Obama: Boehner's lawsuit is 'a stunt'
(CNN) – President Barack Obama called House Speaker John Boehner's plans to file a lawsuit over the President's use of executive action "a stunt," in an interview with ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos.
"You notice that he didn't specifically say what exactly he was objecting to. I'm not going to apologize for trying to do something while they're doing nothing," the President said.
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"You know, the suit is a stunt. But what I've told Speaker Boehner directly is, 'If you're really concerned about me taking too many executive actions, why don't you try getting something done through Congress?'"
The interview aired on ABC's "Good Morning America" Friday morning. It was conducted Thursday during the President's trip to Minneapolis, where Obama held a town hall meeting.
The President touted the accomplishments of his first five years in office but lamented the tone in Washington.
"What I do worry about is that right now we've got a Republican Party that seems to only care about saying no to me." Obama said.
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He repeated his frustrations about the immigration reform bill passed a year ago by the Senate that's been stalled in the House, and having to use executive action.
"The majority of American people want to see immigration reform done. We had a bipartisan bill through the Senate, and you're going to squawk if I try to fix some parts of it administratively that are within my authority while you are not doing anything?'" the President added.
Responding to Obama's comments, Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said Friday in a statement that "the American people, their elected representatives, and the Supreme Court have all expressed serious concerns about the President's failure to follow the Constitution. Dismissing them with words like, 'smidgen' or 'stunt' only reinforces their frustration."
Republicans argue that the President is breaching his constitutional power by side-stepping the legislative process. Obama has used executive actions as a way to bypass a deeply divided Congress, avoiding inaction on issues the White House has made hallmarks of the President's second term agenda.
So far, the Republican-controlled House has passed two bills aimed at curbing executive orders by the President, neither of which have gone anywhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
At this point in his presidency, Obama has issued less executive orders than his most recent two-term predecessors in the White House, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan.
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In speaking of immigration during the interview, the President was asked about the thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America coming across the southern border. He implored their parents to not send their kids.
"Our message absolutely is, 'Don't send your children unaccompanied on trains on through a bunch of smugglers.' That is our direct message to the families in Central America. 'Do not send your children to the borders. If they do make it, they'll get sent back. More importantly, they may not make it'," he said.
CNN Senior Congressional Producer Deirdre Walsh contributed to this story
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Obama is NOT a leader, he's a divider. He wants things his way and when he doesn't get them he looks for loop holes to get his way. How/when has he ever reached out to try and compromise... it's his way or the highway. If people don't agree with him than he says things like: "What I do worry about is that right now we've got a Republican Party that seems to only care about saying no to me." How is that helping the country? All he is worried about is himself. Let's be real, people disagree all the time. Leaders find ways to compromise, losers find ways to get around the problems they face so they can get their way. He is one of the worst presidents of all time.
He did nothing other POTUSes hadn't done before him. The only difference is that the GOP/Teatrolls didn't want him in particular to exercise that power in that manner, so they suddenly had a problem with something they've acquiesced in for generations...not decades...generations. Gee, let's see...what changed? What makes Obama soooooo "different" if his actions were in fact so much the same?
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Just an out and out lie. He tried to make appointments when Congress was still in session. He tried to redefine when Congress was in session so that he could rig when he would make appointments and never have to get the approval of Congress trying to sidestep that thing called separation of powers. Please tell me one time when any other president did what he tried to do. It has never happened and that is why it went to the Supreme Court where it clearly showed – FROM ALL NINE JUSTICES – that he overstepped his powers. Sheesh. You are incredible.
Double Dare
Stunts is all the GOP has (like their next threatened government shutdown, or their idiotic threats of impeachment). They have transcended from being "one-trick" ponies to being the dead-end kids looking for attention.
They have no plans, no programs, and nothing to help fix America- they just have noise like Boehner's and Issa's and the rabble of the TEA Party to remind us why we should never give them positions of power ever again.
"It is just shocking that the GOP/Teatrolls and ther conservative minions on here aren't more concerned with how much power our president is trying to get and use when he's really done nothing that GOP POTUSes, including the last one a few years ago, were doing AND THAT THEY SUPPORTED AT THE TIME."
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Why isn't Lynda chastising Sniffit for bulking me in with MILLIONS of republicans (when I am so clearly disgusted with repubs) as she gets so angry with me when I say that all of the gang thinks the same (which they do and there isn't one issue that they don't all agree on)? Sorry Lynda, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you but it is frustrating when you take me to task for something and then a person that you agree with does the same thing, only worse, and you will remain silent.
So, Mr. Sniffit, I was against the NSA and the additional spying and tactics of the govt since Bush was in office (although I don't recall any instances where Bush was accused of searching our cell phones without warrants and there weren't cell phones before him so it could only be Bush that would have done that). Man are you intellectually dishonest.
tom l
Have no idea what Boehner could be suing for but there is no doubt, as evidence by a 9-0 decision by the Supreme Court yesterday with regards to his phony recess appointments, that President Obama has overstepped his powers on many occasions. He also lost in his ability 9-0 to be able to check our cell phones without warrants. It is just shocking that liberals on here aren't more concerned with how much power our president is trying to get and use. But I still don't know what Boehner could be suing for and it seems like this is a gimmick.
