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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If the president want to "do something" he can start by enforcing the entirety of his "signature achievement", as required by his oath and by the U.S. Constitution.
But he won't ever do that, because even he knows ObamaCare is a mess that will cost his party dearly.
OK, well do that. This is the worst president we have ever had. All you liberals that voted for him should be ashamed.
Spoken like a true dictator
when you have a congress that will not compromise, this is one answer. the real problem exists in voting in people who will not compromise. it is very sad that such a small number of tea crats stop us from moving forward. our pres is doing what he can to get something done.
I am a life-long Democrat, but win or lose, Republicans should go ahead and sue this loose cannon (0-Bama).
0-Bama is the most divisive president América has ever had. The worst part is that Bobble Head Pelosi, Senile Reid and other blinder wearing Democrats continue to put up with 0-Bama's nonsense.
My fellow Democrats, the "EXPERIMENT" is over and it has been a epic failure (0-Bama).
Didn't he use executive decisions to amnesty all the illegals and give them money?
How is THAT going to help the middle class?
As usual Obama says one thing and does another. He mutters sweet nothings into the ears of the middle class while stabbing them repeatedly in the back.
It was the GOP who presented the 'Unitary Executive' theory of expansive Presidential power just eight years ago. They are completely insincere and make little effort, save their corporate media bias, to hide it. The Office of the President has been growing in authority vs. the Legislature for over thirty years. I approve of reigning that in but not as a means of justifying a Congress which doesnt want Government to exist at all.
John Boehner is a wastage of time.
nobody care what obama does or says. we have the supreme court to cut him down. nobody beleives him any more or trusts what he says he will do
Its about time the Obama STANDS UP AND FIGHTS !!! He has taken enough C-R-A-P from the GOP'er/tea partiers for the last time. How many votes are the GOP'er going to take over this now......
Sue? Why has Impeachment charges not been filed? He broke the law in the prisoner exchange.
It's unfortunate that this president fails to recognize that the Republicans in congress actually represent the citizens who voted them in office. By working around congress, instead of with them, he's basically marginalizing their representation in this government and silencing their political voice.
The GOP is a sad joke. Perhaps if they did something, other than whine, kick and scream, the President wouldn't have to act on his own.
Good for you Mr. President! At least someone is attempting to do something...not like these idealess do-nothing obstructionist Republicans.
The President needs to get his head out of the sand. The House ( Republican controlled) passes bills, many, many, many then sends them to the Senate (Democratic controlled) which will not even acknowledge them , for even an debate. As an American you have power to change this insanity, power of the voting booth. Like in 2012, vote the Democratic control out of the Senate and have enough votes to over ride a Presidential veto.
Obama negotiated with terrorists.
Just what our nation needs – more polarization! Come on, Mr. President. Don't stoop to the level of the obstructionists.
Obama could care less about the middle class, or what's left of it. He's a politician pushing his political agenda. He's using the "term" America's middle class as a pawn. He's all talk. he couldn't lead a boy scout troop in a parade.
He really does think he can do whatever he wants regardless of branches of government. The "constitutional lawyer in the Oval Office" that the White House press secretary likes to brag about may want to read the document again.
Other than the delusional far-left, Obama will be seen as one of the worst presidents of the past century.
To cry foul or better yet threaten a lawsuit when someone beats you at your "own" game of dirty pool is the antithesis of hypocrisy.
Middle Class families can't wait for Obama to blow this pop stand...he's killing our economy, killing our credibility, and inept...we can get him out of office soon enough.
What an utter failure in leadership by the President!
History will not be kind to Obama. He will be known as the "Cloward-Piven nemesis" President.
I guess the only good defense is a good offense.