August 23, 2008
Posted: August 23rd, 2008 09:39 AM ET

(CNN) - House Minority Leader John Boehner criticized the newly-minted Democratic presidential ticket in an issued statement Saturday.

“Americans looking for a pair of candidates who are ready to fix a broken Washington aren’t going to find them on the Obama / Biden ticket," he said. "In Joe Biden, Barack Obama has not only found a running mate who doesn’t believe he’s ready to be president, he’s proven his opposition to an ‘All of the Above’ energy reform strategy to lower fuel costs for families and small businesses."

(Full statement after the jump)

“John McCain’s comprehensive energy reform plan is supported by a broad and bipartisan majority of Americans who are tired of struggling with high gas prices and soaring utility bills. And he’s taken the bold step of calling on Speaker Pelosi to bring Congress back from its break to vote on House Republicans’ American Energy Act. McCain is a real reformer and the only candidate in this race who is ready to lead.”

Filed under: Barack Obama • Joe Biden • John Boehner


Charlotte   August 23rd, 2008 2:10 pm ET

Change? Six time Senator, Washington insider, where is the change? The only change we will see is how much less of it we will have in our pockets...

RJ, CA   August 23rd, 2008 1:49 pm ET

"Cain, and Abel"" - this is Adam and Eve, your parents speaking: Hush, children - you don't know what you're talking about! However, if you're so unhappy in America, please come back to the Garden of Eden (Iraq). No "haters" allowed here - we shoot 'em on the spot!

Connie   August 23rd, 2008 1:47 pm ET

I agree with you Cain and Abel. OBAMA/BIDEN 08
Connie from Indiana

James   August 23rd, 2008 1:45 pm ET

Proud Army $ Navy Mum,.... you'll rather staying in iraq for the next 100 years,..... stick with Mcsame,... Good Luck...

TJ Johnson   August 23rd, 2008 1:44 pm ET

Democrats' only platform is to kill babies and republicans. They are so negative and have nothing intelligent to offer the USA.

John in WV   August 23rd, 2008 1:22 pm ET

I would ask Mr. Boehner which candidate has supported the policies that have resulted in high fuel prices and recession.

JUAN CARLOS   August 23rd, 2008 1:19 pm ET

O B A M A ' S--V E R S I O N-- O F----C H A N G E ????????

V I V A---–J O H N----M C C A I N----- ! ! ! ! !

gerry   August 23rd, 2008 1:18 pm ET

its amazing the stupid comments always seem to come from liberials
i am along time democrate but am sick paying taxes to support wasters who spent there days standing on street corners and complaining about what happened years ago... 11000000 people came to this country and got jobs these corner dwellers are to lazy to pull up there pants iam voting republic this time

Valorie Jay - Raleigh   August 23rd, 2008 1:05 pm ET

Obama and Biden make an excellent ticket – intelligence, clear-thinkers who love this country and can restor the integrity that has been lost during the Bush administration. Our reputation around the world has been so damaged that it will take years to again show the world that we are good and decent people and responsible member of the world community. And, I believe John McCain to be a good man but he is, at this time, the wrong man. I see Obama as the future and McCain as the past.

a Patriot in Georgia   August 23rd, 2008 1:04 pm ET

How can anyone say Obama doesn't have the experience to be in the White House? It's obvious if you don't want things to stay the same as they are you take in somebody with a new prospective!! The man worked in Constitutional Law at Harvard, if that's not credentials on how the government works (from outside the corrupt beltway) then NOTHING is for you stooges. No experience? Why is the president of the U.S. and Iraq now following the plan Obama put out there months ago? AND IF HE COULD LOCK THE CLINTON MONSTER DOWN THEN GUESS WHAT G.O.P, HE'S GOT YOUR NUMBER, THATS THE EXPERIENCE WHICH SHOWS YOUR NEXT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