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You fail to recognize the real problem- that the GOP was essentially keeping the Senate open for business with no one there but the Janitor. Recess appointments are perfectly legal- it's just that the SC has decided that Recesses can be overturned by merely turning on the lights. As for your cell-phone statement- ever hear of Attorney General Ascroft?
Hey Sony Crapman, if you spent less time making brain draining statements like above and more time using that energy to find a job maybe you wouldn't have anything to complain about. Oh wait a minute, you're obviously a Republican and everything that is wrong with your life is Obama's fault, just like your party, too lazy to propose or pass any legislation but plenty of energy to complain about the President.
i agree with obama on this that congress has done nothing but waste time for america and has done nothing to improve america since obama took office its just been a power struggle because a bunch of old white guys that have racist remarks think that they should do everthing in there power to slow or impede progress in this nation. congress is not doing there jobs and they wont let change happen while they countinue to make money of the current situation.THEY LINE THERE POCKETS FOR DOING NOTHING AND IT HAS TO END NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY KICK CONGRESS OUT AND LETS DO SOME NEW CANIDATES
Blame Obama for everything. It is his fault that the sky is falling, right? Maybe if he was white all of this would have gone away. There are 535 do nothings sitting in Congress drawing huge salaries with excellent benefits and the drunk wants to sue? Maybe if just one half of them would work for what they receive from the American people things would change, right? WRONG!
That look on Boehner's face speaks volumes doesn't it?
And that's something else that THIS President has over these Rethugs: a cool, calm, and collected demeanor when facing down those that would just as soon see him dead.
They hate that's even in that sense he is bigger than they are.
Yeah, failure all the way to 3.7M jobs added since the start of 2013. Are you stuck in 2010 or what?
Pretty boy Boehner is a political hack for the Koch brothers Boehner go have a good stiff drink or two or three an call your wife and tell her you will be home late tonight.
So when are we suing Bush, Cheney, Rice, Ashcroft, etc for destroying this country, destroying our civil liberties, violating their oaths of office and invading a country we weren't at war with?
SONY Crapman what is the Republican plan to create job:
2009-none
2010-none
2011-none
2012-none
2013-none
2014-none
I see a lot you posting your utter disgust of Obama has NOTHING to do with his policies. If it was about policies, you should be just as outraged at Bush. Some of you fail to realize this country operates on compromise...not ideology. I strongly suggest you take a civics class and understand how the federal government works. CONGRESS passes a budget, CONGRESS pays the country's bills, CONGRESS pass job bills. Now this Congress who has done NOTHING, is now mad because the POTUS is having to be the adult because Congress is playing political games with the American people? You ideologues are for the most part...idiots. Go back to your echo chamber.
That's right Mr. President!
Didn't they run on jobs, jobs, jobs in 2010? And once elected all they did was scream no and nah nah na boo boo, we're not helping you!
All Boehner does is sit behind the POTUS giving him dirty looks. He's a terrible SOH. And I thought naughty Newtie was bad.
"a majority of people want to see immigration reform done..."
Yep. Obama is truly delusional. He refuses to enforce out current immigration laws let alone reform them. Of course if he was looking at the Gang of 8's proposal, it allows illegal immigrants to forge up to three fake passports, does not guarantee border security, and is over 1000 pages of exemptions and loopholes.
Mr Obama,WHY DON'T YOU QUIT FIGHTING AND TAKING SIDES.
You are the President and should START acting like it.
I DON'T care if you are Democrat, or Republican, as the President YOU are held responsible for making the 2 parties WORK together and figure these things out.
Obviously you were a POOR community organizer, since you can't orgainze anything in Washington DC.
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Unless you get the 2 sides to work together, you will go down in history as the WORST President ever. All I ever hear from you is that it is someone else's fault. Take responsibility and fix things.
Dominican mama 4 Obama
Sniffit
"At this point in his presidency, Obama has issued less executive orders than his most recent two-term predecessors in the White House, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan."
In other words, the GOP/Teatrolls are just mad that the POTUS has power when the POTUS is a black dude refusing to do as he's told. It IS that simple.
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It's always been that simple.
They can shake and spin it all they want.
One of these days the brother is going to forget where he lives and say it.
I'm looking forward to that, it's not as if he can run for a third term, more's the pity.
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Come to be expected drivel by Sniffit but I am really bummed to see you think that, DMFO. You are a reasonable person and can understand that people most certainly can disagree. But why must you think it's about race? It's just silly. I watched Morgan Freeman interviewed by Don Lemon. I think it would do you both a lot of good to watch it.
I haven't heard anything from my rep that Obama has over stepped his bounds.
Uh, did you remember to take your meds Sonny?
Was the Supreme Court ruling yesterday that Obama overstepped his authority a "stunt" too?
It was telling when Boehner was asked point blank what specifically the charges would be, and he did the deer-in-the-headlights impression.
The American way do not get your way sue! The country is now the comedy hour for the world. These Republicans are just hilarious. And Americans wonder how their standing in the world could not be lower. Look in the mirror you elected the Repub/Teatards now you have to live with them. If it was not for Obama being a sane leader the US would be in 10 wars right now. Spend baby spend, just not on the American people but everyone else not a problem. The military contractors pay taxes too, or do they?
Tired of the crap, oh, you mean like the voter suppression laws, or the motorcycle/ abortion law, or the recent unfunded tax cuts for the rich (where's the jobs)? I could go on all day, can you say hypocrite, didn't think so