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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Both sides of this stunt are an embarrassment. In spite of being partly right, and both basically wrong at the same time...we should all be so proud of our electorate that WE elected.
Obama is intellectually dishonest. The House passed a highway bill on June 10th, just not his proposed bill.
America's number one terrorist. Obama
Really awesome Obama !!! We need this attitude since 2009, finally got the message from us.. Hit them Hard as much as you can... Harry Reid will continue...
Good! More power to him! Thank you Mr. President!
No one should have to sue the President to get him to enforce laws, which is his job, sworn duty, and it's mandated by the Constitution. Enforcing laws is the main duty of the President, Obama should have known that before he took the Oath. The Constitution, or the job description, doesn't say he gets to pick and choose from the laws, picking those he will enforce and those he won't. The proper path to take if he refuses to enforce laws is impeachment, not a lawsuit. It is true that he doesn't need Congress to get things done, he supposed to enforce laws, that's his job. He's not there to find ways to get around enforcing laws, that would be some sort of civil disobedience, which is not appropriate for him to be doing either, he could resign instead of doing that. If he doesn't believe in the Constitution, and the laws, he should resign, he should have never taken the Office in the 1st place. If he chooses to resign, rather than do his job, then Joe would become President, then the same applies to Joe, and so on down the line. We might come to a person who is willing to do the job of President, which, as they should know, is a hard job, but still, the primary job for any President is to enforce laws. He doesn't write laws, make laws, or lobby Congress for new laws because he doesn't want to enforce current laws, he just enforces laws, what he is sworn to do, mandated to do, what he gets paid a half million a year to do, his primary job, obligation, duty, mandate. The President, is, in effect, the Country Sheriff, or the Town Marshall, the top law enforcement dog. We wouldn't have a Sheriff who says he won't enforce laws.
I hope they do sue him – his arrogance and disrespect for the Constitution is incredible and he needs to be taken down a few notches.
Obama is the worst president in my lifetime.
Republicans and teagaggers won't lead, can't follow, won't get out of the way? Fine. Here comes the Bulldozer.
Impeach would be better
Go ahead punk Republicans, make my day! LOL!
Godd for the President. He should bypass the do nothing congress...they are a waste of space....
I guess the GOP still don't realize the Office of The Presidency is a Dictatorship now.. We need to give Illegals amnesty so they will vote people in office that gives them handout's. Conservatives don't realize money just grows on tree's, it's not from taxes of hard working people breaking their backs every day. So just keep picking the money tree and hand it out to illegals and people that don't want to work and put them on Disability, it's the New Way these days; you get about $1200 per month, full medical and Foods stamps, it's not worth working any more. They say Social Security is broke, well we need that money out of peoples retirement account for SSI (social security supplement) to help people who are drug addicts, alcoholics and those who have bad backs. Good thing for the New Health Care Laws, it pays for illegals who use the Emergency Rooms in hospitals so they don't go bankrupt. So what if we need to pay a little more for medical coverage. How about that Chris Christie trying to reform Pensions and lowering taxes, I don't mind if he raises taxes to support my pension, I get my money from the Government anyway.
Howard Baker is rolling over in his grave at the stupidity of the leadership in the Republican Party.
Go get him O
Let them continue to whine and snivel and do nothing.
The elections will be their downfall.
These obstructionists in the GOP are on the Wrong Side of History. Time will tell.
Isn't it amazing how Republicans hate trial lawyers - until they need one. Then you don't hear how they are the slime of the earth. There's a lesson there, if Republicans care to learn it. But given this current crop, no chance.
I say Obama has the right to do things other even those hiding behind their power and ethics and its not what you men in the congress or the senate can do for us its what can you men and women do for us we are the people and we know when its enough politics that is happening instead of making ourselves better for the long run. We think of the future to come not what you have the power to do now. Get right with the program of making the USA the place to be instead of we the people hate whos in charge so lets stand united to make a change. For one I think we should put teachers accountants people who actually can budget our government not just rich old guys who don't know a thing about living the life as a every day minimum wage person. I say message me back on my email I set up and I can go face to face and really tell you how its done. GO OBAMA SHOW THEM WHO MATTERS THATS RIGHT WE THE PEOPLE DO
Go ahead and sue the President GOP! It will be the only thing you've done all year! Just when I think you can't get any more toxic to voters you go and prove me wrong! Keep up the good work guys!
Republicans are working hard to ensure their defeat in a winnable election.
Perhaps the road repair deals need to be sweetened up for the republicans who are opposing the bridge and road repairs...throw some PORK in the pot....it'll get done...we'll done!
Congratulations Mr. President, go for it.
can't we all just find middle ground? does it have to be republican vs. democrat? can't it just be american? does it have to be black vs.white? does it have to be rich vs. poor? does it have to be religion vs. religion? I'm just sick of it.
liar liar pants on fire.....
This lawsuit just shows the sheer ineptness of the Republican Party.
Raise the minimum wage: No
Invest and fund infrastructure: No
American Jobs Act: No
Economic spending proposals: No
Extend unemployment benefits: No
Fair pay for women: No
Participate in armed conflict in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, etc: Yes
Sue the president: Yes
Go Obama! A lot of Americans have your back. Republicans overplayed their 'obstruction' card long ago.