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.
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'][twitter-follow screen_name='danadavidsenCNN']
"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
From CNN Politics
- Kentucky law aimed at increasing parental oversight in education takes effect
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- New York grand jury won't hear Trump case again this week
- Defense secretary defends abortion policies at center of Senate nomination hold-up
- Justice Department moves to end consent decree with Seattle Police Department
- Why the mass shooting cycle remains predictable and permanent
WoooHooo!! Spank, Spank! Burn! President Obama slams Boehner like a Barbie Doll!
Obama built his career off of technicalities in Constitutional law, and now he makes a mockery of it. He's in for a surprise.
Interesting political moves taking place. I don't think the GOP played this one very well. Obama is cracking is executive whip.
According to Hillary Clinton "He is incompetent and feckless".
And so they will. And you will probably lose.
BO loves stunts and deflection, but the truth is that Harry Reid has done more to bottleneck Congress than the GOP has. For a community organizer who crowed about his ability to bring people together, he has clearly been in over his head. So, the best thing is to blame the other guy, play the pity card, and make more wonderful speeches that mean nothing.
Bottom line the GOP is spineless, the tea party calling them out, they should be muted
Ok, we will. How are you "Phony scandal's" like missing emails, Vets ignored, .... the list goes on.
Obama – America's first joke...
republican keep the pressure on Obama. get him out of office anyway you can. he is acting like a dictator and a second hitler. that is a really scary thought.
While I do not necessary agree with all of the presidents policies he is right on the money when the GOP is pretty much doing nothing for the middle class and does it show. I suspect when the November elections come the GOP will be looking in from the outside since the average voter is not going to be happy with the government shut down of last year. The Fact remains and the Tea Party can say what they the middle class needs help and we have seen nothing from Congress except in party fighting among themselves.
I'm with you, Mr. President. Too many Americans have suffered under this Congress - too many. And for no reason other than spite, which is backed by haters with lots of money.
he's 100% right.
Yes, thank you, President Obama! Couldn't have said it better.
Obama is such a worthless POTUS.
Wow, I am glad our government does not act like children......wait these people do work in government. Great this is not going away anytime soon. Does anyone out there know some educated adults that would like a government position. We have opening in all fields and positions.
This is exactly what we want to hear from you Mr President. And yeah I hope you right wingers and fake libertarians lose sleep over his words. Oh and "what difference does it make?" . I can feel the fake outrage reaching fever pitch. Or is that the high blood pressure?
Ha! Ha, ha, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. Who knew our Two Term President had such a great sense of humor?
Although I do think Obama is becoming something of a bully. Picking on today's GOP is like picking of mentally challenged turnips.
impeach Obama, vote republicans 2014
Impeach Obama as a corrupt criminal MOB
Divisive. He could learn a thing or two about leadership.
He is so out of touch he doesn't realize that arrogance has been a large part of what people don't like about him, his congressional allies and the IRS officials, Hillary – all with their noses in the air. They're just "folks" like us – give me a break.
And we will and you will lose.
forget the lawsuit. move to impeach this tin despot – and i was a moron who voted for him.
Well I hope those will be shovel ready jobs...
OZ HAS SPOKEN! YOU will do . I am your dictator.