Murkowski: Dems don't have cooties
Washington (CNN) - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, asked reporters covering Tuesday's State of the Union address not to spend too much time focusing on prom-like questions about where Republicans and Democrats are sitting, but instead to concentrate on the content of President Obama's speech.
"It's like going to the prom and who's wearing what dress," Murkowski said. "And to a certain extent this has been a little bit of a dating show. You know, who are you going with? Reminds me a little of 8th grade."
Murkowski spoke at a news conference with Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colorado, and other early proponents of the bipartisan seating arrangements that have dominated much of the news coverage of the annual speech.
"It should be the content of his speech and not necessarily where everyone ends up sitting," she said.
Despite her plea, Murkowski and Udall couldn't stop themselves from playing up high school themes.
"There are no cooties" to be spread between Democrats and Republicans, Murkowski said.
Udall said the bipartisan seating plan was aimed at stopping the "high school pep rally" atmosphere in the House chamber as members of one party cheer the president's remarks while members of the other party sit with their arms folded.
'We want to change the tone and show the public that we can work together," Udall said.
Murkowski said she has a "double-date" for the speech with Democratic Sens. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii.
Udall said he has a "mystery" guest who will be revealed later in the day.
I like Murkowski, she makes sense AND she saw through the Half-Wit half-termer's dubious "charms".
No, dems don't have cooties, but their plans to wreck this country is virulently infectious, and Murkowski is a bitter person as a dem in RINO clothing.
Nice job Lisa!
They may not have the cooties, but they sure have the GREEDIES.
While I applaud the sentiment, I think she missed an opportunity to elevate the current political dialog. Immaturity is part of the problem, so playing to it weakens the statement. But progress none the less.
"cooties"????? Is she kidding me? "cooties"???? That's a word we all used in elementary school.
No Murkowski, the Democrats don't have "cooties" and they certainly don't have the support of most of the people in this country. Didn't Murkowski figure that one out in November?
Why shouldn't she. It was the Dems that elected her in AK last year
In just about every job we have to find common ground with whom we work with. So I think this is a start
good for her! she really has risen above the noise, we need more politicians like her!
Go Lisa! Now all you have to do is thumb your nose at the party that would not support you in your reelection and go total maverick! Either that or challenge Senator McConnell for the leadership position!
All I can say is it will be SOOO NICE to not have Nancy Pelosi sitting behind behind Obama and popping up at the end of every sentence with a stupid look on her face and clapping like a penquin on speed.
Let's see if Obama got the message from Nov. 2nd. It will be interesting.
I think the Dems are just encouraging this, to keep from being made to look bad, by the increased numbers in the house, not applauding Obama's speech. The GOP is going along with it, to make people think they are meeting the Dems half way, which of course, they aren't.
Who cares where you sit, as long as you work together??? Sitting next to each other is not going to impress me one iota unless something gets done. The whiners in the House and Senate need to grow up and get over themselves.
This gets more and more juvenile with each story.
Gee, thanks Alaska.
Lisa is the only woman in the gop that not scared of Rush, Sara,Glenda Beck, Hannity. You go girl!!
We don't have Cooties – we have BOOTIES..............LMAO!! More BOOTIE than the RIGHT!!!
Murkowski and Brown are "different" RepubliCAN'Ts – they are NOT branded by the far-right and will THINK and VOTE their own minds!!!
We are suppose to be the United not the Divided States of America. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses and playing games.
Well they don't have cooties .... but their Ideas???? thats another story.
"I think the Dems are just encouraging this, to keep from being made to look bad, by the increased numbers in the house, not applauding Obama's speech."
IT should be noted that this was posted under an article about a GOPer encouraging this.
"All I can say is it will be SOOO NICE to not have Nancy Pelosi sitting behind behind Obama and popping up at the end of every sentence with a stupid look on her face and clapping like a penquin on speed."
Careful what you wish for...Boehner rolls his eyes or checks his watch even once and he's going to look like a disrespectful jack-ss.
"Let's see if Obama got the message from Nov. 2nd. It will be interesting."
That's such a wonderful talking point coming from people who never got the messages from November 2006 and November 2008. Kudos. Hypocrisy is the new black.
Maybe not, but I'm not so sure she doesn't!
The ONLY reason they want this seating mix is so the world will not notice how slanted the power is toward Republican control. But that's ok.....in 2 more years there won't be any Dems left!
"Dems don't have cooties"...............maybe not but they are completely insane lunatics.
Tomorrow and beyond will obviously tell whether or not these folks grow up and learn to tell the truth and work for US – U.S., not themselves and their party's best interest. It amazes me that we citizens have allowed it to continue in such juvenile terms for this long. I think Lisa learned something when faced with being fired and narrowly squeaking out a win to retain her cushy job. I now trust she will keep moving forward with an open mind and hopefully influence the immature majority she normally sides with...
Another classy gesture would be for the Republicans to stop texting while President Obama is speaking. How about some respect? The Sergeant of Arms should take away the devices until the end of the speech, as well as their gum (unless of course they brought enough for everyone).
Dems don't have cooties, but we are not sure about the baggers.