Nasty end to Obama’s meeting with House Dems

Two Los Angeles-area congressman got into a heated exchange at the end of today's session with President Barack Obama.

With several members still standing to ask questions at the three microphones set up for that purpose, Rep. Xavier Becerra, who hosted the meeting as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said they would have to sit down because the president had to go, according to accounts from several people in the room.

While most complied, Rep. Henry Waxman, a 38-year House veteran from Los Angeles, stood his ground and began to ask a question about the president's commitment to climate change legislation. Becerra tried to cut him off, but Waxman kept going.

(Also on POLITICO: Obama to Democrats: Chill out)

Obama offered to answer the question in private, but Waxman declined, indicating he wanted the whole group to hear an answer.

Several Democratic sources said Waxman was rude to his colleagues in demanding to be heard with what Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi later termed more of a statement than a question. Other Democrats chose to abide by Becerra's admonition to sit down and let the president leave.

The president reiterated his strong support to address climate change, Pelosi said afterwards.

UPDATE: Waxman called POLITICO to explain his thinking. Becerra was "absolutely right" to point out that Waxman had pushed himself forward when others were told that question time was over, Waxman said. But while he was sitting in the meeting, he felt a strong urge to praise the president for talking about climate change in his inaugural address and to encourage him to continue focusing attention on it.

"I used that opportunity to make the point on climate change because it's an important issue that just is not being discussed adequately," Waxman said.