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 a loser.
kelly
all talk no action.
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Pres. Obama cannot be "all talk, no action" and still be a repressive dictator at the same time. Can't have it both ways.
Sad that the only thing this destructive GOP do-nothing House is interested in is causing trouble.
So they want to impeach him because they refuse to work with him so he has to try to get his job done without their partnership. Got it. I remember when impeachment used to mean the accused did something really specifically bad - not just a frivolous lawsuit based on "we're still sore losers over the last election result."
he's absolutely right. the GOP went into a room and decided that since they didnt win the presidency they were going to take their ball home and not bother participating in the government process save to obstruct anything obama has tried to do. The current congress has been absolutely ineffective – in fact it has passed the least amount of legislation since 60 years ago and they should be voted out – top to bottom.
very Presidential...
Let them sue. It will finally give them something to do.
You can not compare Obama to ANY other President because in our great history we have never had a congress like this , never. Their only agenda is to make Obama look bad. Silly thing is, I really don't think he needs help to look bad, But what congress has done to him is shameful for all americans. I will never understand why people keep electing these fools.
I guess the dumb Americans like their dictator. Americans are in for a big surprise.
I don't want to sue Obama, I want him impeached and removed from office. Everything the man has touched is as disaster.
The man is pretty much saying he is going to rule as a dictator. He should be treated as such.
My 401K QUADRUPLED under OBAMA. GOP = FAIL.
You go Prez! If the GOP sues they will make their base happy but continue their decline with the rest of the country.
Oh my giddy aunt! Obama is only for two things, blacks and mexicans, and what will hurt the middle class. i have tried so hard to believe in this presidency, but day after day I see all the things he has done. I can thank "the change".for My pocketbook being a lot leaner that it was. Oh and thank you Mr President, for making my insurance go up because us working people have to feed your "Obamacare" for those who don't and won't get off their lazy behinds and get a job like the rest of us. And I don't care what color they are, I am sick of the "race card" being played everytime something is said. I hear more disparaging remarks about white people than I do blacks AND no one ever says anything about that. and this country screams "racism" about everything.
Who will get the last laugh?
Wow. BO's arrogance is disturbing on so many levels. The reality is that the HOUSE has passed over 40 bills that will actually Help create jobs, enhance education, help small business, make energy more affordable, etc... and the Damn Dem Leadership in the Senate won't even bring up for a vote on the Senate Floor. So Who is really playing politics???
Obama doesn't know how to get things done, He took us from bad to worse. Only fanatic left wing loons don't see that. Obama couldn't negotiate an effective way out of iraq, Putin mocks hims, all American allies despise him, he's made a mess out of immigration and all he can do is blame Republicans. He's been in office with two thirds the government and everything is still Bush's fault. What did Harry Truman say once" The buck stops where?" Let's face it he is BAD! If it weren't for the media pampering him, the lemming-like support of his base and the idiot Tea Party staying home and pouting he would not have gotten elected. Anybody but Obama would have been better.
Mathew
Just asking a simple question of the "Obama haters" on this board: what is your objection to the "long-term highway construction bill" mentioned in this article? The basic infrastructure in this country is in need of repair, and waiting will only lead to a worse situation (and potentially dangerous roadways.) The government is responsible for funding that work. Those proposed projects would lead to more good-paying, middle class construction jobs.
I don't understand the GOP opposition. Honestly, what is the objection?
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Here is the objection: The liberal democrats and liberal republicans have raided the highway trust fund, which was supposed to fund the highway repairs. Because of that irresponsibility, Obama is now asking for more money to repair our roads/highways. My response is NO! Until the government stops raiding trust funds, I do not want any additional tax dollars going towards something that tax payers have already paid for. Obama's attempt at 'shovel ready jobs' is lame and the republicans see right through it.
I do not draw a line in the sand and choose a political party but, this person is really turning me more and more against the "left" and the cattle that blindly will follow to slaughter. In my short lifetime I have seen many changes some good and some bad. BUT, I do have to say in recent years I have seen nothing but bad to worse. This person sitting in the White House feels he is above the law and unfortunately, he gets away with it. It is about time I see people standing up against him and his cattle...SCOUS is finally seeing the light, people in California are seeing the light, some of the cattle that have been on the caravan are seeing the light...It's about time! Hold this person and the administration accountable for the poor decisions they have made which only lead our nation into the ground.
Now before you call me a teabagger or a right wingnut....you don't know me. You don't know who I have supported over the years but, know this. I have learned enough and seen enough in my world travels to know that if this person is not stopped our nation will only fall even further into despair. I don't know who the person will be to lead us out of the turmoil...but, I do know it is time for a change once again!!
Obama, the confronter in chief. I sure wish he would lead the country instead of picking fights with the house.
ok, we will!
Whine, whine, whine. It this poor excuse for a president could work with people he might get some where. He calls a meeting to get input from Republicans and as soon as they sit down he opens the meeting by saying "This is what we're going to do". Only a true moron would believe that kind of talk would get him his way.
@ Paul L Do you really not see the BAD that Obama and his administration have done? There have been more cover ups in this administration than I can ever recall seeing or reading about. He has done more damage than what former Presidents actually did face impeachment and removal from power. The over reach of power is just one of the many straws that need to be utilized to break the cycle. Open your eyes man!! Finally there are several in our country that are waking from a deep sleep...join them and help find a true leader before it is too late.
Way to go..get this country moving again instead of stagnating. What really sucks is some people believe in their GOP do nothing, obstructionist candidate so much they reelect them again. The representative is there because they are elected there...that means people in this country want nothing except to do nothing.
Typical Obama arrogance. Time for him to GO! The Divider in Chief has torn this country apart from the inside.