Boehner: Dems 'snuffing out' America I grew up in
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/10/art.boehner.gi.jpg caption ="House minority leader John Boehner is stepping up criticism of his Democratic colleagues."]
(Updates with Democratic response)
(CNN) – House Minority Leader John Boehner is stepping up criticism of his Democratic colleagues, telling the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that "they're snuffing out the America that I grew up in."
Boehner's comments are the latest indication the Ohio Republican is aggressively setting his sights on the November elections as it appears increasingly possible his party could take control of the House.
"Right now, we've got more Americans engaged in their government than at any time in our history," he told the paper in comments published Tuesday. "There's a political rebellion brewing, and I don't think we've seen anything like it since 1776."
But Boehner, who most certainly would become speaker next year should the GOP take control of the chamber, stopped short of predicting Republicans will gain the 40 seats necessary to oust Democrats from control.
"The American people have written off the Democrats," he said. "They're willing to look at us again."
The top House Republican also previewed the GOP's top priorities should he take control of the speaker's gavel, including a repeal of the recently passed health care legislation.
"We are going to do everything we can to make sure that this law and this program never really takes effect," Boehner said. "One option would be to repeal the $534 billion in Medicare cuts, which pay for more than half of the law's provisions. "They're going to need money from the Congress to hire these 20,000-plus bureaucrats they need to hire to make this program work. They're not going to get one dime from us."
Boehner also suggested raising the social security retirement age to 70 for those who have at least 20 years left before retirement as a possible way to finance the ongoing wars
"We need to look at the American people and explain to them that we're broke," he said. "If you have substantial non-Social Security income while you're retired, why are we paying you at a time when we're broke? We just need to be honest with people."
In a statement released Tuesday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen said Boehner's comments are "a wake-up call to the American people about the dangers of turning back the clock to a Republican Congress."
He should know he wrote the book on getting rid of the middle class and it is very sad but its already gone John thanks to people like yourself. Spend a little less time on your own vanity and look around. you wrecked the country for years and if you are vated back in that should ptretty much finished those of us left with any pride.
Excuse me, Senator Orange-Glow. I believe it was you and your ilk that "snuffed out America" from 2000 to 2008, thank you very much!
Boehner is just another Republican big CEO who shows up in Washington in a $1000 suit, shoes, ties, suntan and manicured nails to vote NO, collects a paycheck then leaves to wine and dine himself with his cronies to discuss when they will show up to vote NO again. That about sums up these Republicans up, not unless someone can tell me what exactly what other purpose do they serve.
Were people orange when you were growing up? Just wondered.
He's right. I can't find a single 'Coloreds Sign' anywhere. Lynchings are a thing of the past too. So too, I fear, incestuous relationships between industry and government, and the automatic reflex to cut payments to the poor instead of to the rich.
Yep, this is not the America he grew up in (or me either).
Could not be more pleased with that.
round all the bone head and put them infront of a firing squad.
Sen Bonehead......What America is that – continualtion of the redistribution of wealth to the top 1% wealthiest Americans? The Bush Administration and the Republican majority he had for 6 or the 8 years ruined the America we used to have!!!!!
This is so sad. The America he grew up in... Maybe if I were a wealthy older white man (or woman), I would understand what Rep. Boehner is talking about. But, I'm not and the America I grew up in was full of prejudice, disparity, unfair labor practices and a lack of quality AFFORDABLE health care for those of us who are not part of the rich, elite America.
Fortunately times are changing. It takes time for things to happen but happening they are. Those who think the old way is the best way should seriously look into taking their millions and retiring. Hopefully to another country. It's time the rest of the American people got some of their hopes and dreams back. The past 10 years has literally been HELL...
You lie Mr. Boehner! It is the GOP that has "snuffed out" the America that most of us grew up in. People like you want to take America back the the days when the top 1% – 2% ruled everything, there was no middle class, and everyone else lived hand to mouth and died penniless..
The America he and I grew up in were so 20th century. It's time to move on from the past. If it was good for the 20th century, it is not necessarily good for the 21st.
Ask the 40 and younger crowd where they stand. They don't know the America Boehner grew up in and they are not interested in it, and they vote.
Boner is a dope. What planet did he grow up on? Mars? All republicans are dopes.
John Boehner is right on target. Democrats are Socialists and want big government to take care of them. The entitlements keep growing, and the working class can't afford to foot the bill for all the government freebies anymore. The America i grew up in is, slowly dying, thanks to the liberal progressives, who have taken over our government. Wake up, America, before it's too late!
