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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What a crook! He has aliented Congress and alienated the Supreme Court. He is dishonest – does not tell the truth and does indeed LIE. He is an abject failure at forging constructive partnerships to effect needed legislation. And now he's going to "fix" things by imperial mandate?
Obama should sue John Boehner to stop being a big crybaby!
We've got your back, Mr. President! We can see you are trying to get things done!
The GOP is an embarrassment.
If the congress and senate would do their jobs correctly we the people would be happier.
Good for our President. At least he's trying to do the job he was elected to do. The republicans are merely doing the job that special interests have bribed them to do.
while countries like china, are full speed ahead in the race to modernized their countries, the repubs feel fit to stop this country's progress in its tracks, and sit us on the sidelines as other countries zoom by us. just to say Obama didn't contribute to this country's success. it is a dam shame that the american people would sit back and rather than looking at the actions or none actions of the repubs, they are content to lesson to their rederics, excuses, and straight out lies of why they refuse to join the race of going into the new century with a bang. other countries are laughing at us, while they leave us in the dust. did anyone look at our infrastructure lately, it reminds me of a third world country, while china's is a state of art. the repubs plan to destroy the first african american president legacy to ensure that another black president never set foot in the white house again, might deal our country a blow we might never recover from.
"So sue me" As you wish.
Is this what leadership is all about? Is taunting the way to bring the country together, to engender respect and loyalty? Why can't a president get beyond partison politics and name calling to work with all elected leaders to accomplish important goals for the benefit of all? This kind of mockery of leadership is the reason no one now believes our government is capable of accomplishinng anything- including most foreign nations.
These are republicans. They are part of destruction, not construction. Sometime I wonder if our founding fathers acted like them – we would have become like Syria or Iraq. Sad but our political system is pretty close to complete breakdown.
Country to Obama: We plan on suing you!
Sue? How about impeachment.
Clearly this president is mocking the country. Time to take off the gloves.
At last, a president who at least tries to get something done. Sad we have a do nothing congress who can only say 'no' no mater what the issue...EVEN IF THEY AGREE WITH IT! Next election...vote the other party...no incumbents!!
Way to go fella–alienate almost 1/2 the populace and it seems to be no big deal to you–VA ,NSA ,IRS ...our president seems to treat all of it like it's no big deal....to bad he can't take the time to at least TRY to allay the fears of part of the electorate..
This guy is going to try to be the first american dictator....would not be surprised
Wow, how far our political system has fallen. I'm embarassed for both parties, time to get your act together.
Don't sue him, IMPEACH the master liar and deceiver!!!
I think they should take him to court. He is not king and must follow the Constitution which seperates the Legislative, Executive, and Judical branches. It is time to revoke his powers and tell him Congress writes the laws, not him. I hope the IMPEACH HIM.
What an absolute man-child!
No charisma, no integrity!
I voted for this man twice hut I say he has to go now. His arrogance and lack of care for legal Americans is beyond disgusting. Al he cares for is the ilkegals and expects me and other Americans to pay fir them. Bye mr president please step aside.
Wow. Anyone that thinks this is funny should not be allowed to vote.
It would seem the GOP is bordering on treason.. Strange word in today's society !! The entire GOP needs to look back in history, never has a sitting President had so much visual, verbal opposition.. Every members wants his 5 minutes of fame, it almost appears that they believe themselves in a higher office/ branch that the Executive...Not to mention wasting tax payers money on frivolous self serving agendas.. Time to vote them all out
So I'm a registered republican thats tired of this nonsense in our government where noone wants to work together and quite honestly this is refreshing seeing o'bama just say to heck with it and trying to do something. Good on him I say
Bush said the same thing.