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
You are doing a fine job Mr. President!
Obama needs to be sued, he's an out of control egomaniac!
This is about 5 years late but Obama finally has realized he's the only game in town for some of these issues, immigration first and foremost. Let the Republicans whine and waste their energy on useless lawsuits – all this party has become is a sick joke that has no agenda other than to make the black guy look bad. Hopefully the country will become so outraged at the Tparty that they'll be voted out.
Obama should be sued for every dollar he asks to be used for oversears related crap that has nothing to do with America. Leave the idiot broke for life after he leaves the white house. Give the money back to tax payers.
Good for him!
My support for Obama just took an extremely sharp turn upwards, i can respect anyone who steps up, shows the people (who elected him for a second term i might add) hes focused and hes in control. Way to handle those growing balls u have there, sir!
Said it before, will say it again here: Obama's arrogance is his Shakespearean "tragic flaw," and it will be the undoing of his legacy.
Lol, I like how republican attack Obama for making threats he can't follow up on. And then they do exactly that.
I like it. Republican don't even help middle class. But i do get rare bills on Obama care. But still cheaper then previous insurance. So sue him. Republican all talks no action
This is the best we could come up with for a president America? We have gotten horrible at electing leaders.
Article II, Section 2: This allows the President to pardon himself except for impeachment. Go ahead and sue him, as he will just pardon himself and continue his tyranny.
As Bill Maher correctly pointed out, this legislation would have to pass BOTH houses, and then Obama would have to sign it. He would have to sign the bill to sue himself. This is why no one can find a strong connection between the Republican Party and reality.
You go, Sir!
You tell'em. Taking action on issues that have been deliberately blockaded by the most unapologetically obstructionist House in history is common sense. If the Republicans want to take you to court over that, we'll laugh right along with the judges.
It was OK when W did it. But it's an assault on freedom when Obama does it. Such is the scatterlogic of conservatives.
Good for you, Barrack.
I'm sick and tired of the House trying to block EVERYTHING you try to get accomplished.
What law gives Obama the right to change laws without congress? None. The people of the US elected the opposition party to opose the president. Obstruction is their elected duty. Leadership, politics, and compromise are Obama's duty and he is failing on all fronts.
Obama is destroying this country. Is anybody paying attention?
Desperate people do desperate things. This falls under the category of extreme stupidity and so much more. They tried to take down Clinton with the "Star" report and that was a bust and this cost the US tax dollars millions and millions of our dollars. Now the GOP wants to do the same. Can't they graciously say we lost being POTUS? Are we are going to try to help America by working as a team like our founding fathers fought to enact? Last, are we going to stop hating POTUS for being a person of Color?
We live n the most dangerous times since the Missile crisis in Cuba. We need a Congress and Senate that has to put aside politics and work together to save America and her People. Then after they've done their sworn jobs can they go about their ways in Politics.
We are the laughing stock of the World. We are worse than the Iraqi jerks that are running that Country.
We have no Middle Class anymore. and the differences between the wealthy and the poor are getting further and further apart. Big Biz rules America and all they care about is $$$$$$$$$$$$. Not us.
We hate and dispise the extreme Mullahs. So, what makes our Tea Baggers different then the extremist Mullahs????
Wake up America it's almost too late ,
It's sooooo painful to watch the American president who has totally failed to lead the leadership.
obama is such a clown.
I woudnt venture daring those guys right now if I were the president, they might go to the supreme court, and well, you know, they got that covered.
I fully support the President concerning his efforts on this matter. The Republicans have been against him from day one. Their efforts are fueled by racial hate instead of what is best for the country.
Good. He should have done this years ago.
By "defiant attitude" we at CNN of course mean "ignoring things like due process and our American system of checks and balances".