(CNN) - For all the stalemate in the fiscal cliff negotiations, there were some heated moments, too.
A Democratic source familiar with one particular exchange told CNN that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were sitting on a sofa in the White House.
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House Speaker John Boehner breezed in and his first words to Reid were "Go f*** yourself."
Boehner's comment came after Reid took to the Senate floor on Thursday and characterized the House speaker's handling of his chamber as a "dictatorship."
Reid responded to Boehner's confrontational tone by laughing, the Democratic source said, though a GOP source who was there said he didn't think Reid was all that happy.
"The exchange continued, and it didn't get any better for Reid," the GOP source said.
Boehner's office had no comment on the exchange when asked about it Wednesday.
Both men described the moment to members of their caucus.
The exchange happened at the White House on Friday - the day the four Capitol Hill leaders, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi - met with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
On Wednesday, after news of the comment emerged, Reid said on the Senate floor that "unlike others behind us in this Capitol, I'm not going to stoop to name calling. I just want people to work and do what they need to do." Politico first reported Boehner's comment.
Hours after the meeting on Friday, he described it as "constructive."
"There was not a lot of hilarity in the meeting, everyone knows how important it is," Reid said. "It was a very serious meeting and it took an extended period of time."
– CNN's Dana Bash and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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Let's not forget the video of John strolling around chambers passing out handfuls of cash to Republicans buying votes...this guy got caught on camera doing it and the Republicans thought it was wonderful. If you look at this guys voting history, he is one of the most lobbied people in office, and he has NEVER voted for something benefiting the poor or middle class..he always sides with industry...his record speaks for itself. It's time for him to go.
Reid is on the payroll of the Vegas mafia.
This story shows that neither side is getting everything they want. Which is what it should be. Nothing more, nothing less.
gatorguy1
@hun43
Where is the proof Reid lied? Did Romney release his tax returns? The answer is no because Reid didn't lie and Mitt knows it, which is why he never released his returns to prove he paid his taxes. Romney hid money in offshore accounts to avoid paying any taxes for years, got caught when UBS turned in their list of tax cheats, took the 2009 IRS tax amnesty deal, and then paid his back taxes and penalties. Romney refused to release any tax returns before 2010 precisely because Reid was telling the truth and these returns would have shown it. Mitt knows the American people wouldn't have wanted an admitted tax cheat in the Oval office so he just denied the truth and kept his returns secret, while giving a rough overview of the average tax rate he paid over the period (paid in one lump sum after taking the 2009 IRS amnesty deal).
_____________________
Everyone but the crazies or the uneducated loons like you know there is no way Mitt could have not paid taxes. I have been rich and poor and when you are rich – You pay your taxes. The tax man cometh is every rich mans nightmare so they get paid.
Boehner is one one of the worst political hacks ever. He can't manage the tea-party radicals and ends up playing the fool who cannot even manage his own anger and frustration. I am going to work in every way I can to make sure the Democrats take back the house in 2014. It is imperative to elect politicians who actually want to govern. The GOP is just a lobbying group for the wealthy–they have no other purpose.
how can anyone be called a dictator if you are told to lead by voters in that direction,the president repented the people.then the goverment says he should lead the way-he did "raise taxes"then they say you must make a deal ??. the president said crystal clear go this direction- the gop says no go this direction- we the people voted- the gop lost-if we do not now go their way they block it say he's a dictator ??.the people voted on it-we also want programs cut to equal the tax coming in/cut their pay.do not send billions overseas-start huge nationwide jobs now-stay working to get cut made not go on vacation-they had years to get this done.. read my blogs on yahoo.com-many ideas on that site..
First thing i have agreed with that a government official has done in a long time. Other then that... both the Dems and Reps are the most self-serving disappointing failures i have ever seen... Time for term limits.
Boehner sounds like a teenager who just discovered his first Internet forum.
"Everyone knows how important it is" Really???? It wasn't that important before, during, and after the election, was it? It didn't get "important" for the Democrats until the last week of the year. Hmmmm. Guess that budget that hasn't been passed for the past how many years isn't very "important" either, is it?
Boehner is upset because he's 1) may lose his Speakership; and 2) he can't control his party (the Tea Party caucus controls it). He's feeling pretty impotent. The House has had months and months to work on a deal and they accomplished nothing. So the Senate was left to call their hand. The House is dysfunctional. The Senate, at least, presented something that had broad support. The House can get together to order a pizza let alone a budget.
Boehner – ever the statesman.
My previous comment was to expand on what gatorguy said and also respond to the posts calling Harry Reid a liar because of what he claimed about Romney's taxes. Don't forget, Reid is also a Mormon which is why he might have known about what Romney did. I don't believe it was illegal at the time, but if I'm not mistaken the loophole was subsequently closed. Romney was presumably shrewd enough to know that just because it wasn't illegal, that doesn't mean the optics of it were good or that it would play well with the electorate. So anyway, turns out there might have been subtance to Reid's claims – personally, I would find it surprising that such a high-profile politician would make such serious charges if he knew they were baseless.
In stead of cussing him out, he should have punched that stupid old worthless man in the face.
Nicely done Speaker Boehner. Millions would love to say the same to Reid and Pelosi.
Reid deserved more than that statement (and I can't stand the other guy either)!
Meese- Wher is your proof? You are just taking someones word, namely, Reid. President Obama named a self admitted tax cheat to head up the Treasury and oversee the IRS. How IRONIC... Think for youself.
Reid finally got a minute fraction of what he deserves!
Reid has some baIls calling Boehner a dictator, when Reid himself is one of the biggest, worst nazi dictators this nation has ever had in office, perhaps with the exception of LBJ.
Thank you Mr. Boehner, for telling Princess Harry what he needs to do (and what he needs to STOP doing to the American public).
Reid finally got a minute fraction of what he deserves!
Reid has some b a I l s calling Boehner a dictator, when Reid himself is one of the biggest, worst n a z i dictators this nation has ever had in office, perhaps with the exception of LBJ.
Thank you Mr. Boehner, for telling Princess Harry what he needs to do (and what he needs to STOP doing to the American public).
It's only offensive because a conservative said. The Libs have been vile since 08 and no recriminations. boo hoo Harry.
Stay classy Republicans. They still don't know how to govern and they have no grace even trying.
Just another classic example of the GOP 'family values'. In all fairness, I guess they haven't claimed the family values thing since the 2004 election when quite a number of male GOP characters were found cheating on their wives, often with other guys.
So, Mitt could not have cheated on his taxes because when you are rich – you pay your taxes. Hmm, so how did Leona Helmsley, Wesley Snipes, Jim Baker, Tammy Faye Baker (and the list goes on), they get convicted of tax evasion and get sent to a federal prison? Because they did not pay their taxes and got caught. Mitt just did the amnesty thing, paid it off and avoided jail. This is a heckuva lot easier to believe that Barack is a Muslim, or that he wasn't born in the U.S. and all the other off the wall beliefs of the other guys.
Methinks what Boehner told Reid to do he has already done to himself.
Gop losers you lost the elections and your going to lose the house in 2016. ,count on it gop communist party !!!!!!
Time to drain the congress swamp and replace the children and obstructionist. Tea people will be gone in 2014, Then and only then will congress start working for the American people.