Before a Democratic caucus meeting, a Politico reporter asked House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel of Illinois about the language of the bill's main provisions. After Emanuel demurred on the specifics, this reporter asked — in the effort for openness and disclosure — if a journalist could sit in to hear debate on the language.

"Why don't you go f—- yourself?" Emanuel replied, as he entered a men's room in the Capitol basement.

“The issue was whether the caucus was given accurate information, and Dennis was giving this inaccurate information about the committee's work product," Obey said. “This isn't the first time that Dennis has twisted the facts. I didn't have time for him.”

Watson, Obey said, was “clueless” that he had already addressed Kucinich’s concerns in another meeting.

“And as for Maxine Waters,” he continued, “even I could win a charm school award against her!”