

So that is probably what he is talking about when he mentioned Mansfield.

[tblue37]

30. Thank you! nt

[Irish_Dem]

2. Really cool, thanks for posting.

Tester's hair never changes. But what a great interview.

[Karadeniz]

3. Best haircut in Congress!

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. My brothers used Butch Wax to keep their crew cuts standing up

back in the 60s.

[Karadeniz]

17. Never heard of it, but it could probably make a comeback as a high end gel!

[TexasBushwhacker]

18. They still make it

It's a pomade that comes in a small jar or tin and is made with wax and petroleum jelly. I imagine a lot of guys prefer water soluble gels though.

[Dem2theMax]

21. You've never heard of Butch Wax?

You must be young!

[Karadeniz]

22. Not young!!!!! Just ignorant!!!!

[Dem2theMax]

23. I wouldn't say that!

My dad spent some years in the military during World War II.

I think the butch wax was something he probably learned about when he was in the service. And it stayed with him for quite a few years afterwards.

[Walleye]

19. My brother used it too. Brought back a memory

[Pluvious]

26. My hair got smeared with it during some HS hazing

Brings back memories too, heh

[Cha]

4. Rt TY!

[Deuxcents]

5. Well..I'll say awww

His interview seemed straight up as always with him.

[GusBob]

6. Yay Big Sandy

[cilla4progress]

10. My daughter moved to Montana 4 years ago-

We were apart when drumpf won. She called me in tears. So hard.

At that time, MT had a D governor, which made a 50/50 split in dtate/fed level officials.

Tester = American hero in my book! Must be lonely for him.

[tishaLA]

12. I'm amazed he never made it there during Pres Obama's admin

I guess I'd imagined legislators make it there pretty often when their party is in power.

Now I hope Pres Biden invites him to a state dinner so he can get the full treatment.

[Popcorn 51]

14. Jon is a farmer and he also used to be a teacher. A music teacher.

I believe his wife is also a teacher.

He is missing two or three fingers on one hand. If I recall correctly it was an accident on the farm.

I have talked to him on the phone before.

Jon defeated Senator Conrad Burns. A horrible and stupid person.

[Walleye]

20. My father lost a finger when he was young from an apple harvesting machine