Cain and Abel   August 23rd, 2008 12:36 pm ET

mccain in no way or form has more experience than biden... being a POW does not constitute foreign policy experience... the only real policies mccain has is the same as bush policies. we cannot afford the same for another four years.. enough is enough.... so all you haters out there stop fighting it and get invloved... the sooner you get in touch with reality and stop playa hating, the better off you'll be in the end... truth has has three stages... denial, ridicule, and finally it becomes self evident.... it's time to get the corrupt cabal out of office! My kids will never fight in these oil wars so they can make bigger profits while we suffer high gas prices and a destroyed economy... on another more important note.... not all these wars are about fighting terroism... that's a false flag to scare the american people into doing what they want..... I would not be surprised if a major terror or or another unnatural scare is implemented right before the election to scare people into voting for mcbush..... GET SMART AMERICA... and Wake Up....

jt   August 23rd, 2008 12:20 pm ET

Sssssssshhhhh.....john

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   August 23rd, 2008 12:19 pm ET

To proud army and navy mom:

And, if you examine McCain's record coming out of Annapolis, you'll see he was never quaified for flight school, but got in anyway because daddy was a 4-star Admiral.

Then, he got shot down – they are linked!

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   August 23rd, 2008 12:18 pm ET

And when does Boehner weigh-in on Senator Stevens of Alaska?!

Joe   August 23rd, 2008 12:17 pm ET

Wow. Do you think these partisan politicians even believe these statements when they make them or do they just feel compelled to protect the party's brand image? Let's face it, Congressman Boehner and other partisan Republicans would have criticized the ticket even if Jesus Christ was selected to be the VP candidate. That's just politics as usual.

I, for one, I'm fed up with it. The Republicans have held the White House for 8 years and for some of that time also controlled the House and Senate. We see where that got us. They inherited a budget surplus, and now we have record deficits. They have us involved in two wars (one of which has never been fully justified to the American people), and have done immeasurable damage to America's reputation around the world.

It is time for a change. And the Democrats are the only ones who can deliver that change in this election.

It is time for the GOP to stop sounding like typical politicians. The world of politics has changed. What America needs is solutions to the issues confronting us, not political rhetoric.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   August 23rd, 2008 12:16 pm ET

Republicans, get over it, the tide has turned, it's time for our country to move forward and Obama and Biden are ready.

King Sukumar   August 23rd, 2008 12:16 pm ET

If the Republicans win this time it would be more than a miracle given the dismal performance. How are they going to beat the odds stacked against them remains to be seen. What is good for country is what is at stake. Can criticisms help defy the odds !!!!

Joseph Adewole   August 23rd, 2008 12:11 pm ET

Nonsense!!! just wait and see what happens next................better go and look for extra wine in McCain's compound Boehner before Obama Biden come for you and your seat in the house.

Will, NJ   August 23rd, 2008 12:09 pm ET

Is it just me or is Boehner a funny name? I can't possibly take that guy seriously.

sarah   August 23rd, 2008 12:08 pm ET

The House Minority Leader has effectively conveyed a minority opinion. Touche Boehner (your criticism is quite limited).

Unshrub   August 23rd, 2008 12:05 pm ET

The republicans spend all of August on lies, lies and more lies. It seems like the American public is too stupid to understand this and the Democrats don’t have the nerves to fight. You can not win in a bar fight without kicking someone in the down and dirty and this is a down and dirty bar fight, and so far, Obama does not want to kick or hit anyone. I want to see Obama hit McCain where it hurts. He must attack him and the republicans where it hurts them. Show American how dirty republicans really are. We need to see some blood. I am tired of loosing the white house to a bunch of crooks because democrats act like a bunch of sissies. I am mad and I am not going to take it anymore!

H   August 23rd, 2008 12:03 pm ET

JOHN BOEHNER IS SO RIGHT. OBAMA HAS NO EXPERIENCE AND KNEW THAT. BUT HE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO COVER THE EYES AND EARS OF MANY AMERICANS. GUESS HE THOUGHT WE WERE DUMB. THE TRUTH IS COMING OUT.

HE JUST HANDED THE ELECTION TO JOHN MCCAIN. WHAT A DUMBIE DO.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Buchas   August 23rd, 2008 12:03 pm ET

That's what you think, Boehner.

Joe Biden is an American Patriot. You are a partisan phony.

VON BISMARK,Vienna.   August 23rd, 2008 11:59 am ET

Mitt Romney also said mcWAR is no match for Obama.

