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
Crazy Boehner "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."
And just who has to sign that legislation? And just how will it get past the Senate?
Truly laughable, these GOP fools.
What happened to the GOP's "laser-like"focus on the economy?
So Obama is saying that his being elected is more important than all the other government officials that were just as equally elected. The checks and balances that were created in the constitution do not apply to the cowboy-n-chief and the democracy we have had in place for hundreds of years was for other people not Obama. Maybe next week he will executively abolish the 22nd amendment so he can just extend his reign indefinitely. Since he has no respect for the other laws of this nation why would that one matter.
Obama keeps insisting that House Republicans continue to "do nothing".
On the contrary, Boehner and company have done lots of stuff:
– attacked women's rights
– attacked gay rights
– attacked immigrants
– attacked the poor
– attacked public sector wage earners
– undermined the economic recovery by interfering with our nation's ability to pay its debts
– attempted to repeal the ACA ... over ... and over ... and over again.
One man, who happens to be President, has no more elections to worry about and just wants to get things done. Congress has an election every two years and scared of their own shadow. Boehner would turn a deeper orange if someone had tried stopping GW from using his executive powers.. calling democrats obstructionist... but now the shoe is on the other foot.
HIlarious considering the GOP gave these powers to George W bush over the objections of democrats.
Middle class??? This administration certainly has not helped me as we slip farther and farther towards lower middle class. I can't think of one thing he has done to help the middle class
I'll even sue myself, just to make sure !
How about the American people sue the congressional republicans for stealing their salaries for the past 5+ years? when you have a job and you refuse to do it because you hate your boss, you need to be fired. i hope we're smart enough this election cycle to throw these treasonous thieves out of office and replace them with people who actually understand the function of government and have the best interest of ALL AMERICANS at heart, not just the best interest of the Koch Brothers!
More proof that it's just a bunch of children running Washington, and it's the people that defend either side (Democrat or Republican) that allow this to continue...
Help the middle class? Not this member! I can't think of one thing he has done to help the middle class. Higher taxes, higher gas prices, war with Illinois coal, food prices out of sight – raises to those who choose not to work, weakening of our borders, etc
With your record from the Supreme Court i wouldnt get to cocky Mr. O. And if the Repubs get the Senate i smell impeachment on the table how do you like that Mr. O? lol
Yep gop go right ahead your bluff has been called. LOL The least effective, least productive, least legislative congress in the history of this country has to stoop to stunts and wants to sue/impeach this President.... Get real! All this Imperial President, dictator BS... Pass some legislation i.e. immigration reform. infrastructure bill, anything.
Very well stated, Mr. Obama! We cannot wait for congress to finish playing politics.
Dont sue him, deport the Muslim raised Arab named Socialist.
He promised us in his book that he would take America down from #1 in the world.
Finally, he kept one promise.
Given that our current elected officials seem to be the worst in modern history at finding any kind of middle ground, I'll take the do nothing government option. I'm not saying that haven't passed some significant legislation, but way too much of it was legislation that even the simple majority of people didn't seem to agree with. If you're not passing laws that 51% of the population (even 51% of the registered voting population) can agree on, then feel free to do absolutely nothing.
I love it . Give em hell Mr President
Obama does nothing but HURT America and act like a dictator!
I love it . A do it yourself president and a do nothing congress
he should be inpeached!
BRAVO! If that's what it takes to get Congress to pay attention— DO IT! The American people are FED UP with both the Republican and the Democrat wings doing nothing but getting rich while the rest of the Country suffers! If they won't do their jobs, then someone has to step in and take up the slack! This is good for the Country, so good for Obama!!
Glad to see he's finally starting to call a spade a spade.
Hopefully they follow through and we can start to undo the damage this clown has caused the United States during his reign.
This guys is just begging to be impeached.
the house and the senate are an embarrassment