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."
"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."
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is the CONSERVATIVE RAG in the Pittsburgh area....they wouldn't let him place a used car ad in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette...the much more widely read centrist paper.
I hope more people get engaged in the truth! This man seems to want the two groups: the haves and the have nots. He and the last President pushed more and more Americans to the have nots. Why would anyone want to bring back that philosophy? Get engaged in your local politics and find out the real truth. Please don't vote based on the commercials, America!
He means where a black man knew his place.
Mr. Baynore, the public is not buying what you are selling.
Obama and his liberal left croonies are destroying this country. Change.... yes he is fundamentally changing America and it is changing for the worse.
We need another Regan for sure!
Why do the libs want a dictatorship? why do they want to take away our freedoms? Do the lives of all those who died so that we could be a free society mean NOTHING? If you don't like the foundation of what America stands for then by all means; GET THE HELL OUT!
Do not warp this country into another welfare state where every citizen is dependant upon the Government.
Strong Conservative Republicans need to retake Congress!
I'm amazed at all the posts from the hate filled left wing fundamentalist progressives. You guys have run the show since 2007 (House and Senate) and now have complete control over everything for the last 1 1/2 years. And yet you are still miserable.
good article jae.i am from indiana.and i agree with you 100percent.boerner is a slimeball.as bad as bush was i didnt hear one dem.call him names like repubs do obama.ONE TRUTH TO THESE SLIMEY REPUBS.THEY CAINT STAND OBAMA. BECAUSE HE IS BLACK.
Any society that produced Boehner isn't worth saving.
We can do better.
Dear Rep. Boehner,
Republicans have snuff out the America I grew up in as well. I just don't have CNN to broadcast my comments!
There are drugs for this condition. It helps those that live in a fantasy world to remain in the hallucinatory version of the "past" that only exists in their small minds.
This is also referred to as "The good old days" – yet another version of the past that bears little on reality.
Is the Orange Man still lamenting having to treat blacks and women equally? Well, thank God we're snuffing out your America.
Actually, John, the America you grew up in when privileged white males like you controlled everything were snuffed some time ago. It's called PROGRESS (I realize that since you are a Republican you might have to look up that word).
Shut up bonehead!
Vote Republican and we will not only freeze time , we will make clocks run backwards! Instead of growing old you will grow young! Money you spent will reappear in your pockets. Oh, and by the way, we never ever lie.
I feel for the people who thinks and believes what the GOP has to offer....return to an era of discord and strife...no process... no leadership...Maybe he wants to return to the 18th century
Open your eyes, minds, hearts America and see that Rep Boehner is correct. Our free America is disappearing before I eyes and I see so many foolish people in the US defending Obama and the democrats still. What's the matter with you people you can't see what is happening to our great and wonderful America with the idiots in charge. Please vote to get them out. Vote independent or republican, preferably republican to try to restore individual liberties and freedoms we have always loved and flourished with.
Oh you are so wrong, Boehner, this American is NOT willing to look at the Republican party YET. Now as along as you guys have the clowns Steele, Palin, Bachmann and all the rest of the EXTREME right and generally divisive and well.... dumb, being the :"face" of the party. Include the teabaggers too.
Enough of this hostile, "NO", right wing, divisive agendas. Unless we work together, we all will sink. The Republicans severely damaged this country, and left huge problems for this admin. Yet, won't take any responsiblity for anything. ENOUGH. Bring forth the intelligent MODERATES of the Republican party. WHERE ARE YOU PEOPLE??
Dear "tony". The democrats are working to make sure we are all equally poor and hamstrung by a federal government that allows no individual liberties or freedom to act responsibly within the law.
Ya...Okay Bohner.....
It is the Republicans who have ruined the Country I grew up in.
It started with Reagan.
All the Democratic party is trying to do is get things back to normal...
where people of all walks of life and color can again get a decent paying job, to work hard, to live a good life and pay their bills and have a little left over.
Republicans and YOU Bohner have been chipping away at what we hold dear for years all for the Corporations and your own Wealthy Self Interests.
The Democratic Party is not going anywhere! They will continue to have the Majority, probably even end up with 68 to 32, if you think saying things to scare people over and over again is going to make it true and it's not going to work!...Those days are over, we are here to stay!!!!!
And Mr. Boehner are you not that smart enough to realize you Sir are part of the problem, quit pointing fingers and do your Job sir. Your an elected official not a Land Baron, work with the President elected by teh people. To resolve this problem that each party has placed us in over the last 40 years.
Can you do that at least, because this is not about Dem and Rep as you view it. It's more about doing right by the people. Example where is the real open debate about what is a Large and/or Small goverment size. Show us a middle size Goverment so we can compare.
Why do the Republicans (and the Tea Partiers) always complain that this is not the America that they grew up in? Do they really want us to go back to a time when anyone other than a white male had no real rights and no real chance at anything? I find it all too telling that it's always middle-age white men who sings this particular song. As a middle-age white woman, I am all too thrilled that this America is NOT the America that I grew up in!
Where do these guys get off?!
Here's yet another Good Ole Prig lamenting the demise of the Good Ole Politics in which only rich old white men had a voice, and wishing for the return of an America where you only have an opportunity if you are a member of some family that rose to power in the Industrial Revolution by bribery and corruption, exploitation of labor, complete absence of moral and ethical sensibility, extortion, and murder.
Thank God the times are changing.
"The public be d@mned" -Cornelius Vanderbilt
"Only the little people pay taxes" -Leona Helmsley
Oh what a Bonehead he is! Look Boner . . .. the GObP is not going to gain back the majority in November, in fact IF the GObP gains a couple of seats I will be surprised. More than half of the country STILL stands behind OUR President and the Democratic agenda and there is no WAY you're going to take that away from us! We are NOT afraid and no amount of your fear mongering will MAKE us afraid!
Thanks to President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and every other Democrat in congress (except those traitors the Blue Dogs) my 25 year old, unemployed, mentally-ill son can now be on the insurance that I pay for until he's 27 years old. The Democrats did that for me and for millions of other families as well! What have you and the GObP done for working class Americans lately, Boner???? Oh, that's right . . . . SCREWED US!!!!!
That's right, Boehner – do everything you can to work against the interest of the poor and middle-class. I have been in Ohio since 1999 and its the most backward state for community, health, and educational support that I have ever been in, because of Ohio repubs like you. Thank God for our govenor and Sherrod Brown, or we WOULD be back in YOUR America – a place I never want to go.
John "Bone Head" Boehner should go back and take a look at the past 8 years under Bush / Cheney. Now there's something to really complain about. John, please keep your mouth shut and go back to you're tanning bed.