William, from Cali!   August 23rd, 2008 11:53 am ET

It amazes me that some people....... "know, who doesn't have the answers"; but they "don't have any real answers themselves'"!

Independent Thinker   August 23rd, 2008 11:41 am ET

Boehner is a Republican puppet; what else is he going to say.

tedious898   August 23rd, 2008 11:41 am ET

Does anyone know why the Service men and women overwhelmingly support Obama and not identify with McCain? I thought McCain's the war hero and supports the troops. I guess the McCain Campaign rhetoric is a big fat lie – OH GASP! Think about it Americans if u luv ur country

Michigan Independent   August 23rd, 2008 11:40 am ET

Boehner could use some diplomacy lessons from Lugar….

DAN   August 23rd, 2008 11:36 am ET

Biden thinks Ohuhbama is not ready of course now he'll lie his way out of it but we really know what he thinks, thats a problem.

Willa-PA   August 23rd, 2008 11:36 am ET

Great choice-anyone voting for McCain and who-ever he picks as his running mate, get what they deserve and have no right to complain when they get the same of what we've had for the last 8 years…
This Obama/Biden ticket is a great balance no matter what the pundits and Republicans will be saying. Team work is what is needed to make what was once a great country, before Bush, great again

steve dumford, Scotts valley ca.   August 23rd, 2008 11:35 am ET

Doesn't matter who he picks. The 3 AM slap at Hillary was disgraceful and sarcastic. This arrogant fool just proved that he's all show and NOTHING else. I am a Hillary supporter and this finally make up my mind. I'm voting for McCain.

Crush Rush   August 23rd, 2008 11:34 am ET

Boehner will get his new job as a lobbyist for big oil over on K street real soon.

JENNIFER   August 23rd, 2008 11:32 am ET

Obama & Biden ticket is telling the entire world this is exactly what Obama has been saying all along, "we must engage with those who don't like us" . Choosing Biden dispite what Biden thought of him in the past, tells how much Barack cares about the United States...what he will sacrafice for this country....Go Obama bring us together not divide us.....One common goal

Wake up America   August 23rd, 2008 11:30 am ET

OBAMA/Biden 08 = the real dream team!!!

NC Jan   August 23rd, 2008 11:30 am ET

LOVE THE OBAMA/BIDEN ticket....here is one Republican who changed party affiliation to Independent and will be voting for the Obama/Biden ticket in November!!!

laurence   August 23rd, 2008 11:28 am ET

boehner may very well be a end of long and undistinguished career. he's another racially challenged repugnican. Just like mcclusterbomb!

Alimi   August 23rd, 2008 11:23 am ET

John McCain has "taken the bold step of calling on Speaker Pelosi to bring Congress back from its break to vote on House Republicans’ American Energy Act? Tell me, when was the last time Senator McCain showed up in congress to vote? Is it the same McCain that would not even vote on his own sponsored bill?

Ex-mod-GOP for Obama   August 23rd, 2008 11:21 am ET

Standard campaign boilerplate from Boehner. The truth is, this is a great ticket, and they'll serve us well when they're elected.

Pick Me! Pick Me!   August 23rd, 2008 11:19 am ET

Can anyone say, "Sour Grapes?"

I think the debates are going to prove interesting. I am getting sick and tired of the same ole b.s that has been traveling around in the never ending emails.

It is apparent that there is a large amount of the American voting public that want to believe things about a candidate that are truly false. Why they consistently forward such blatant falsehoods is beyond any rational thinking. This does not mean they are wrong, it means that they don’t have the mental capacity to distinguish a lie from the truth.

I thought that Obama would go far politically when I heard him speak before the DNC in 2004. I have read both his books, read his plans for insuring America to pull herself out of the abyss and once again be the great super power she once was. We need to be a self-supporting nation and we can't be if all of our jobs and manufacturing is sent overseas. We need to take care of ourselves first before taking care of the rest of the world. I was and am quite comfortable voting for him for President and I am quite pleased that he chose Biden for his V.P. I voted for McCain during the Primary during 2000, and to my credit, I never voted for G.W. Bush.