If the people of this USA vote the Reps back in office it would destroy us. In eight years they have created a havoc in many area of the public life. To give them back power will definitely take them only a year to sell us out.
The Rep Party of NO is not at all for the American people.
I remember an America that was unjust, but at least doors were opening. Since 1980, when the Reagan/Bush/Bush crowd took over, it's taken everything fair-minded, civic-minded people could do to keep the plutonomists from nailing them back shut – and then some. Mr. Boehner, a Floridian like me knows a fake orange from a real one. You're nothing but wax fruit.
based solely on bodycount, I would say the republicans are the true snuffmeisters.
Glad I didn't grow up next store to Mr. Bohner. And you might want to recheck the period around 1860 in regard to a time of ghreater political upheaval. In fact, I'd even suggest the 60's. You gotta start watching something other than Fox for your information.
Barack.Hussein.Obama-America's-Benevolent-DICTATOR
A change to socialism isn't the change the American people voted for in 2008.
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I agree with you. The US Government should not give 1 penny of tax payers money to the Gulf oil relieve. Nor should the Government tell BP on how to clean the oil, or ask BP for any money to help folks effected by the oil spill.
That would be socialism. As with you, the Government should practice "Free Market" capitalism with BP, let BP control the whole spill - Ha Ha Ha - watch the south rot in oily slime forever !!! Ha Ha Ha - who cares if the south rots – That would be socialism.
I bet you complain that the Government hasn't done enough regarding the oil – is that true? Let it rot !!
Yes, the America I grew up in is long gone...corporate greed, profits above people, and no sharing of the wealth ended long ago with the "trickle down" economics of the GOP's hero – nothing ever trickled down (which I think was the point).
I long for neighborhoods where you know your neighbors, but ipods block out actual conversations with those next to you, and email and cell phones mean you don't have to make new friends or actually SEE and interact with people. Who knows what the future of the workplace will look like, but this next generation has grown up (not under Democratic "rule" but the GOP) more isolated than ever... that's not going to be fixed by the GOP.
The biggest change that happened since 1776 happened in 2008 – yup, and it was charged up because of the GOP, and forgetting that they represent real people, not their cronies and corporations funding their campaigns.
We have to give the new Democratic leadership some time to get things done, and there has already been WAY more accomplished in one year than in any previous administration! Let's give them a chance – the GOP certainly has not, they've only blocked each and every effort toward real change!
What part of the America Boehner grew up in does he want back? Racial segregation (de jure in the South, de facto in the North)? Gay bashing? Second class status for women? The Cold War? The military draft? The cure for nostalgia is a functioning memory.
From the posts here, sure looks like the American voter is crystal clear on how we got in this mess (See Bush/GOP 2000-2004), and the Democrats are all-in to finally move this country out of its spell and into the 21st century. Yeah for us! It ain't gonna work this time, tan man!
I'm glad the America he grew up in has been snuffed out.
Unless you were a rich white guy, that America was pretty lame.
Love how the Republicans like to stir up their fanatic base. It figures they want to appeal to the radicals in their party as they have nothing else left. All the moderate and sane Republicans know better than to listen to them and have probably left the party by now. So they stoke the fires of discontent, hatred, bigotry and anything else they can incite from the right-wing bunch of ignorant, extremist and gullible fools who believe their fearmongering.
The America I knew died the day Ronald Wilson Reagan was elected President.
DISGRACEFUL!!!!!! I think all that tanning has melted his brain! You betcha!!!
Hypothetically speaking, what if the America to which Boehner refers wasn't a very good America because it discriminated against many, many people? For instance, when America was heading into the Revolutionary War many people used similar retoric against the likes of Adams, Jefferson and Franklin, declaring that these upstarts were snuffing out the America that was under the thumb of the British Monarchy and that this would be the ruin of us all.
BTW, to the person who chooses to call themselves by the name of Obama the dictator, the last time I looked dictators didn't have to deal with legislatures. Dictators are able to accomplish 100% of their agenda simply by ordering it. So if Obama was a dictator, we'd have universal healthcare, unemployment benefits wouldn't have run out for many Americans, no judge would have dared to rule his oil drilling moratorium to be invalid, and you most certainly not only would be unable to post your ridiculous comments but would also find yourself locked in a prison for speaking out.
So your comments are at best nonsensical and irrelevant. Debate can only be had with those who think for themselves rather than spewing inaccurate extremes.