(CNN) – House Minority Leader John Boehner is demanding an apology from music legend Paul McCartney after the Beatle took a slap at President Bush during a recent White House ceremony.
President Obama on Wednesday awarded McCartney the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song – a lifetime achievement award given by the Library of Congress. Upon receiving the award, McCartney deadpanned, "After the last eight years, it's great to have a president who knows what a library is."
The comments generated laughter and cheers from the audience in the East Room, but Boehner said the remark showed a "lack of grace and respect."
"Like millions of other Americans, I have always had a good impression of Paul McCartney and thought of him as a classy guy, but I was surprised and disappointed by the lack of grace and respect he displayed at the White House," the Ohio Republican said in a statement provided to CNN. "I hope he'll apologize to the American people for his conduct which demeaned him, the White House and President Obama."
Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith added the comments were "particularly offensive" because "the [former] president and first lady (who is actually a librarian) did so much for literacy."
McCartney's comments came at the end of the ceremony and Obama did not reference them.
Presenting the award, Obama said it was given "on behalf of a grateful nation, grateful that a young Englishman shared his dreams with us."
From CNN Politics
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Whatever. I find your fake orange tan offensive. You guys are the ones that desserted Bush his last year in office.
Offensive remark. From another spoiled rich person. I wonder if this is an example of a rich person that the President wants more tax money from. Oh well, probably not. He has so much that he can hire the best loop hole finders.
Disrespectfulness is a liberal art. I was, but probably shouldn't have been, surprised that Obama didn't have the guts and grace to speak up immediately and say McCartney's remark was completely inappropriate.
It would be nice if entertainers would just be entertainers instead of thinking we care about their witty quips. Especially those who choose to insult a former president.....from a country they are not a citzen of.
Funny, he should be so offended by the lack of grace and respect. I didn't hear that condemnation when Joe Wilson yelled "liar" at the President Obama.
I agree. I can't believe someone would use a situation of praise for themselves to put someone else down with an idiodic statement like that.
Boehner needs to apologize to Pres. Obama-for all the name-calling, that he and his party has done to him. Boehner also needs to enter a rehab for addiction to alcohol & tanning!
Lol your just mad cause bush was a republican. That comment he made was on point never did bush go into the white house library unless for a paperweight.
Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! Paul was honest and rude! – a much greater offense than a trumped up war in Iraq in which servicemen lost their lives. Don't you think an honest, but rude, comment is worse than waterboarding? Weren't some Japanese executed for water boarding American GI's in WWII? President George Bush is lucky he is not at the Hague defending himself.
The better course of valor would be for everyone to admit that this is how most of the country feels. George Bush almost ruined this country. Why?????Because he always knows, but has never learned to t think!
Why in the world should Paul McCartney apologize for speaking the truth? Good for Sir Paul!!! Bush did more harm to this country than any president in history and deserves far more punishment than a witty comment from McCartney....like an indictment for war crimes to start.
Do GOP thinks the Bush's "No Child left behind" actually help the literacy of our children? What a waste of the tax payer's money in the eight years of Bush administration. Married to a libarian does not mean Bush knows what library is.
I like Paul. Although his remark was maybe amusing, it was not the proper forum for it and what nerve he had when he does not even live here. You don't hear me calling the royal family a bunch of in-bred twits.
He must be joking?????
I was about ten when the Beatles came along, and I didn't understand what all the fuss was about. Now, almost half a century later, I still don't. It would be great to have singers who understood that singing isn't just a process of screeching dissonantly into a microphone.
A real disappointment. Wise cracks from a guy who would marry a onelegged gold digger. I guess he still has some issues.
Anyone familiar with McCartney's humor would laugh and move on. The repubs need to get a grip and come to terms with the fact that Bush, Jr. was, is and always will be, an idiot. He was a puppet and the American people were not fooled by him.
If John Boehner would put half as much time into trying to help with the economy, jobs, health care, ect., instead of whinning and crying about stupid comments that people make that has nothing to do with the problems that the American people are facing we might have accomplished many great things. But the ole party of NO fixates on anything but what the real issues are. He is an embarrassment to the great state of Ohio. WHO are the people that voted him in office? Hey, John grow some nads and start doing the job you were put in office to do or get the heck out of there and let someone in that will work for the American people. We have many issues that need attention, but it takes someone with compentenance and honesty and you have neither.
Please stop whining, John.
I think a lot of the American People agree with him.
We don't need an apology for someone telling the truth
Take a hike, John.
"the [former] president and first lady (who is actually a librarian) did so much for literacy."
Yeah, No Child Left Behind was such a freekin disaster, it made illiteracy a bigger emergency, which called it back to everyone's attention.
The library being provided by S.M.U. for the former Pres. is "One Room" Shack on the T.C.U. campus.
I agree with McCartney, and I'm sure most non-Republicans would agree. Bush certainly wouldn't win many (if any) intelligence contests.
You'll be waiting, Boner. McCartney has as much interest in what you want as he does in what he flushes down the toilet on a regular basis. You are in no position to rant about anyone's lack of grace and respect. You can't miss what you never had.
Get bent Boner! Of all the people to be complaining.
Well Sir Paul ,your Queen is is a fat old Tart. So chew on them apples.
Limey.