‘Cause we’re celebrating Texas n’ all … π *Ducks Head*Β π (DailyCaller) A lot of politicians give nicknames to their aides. George W. Bush famously referred to his attorney general, Alberto Gonzalez, as βFredo.β Mitch Daniels, then head of the Office of Management and Budget, was known as βThe Blade.β Barack Obama reportedly called Larry Summers, his chief economic advisor, βDr. Kevorkian.β
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas also hands out nicknames to the people who work for her. The Houston Democrat addressed one of her employees as βyou stupid motherfucker.β And not just once, but βconstantly,β recalls the staffer, βlike, all the time.βΒ
Another Jackson Lee aide recounts the time her parents came to Washington to visit: βThey were really excited to come to the congressional office. Theyβre small town people, so for them it was a huge deal. They were actually sitting in the main lobby waiting areaβ¦.[Jackson Lee] came out screaming at me over a scheduling change. Called me a βstupid idiot. Donβt be a moron, you foolish girlβ and actually did this in front of my parents, of all things.β
Yet another staffer remembers requesting a meeting early on in her tenure to ask how best to serve the congresswoman. Jackson Leeβs response: βWhat? What did you say to me? Who are you, the Congresswoman? You havenβt been elected. You donβt set up meetings with me! I tell you! You know what? You are the most unprofessional person I have ever met in my life.β With that, Jackson Lee hung up the phone.
According to the same staffer, Jackson Lee βwould always say, βWhat am I a prostitute? Am I your prostitute? You canβt prostitute me.ββ
Capitol Hill is famous for its demanding, insensitive bosses. Yet even by the harsh standards of Congress, Sheila Jackson Lee stands out. She may be the worst boss in Washington. βItβs like being an Iraq War veteran,β says someone who worked for her. Strangers may say, ββoh I know what youβve been through.β No, you really donβt. Because until youβve experienced itβ¦. People donβt tell the worst of the stories, because theyβre really unbelievable.β
For some, a job in Jackson Leeβs office proved not just emotionally but physically perilous. One staffer recalls a frank conversation with his doctor, who told him he needed to quit. βItβs your life or your job,β the doctor told him, warning that the stress and long hours were wreaking havoc on his body.
Only a few on staff fought back. One of Jackson Leeβs drivers became so frustrated with her abuse the person pulled the car over and demand she stop: βSheβs screaming and swearing. βM.F.β everything. Finally I slammed on the brakes and told her to get the hell out of my car. Iβm like βI canβt drive with you like this. Either get out, or you can calm down.β And sheβs like βyou need to go or get fired.β Iβm like, βthatβs fine. But Iβm either leaving without you or you can calm down,ββ the staffer said.
Jackson Lee then threatened to call the police and claim she was being held hostage in the car. But she finally did calm down when the staffer called her bluff, offering to flag down a Capitol Police officer to explain the situation.
Former aide Michael McQueery said his experience with other βdifficultβ bosses on the Hill prepared him for how to handle Jackson Lee. βIβve worked for two other members. They did the same thing,β he said.
βIt was at first, Iβm not going to lie to you, it was a rough patch with her and me. But I took her to the side and I let her know that, you know, βCongresswoman, Iβm a man before anything else.β And after that, we had no problems. We had no problems,β McQueery said.
Of the scores of Jackson Lee staffers contacted by The Daily Caller, only McQueery offered an affirmative defense of the congresswomanβs management techniques. βA lot of people just did not know how to go, and say, βhey, thatβs inappropriate,ββ McQueery said