Enough with the b.s and on to the debates!

BTW:
It seems that there are quite a few people on this board that suffer from Tropophobia. (You all know who you are).

tired of wash.insiders.   August 23rd, 2008 11:19 am ET

so,mr boehner?your party certainly isnt going fix anything,either.just as well stay home as support the same old tired washington do nothing politics.i dont see much difference in the party's anymore.biden is not change!mccain is not change!hillary was not change!boehner is not change!i'm not sure obama is change anymore ,either.this hurts a lot to say.

proud army and navy mom   August 23rd, 2008 11:17 am ET

Hey sheep where is the change?????? Biden has been in Washington for 30 years is that the change you are all talking about. Best of all he said it him self "OBAMA IS NOT QUALIFIED"

Better luck in 2012

annie   August 23rd, 2008 11:17 am ET

The obama bin biden dummy duo is the joke of the year! Both are arrogant and egotistical and one can't talk without a teleprompter and one doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.

Robert in raleigh   August 23rd, 2008 11:14 am ET

It's a mighhty ill wind that doesn't change it's course . Thank God for change for it is the only thing that we can depend on.......

sensible Cape Coral FL   August 23rd, 2008 11:13 am ET

John Boehner is obviously jealous. The Repubs. have no one of equal stature. Serves them right!

James   August 23rd, 2008 11:13 am ET

MCAIN SAYS "NOUN, VERB, POW"

The Blind Lady of Justice   August 23rd, 2008 11:12 am ET

Boeher, you idiot !!

NEVER, never give a quote where the public would apply your criticism to our side if the names were changed.

"Americans looking for a candidate ready to fix a broken Washington isn't going to find it on the John ... "I've-been-in-Washington-26-years" .... McCain ticket.

Independent   August 23rd, 2008 11:12 am ET

What else would you expect out of Boehner's mouth....Biden can run rings around him....Biden has far more respect.....Biden says what he thinks, if you don't like it....take a hike!!!!!!

Brad   August 23rd, 2008 11:11 am ET

ha ha. Who broke it? Look in the mirror. The Republicans controlled all the houses for 7 years. Only now it is a stalemate. Therefore nothing gets done.

carrie hussein obama   August 23rd, 2008 11:10 am ET

lets just kick bush out already
we need obama

Barbara - NC   August 23rd, 2008 11:07 am ET

We have to live long enough to fix the energy problems. I believe Obama/Biden will work together for the good of the NATION, not just corp. america and oil companies.

With McWarmonger we won't survive long enough. He'll have us in wars at the drop of the hat. DRAFT. We're tired of hearing about the 1960s !!!!!!!

proud army and navy mom   August 23rd, 2008 11:06 am ET

Well…..I must admit I agree with Biden Obama is not ready to lead and being in the White House is not the time for OJT. Dont get mad at me Biden said Obama was not qualified

Alan Boyer   August 23rd, 2008 11:03 am ET

Boehner is the new cast member of the Hollywood sequel of Grumpy Old Men, featuring McCain, Bush, Lieberman, Cheney and Guiliani.

Montana is Obama/Biden Country   August 23rd, 2008 11:01 am ET

**
What would we expect from a RETHUG..

Nothing but FEAR on his bREATH as the Dems sweep TO the Whitehouse..

**

willy   August 23rd, 2008 11:00 am ET

Obama/ Biden; The clowns of the Senate

alvino   August 23rd, 2008 11:00 am ET

Boehner proves he is a big part of the problem that government in Washington is broken.

McCain has taken so many positions on energy until big oil kicked in to his coffers and now he wants to drill everywhere, even though he used to support the elder Bush's moratorium.

Ajay Jain TX, USA   August 23rd, 2008 10:59 am ET

The same broken record about the broken Washington by the same Washington people/politicians!!

James From Chicago   August 23rd, 2008 10:58 am ET

SMART MAN BOEHNER..AMERICA IS IN FOR A SHELL SHOCK.

