Obama to Republicans: 'So sue me'
(CNN) - President Barack Obama dared Republicans to follow through on their threats to bring a lawsuit against his administration over his use of executive action.
"Middle-class families can’t wait for Republicans in Congress to do stuff. So sue me," Obama said Tuesday at an event in Washington.
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"As long as they’re doing nothing, I’m not going to apologize for trying to do something."
Obama’s defiant attitude comes as House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, plans to propose legislation that could bring a lawsuit against him for implementing executive actions that the GOP contends amounts to a breach of his constitutional power by side-stepping the legislative process.
Obama: Boehner's lawsuit is 'a stunt'
Recently, Obama has ramped up his use of executive authority 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.
On Monday, Obama said he would start "a new effort to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own, without Congress."
Poll: Can Obama get the job done?
At Tuesday's event, Obama continued to harp on congressional Republicans to pass legislation - this time pushing them to invest in transportation.
Standing in front of Key Bridge, which connects the city's Georgetown-area to Virginia, Obama continued his stepped-up rhetoric hammering Republican for obstructing action in Washington.
Obama proposed a long-term highway construction bill earlier this year that he says would spur job growth.
"It’s not crazy, it’s not socialism," Obama said of his transportation proposal. "It’s not the imperial presidency - no laws are broken. We’re just building roads and bridges like we’ve been doing for the last, I don’t know, 50, 100 years. But so far, House Republicans have refused to act on this idea."
CNN's Mike Ahlers and Rene Marsh contributed to this report.
Related: Obama’s ‘day in life’ offers opening to tout message and slam Republicans
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Obama is truly unrepentantly egotistical.
He loses the support of most of the country and yet after doing nothing (having his last budget defeated even by fellow democrats) he has the audacity (excuse the pun!) to blame others for his bad ideas not going through.
What a joke.
George Costanza may be your best hope. If every instinct you ever had is wrong ... try doing the opposite.
When the Supreme Court gets to the issue of Obamacare and realizes that this same court ruled that Obamacare was a tax, Obama will feel the weight of the court since a president cannot modify taxes without Congress and that is just what he did 23 times. Imagine when they order him to undo all 23 modifications. Big time crow eating for Obama.
The process has nothing to do with number of executive orders and everything to do with content and the system of Check and Balances. The President may not like what he perceives to be congresses inaction but that is for voters to decide not him.
Obama to Republicans: 'So sue me'... okay
His actions are illegal and unconstitutional. He is acting like he is a king and not one of 44 elected US Presidents required to adhere to the separation of powers doctrine.
Thank you Mr President. Let them blow more hot air.
His actions are illegal and unconstitutional. He is acting like he is a king and not one of 44 elected US Presidents required to adhere to the separation of powers doctrine.
Arguably the most powerful man in the world... and he puts on this childish display
Let the games begin.
Face it, Mr. Prez-their sole raison d'etre is to obstruct you; they've said it themselves.
You're so in-the-right on this one; go get 'em!
We support you Mr. President! Give them hell!!
In my life I have never seen such an arrogant, narcissistic, snotty president. Disgraceful!
Tell Obama that I don't listen to anything he says.
A-FREAKING- MEN!!
The PARTY OF NO, and their continuous ANTICS will be exposed. How ELSE would a president work if congress refuse too? Hes DONE NOTHING but try to reason with these people, hes invited them to the white house, had open Q/A with cameras in the room especially during the passing of Health Care ; yet they REFUSE TO DO absolutely nothing.
Even commentators at FOX are aware of these pointless LAWSUIT that will go ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE, its waste of time and effort....... its ridiculous what you see, so go ahead SUE HIM...
wow Obama growing a spine....and I thought Jelly fish can't have a spine
What a terrible president. A joke.
Instead of taking stock of himself, Obama continues to be arrogant and disconnected from reality! More and more, it appears Obama is mentally ill.
The congressional GOP is proving that government can be dysfunctional by being dysfunctional. That's a sick sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. I wonder, if we (the voters) removed those people who relish and propagate government dysfunction, would things improve?
Bravo Mr President. At least one politician in DC isn't afraid to try to accomplish something.
Take them on, Mr. President. Congress is the do nothing congress. We haven't even seen the jobs they promised in 2010. They are too busy being obstructionist.
What a presidential thing to say- "SO sue me" what a legacy for a President-the Supreme court having already ruled 9-0 against some of his actions- you would think he would take the hint. Nixon was awfully defiant before he was forced to resign-starting to feel awfully familiar don't you think.
It's about time somebody in our government get off their bum and moved past the pathetic bickering in Congress. Americans literally can't afford to wait until after November to see anything done.
I'm sorry, I'm a california resident and as much as I like and think the universal healthcare package is GREAT for all of us (making EVERYONE pay a little) this issue he is dead wrong. You simply cannot bypass congress because they aren't doing what you want, or doing anything for that matter. They can simply sit on their hands and do nothing at all and the president cannot do a thing about it.............it's called separation of powers. Now when election time comes around, those that did obstruct need to pay for doing nothing. That is how it works. As much as we all might disagree with a certain position that is our constitution and until it is changed, we have to respect the process. Also NO president should be allowed to bypass congress be it a repub. or a democrat.........that's out way and as frustrating as it is sometimes, it works. It might be slow and painful but it's meant to be that way so that no ONE political part of point of view can force their beliefs down all of our throats.
You go Barack. This do nothing, obstructionist congress can step aside and watch if they want. By the way make sure you boycott Hobby Lobby like my family and I are doing from now on. Vote the rascals out.