Seattle Sue   August 23rd, 2008 10:57 am ET

Boehner is as big a jerk as McCain. Maybe bigger.

what is mccain for????   August 23rd, 2008 10:56 am ET

hello....John 26 years in office McCain IS the broken Washington... criticism from a repub, how original...from the war in Iraq to 500,000 jobs lost here in the states...yep you repubs sure have done a great job so far. repubs have a record filibuster in the house...the Dems are the majority by 1 seat...it is and has been the repukes that are killing our country. tell me please what has McCain done in his 26 years? he wants the draft, he is anti choice, he VOTED 95% WITH BUSH...hell McCain knows Washington is broken, HE broke it!!!
Jesus John McCain is inept, risky, to dam forgetful and to dangerous, there is NO way anyone who loves this country can vote McCain...he has experience...26 years of BAD experience!

Danny, OH   August 23rd, 2008 10:56 am ET

How many years has John Boehner been in the House? Did they just realize that American people are suffering?
I guess it is election time.

jeremy   August 23rd, 2008 10:56 am ET

McCains comprehensive energy plan consists of drilling here and there and thats it. Also why is it he is for nuclear power every where else but arizona. If he had a good plan or cared about energy HE WOULD OF SHOWED UP TO THE FLOOR TO VOTE. But instead he didnt go all 8 times and even when he was in the same building he didnt have time. Unfortunately his no-show counted as a no.

Sherry for Obama   August 23rd, 2008 10:56 am ET

Let the games begin....

I can hear the Mccain campaign aides now saying....."Quick lets look back at all Bidens background and see if we can find any smut"

This is what the repubs do best to take away their incompetance off the issues that we want to know about such as the economy,health care,ending the war.

Obama for America

Upon Further Review   August 23rd, 2008 10:55 am ET

This coming from a big oil operative,how sweet.

RJ, CA   August 23rd, 2008 10:55 am ET

Well, well! So THIS is the CHANGE you've been waiting for, folks! Obama has now - with one fell swoop - thrown his ENTIRE philosophy "under the bus!" Nice going in order to have an "attack dog" do the dirty work for Obama. Doesn't surprise me a bit. Always knew Obama was nothing but empty rhetoric.

The AOl Straw Poll – REAL people voting REALTIME (without “sampling errors”): August 18-25: 117,545 total votes cast: McCain 68%, Obama 32%.

McCain for president - a grown-up doing a grown-up job!

JB, Boston   August 23rd, 2008 10:54 am ET

This guy touched on something that we as Americans should all be supporting:

Let's demand that our representatives get back to work. A five week vacation is absurd, especially with what is going on.

Any normal working person would not be allowed to go on vacation if they hadn't been doing their job.

I don't care if you are left leaning or right, let's all demand that Congress get back to work. They work for us, remember?

Monica for Obama in Indiana   August 23rd, 2008 10:52 am ET

This is the reason Boehner is the minority leader and will remain the minority leader.

annie   August 23rd, 2008 10:52 am ET

Mr. Boehner, as a fellow ohioan can you please tell me why the far, far, far left liberals of the dem. party want to destroy the United States of America with the likes of SELECTING an obama candidate?

Brenda   August 23rd, 2008 10:50 am ET

What a joke this guy he is like MCain senile..

tedious898   August 23rd, 2008 10:46 am ET

HA.....and this complete fool knows all about how to resolve the problems. I laugh and McCains "energy reform plan"

Ric, England   August 23rd, 2008 10:45 am ET

Americans don't deserve to have Obama as their president. After picking Bush to Gore in 2000, and bearing in mind all the atrocities of the Bush administration (forging a CIA letter to justify the Iraq War, destroying US's and World's economy and the flawed response to hurricane Katrina, just to name a few), even considering voting for John McCain (that is no longer the maverick he was 5 years ago and is tied with Bush in almost every policy) shows how naive they are.

Nancy   August 23rd, 2008 10:44 am ET

Who is John Boehner? I could care less what he thinks. Oh McCain is so so bold, is he? He is calling back Pelosi and others to vote when he himself didn't have enough respect for congress to vote for most of the last year! McCain didn't have enough respect for America's seniors or disabled citizens to even be there for the important Medicare vote this summer! McCain is a hypocrite!

Mr C   August 23rd, 2008 10:41 am ET

Whinersssssssssssssssssssss

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