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Subscribe to RSSUPDATED 2:27 PM ET: House Speaker John Boehner Tuesday repeatedly challenged the president's willingness to go against his own party on issues that include reforms to social programs and spending.
"I think he'd like to deal with it [fiscal problems], but to do the kind of heavy lifting that needs to be done, I don't think he's got the guts to do it,” the Ohio Republican said in a meeting with a small group of reporters for nearly an hour Tuesday morning. “He understands there is a spending problem. He understands that we need changes and reforms, and we need to solve these problems."
When pressed about the severity of that statement, he modified, saying the president does not have the "courage."
Washington is in the midst of yet another fiscal crisis, facing a political showdown over so-called "sequestration," the self-imposed round of across-the-board spending cuts to domestic programs and the Pentagon. The sequester was supported by both the White House and Congress as a way to encourage lawmakers to find common ground. Instead, they have been mired in a stalemate, unable to find an equitable solution for both sides.
"I am not suggesting that this is easy,” Boehner said, “but what I am suggesting is that he is the President of the United States. This is the biggest threat to our society."
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, repeats his call for President Obama to submit a budget proposal to Congress, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013.
President Obama campaigned on raising taxes on the wealthy and got that in the showdown over the fiscal cliff. He wants more revenue -- from what he says are "loopholes and deductions" for the wealthy. Republicans have balked at that notion, saying he already got all the revenue he was going to get.
The White House has accused Boehner of walking away from "grand bargains," deals to reduce the country's deficits, in both 2011 and 2012 because he could not sell it to his base. Boehner's office vehemently disagrees with that notion, instead pointing the finger back at the president.
Republicans also feel as if they have already given in and do not want to give more, particularly after passing the tax increase and punting on the debt ceiling, voting to suspend it temporarily until the Democratic-controlled Senate passes a budget, something it has not done in years.
But those maneuvers have not been without staunch GOP opposition and misfires. President Obama and Boehner were thought to be, once again, close to a deal when Boehner abruptly announced "Plan B," an initiative pushed by House leadership, including Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), that would have let tax cuts expire for millionaires. But Boehner pulled the measure after he realized it did not have majority support within his conference.
President Barack Obama is expected to ask for more tax revenue and fewer spending cuts during Tuesday's speech but can his plan pass Congress. Gene Sperling, the director of the White House Economic Council, Bloomberg Businessweek's Josh Green and Bloomberg View's Margaret Carlson discuss.
Instead, Boehner issued a statement urging President Obama and the Democratic-controlled Senate to pass something to avert the fiscal cliff. Boehner eventually brought the Senate-passed measure to the House floor. It passed without majority GOP support.
On immigration, Boehner claimed in the meeting, "The thing I am most concerned about immigration reform is the president getting in the way. Sometimes I think he'd rather have an issue than a solution. Here's the guy who four years ago said he was going to have immigration reform, and he's done absolutely nothing for four years. I hope the president will play a constructive role."
Democrats say that prior to the 2012 presidential election, they have faced a brick wall of opposition on immigration, despite President Obama's promises, especially from House Republicans. In December 2010, Senate Republicans filibustered the DREAM Act, which would have given a pathway to citizenship for children brought to the United States illegally. President Obama supported the measure, and it got 55 votes, five short of the required 60 to overcome a filibuster.
But since Obama's re-election, in which he won 71 percent of the Hispanic vote, Republicans have sounded a different tune on immigration.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who will give the GOP response and is leading an immigration-reform effort in the Senate, dropped by the meeting as well.
"I didn't mean to interrupt--,” Rubio said, as he looked for a cup of coffee.
When asked if he is feeling any pressure tonight, he gave a big smile and said, "No."
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Will someone tell Boehner that trying to be like Biff taunting Marty McFly in Back to the Future II is not way to go about conducting negotiations?
"...I don't think he's got the guts to do it." What are we, in third grade now, Mr. Speaker? Good grief.
It appears Boehner has irked the "moma's basement crowd."LMAO
As much as our Muslim brotherhood party who controls the White House is destroying this country one step at a time then we have Bonner and the republicans wanting to take away Social Security which is the peoples money..........all crooks who all should end up in Hell..........
Boehner has yet to name, in detail, one cut he wants, either to social programs or to items in the tax code. As Speaker, he can introduce legislation at any time to change the tax code. In fact, it is his duty to introduce legislation that contains spending measures. Boehner does not have the guts to actually make public what he would accept or demand.
GUTS! Let's cut the military spending, Bonehead, then we'll see who has guts.
Thats what the sequester does. Way to study Stan.LMAO
Agree zanaibar27, He is also works with the DEVIL!
So the sequestration is going to cost around $100 Billion Dollars correct?.....We can get that and more by closing some unessesary tax breaks (loopholes and deductions) we currently give out in the form of Corporate Welfare. In fact there's roughly $500 Billion in Corporate Welfare we let slide every year. So if the sequester is around $85-$100 Billion the we seem to have enough fat to cut......check this out and you'll see what I'm talking about cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/tbb-0205-7.pdf
go work as hard as i have ..its about time you paid your fair share.. i'm paying enough already
To the Dems and MSN....truth HURTS doesn't it....
What "truth"....I know republicans campaigned all year long about cutting loopholes and deductions.....even though they were extremely vague on what they would actually cut...Now we're closer to actually proposing said cuts in details by democrats....and now the republicans are backing off because it's now all too real for them. They'll have to explain to the poor and the middle class why they can't cut some rich dude's tax break for his yacht...or his oil subsidy...or his tax break for hiding his money offshore..or his tax break for opening a factory in another country..or his tax break for hiring people in that country to work at that plant.......how do you think that's going to work for them in 2014..???
So lets get this straight.
When the fiscal cliff was looming in December and the GOP offered the removal of loopholes and deductions in lieu of actual rate increases, the Democrats wanted no part of that increased revenue stream. The GOP caved and agreed to income tax increases for top earners as well as tax increases for the middle class by way of a FICA hike. This was suppose to be coupled with spending cuts (we are still waiting that one).
Now the democrats want those loopholes and deductions reformed in the tax code and still offer nothing by way of serious spending cuts.
And the left wonders why the GOP obstructs their tax and spend agenda.
Its common sense people, we need to cut, cut, cut. That includes defense and entitlements alike.
Wrong...Obama's big deal was given to bohner. It encompassed spending cuts and revenue increase and closing loopholes and deductions have always been on the table as part of tax reform. Boehner walked away from it and tried "Plan B"...IT FAILED MISERABLY. We never took closing loopholes and deductions off the table. It's republicans that are trying to ignore the corporate welfare we're giving out. Let's not forget the Budget Control Act..so basically there have been $7 in spending cuts for every $2 dollars in revenue....come on.....You can't simply cut your way to a balance budget. Trying doing it for your personal finances and yo quickly realize you also need to increase your revenue so that you can eventually have a surplus in the bank.
Yes its called looking at my budget and seeing if I cant afford it, then I do not need it.
I would far rather have a President with no guts than a House Speaker that gets his guts out of the bottom of a Bourbon Bottle. Boner also shows how stupid he is every time he lights up his cigarettes. This man needs to go back to the back woods hollow he came from.
What about when Obama lights up?Does he show you how stupid he is or are you just a HACK.
Too bad you're not smart enough to read. If you could , then you would have read in the news (NO not AM talk radio or Faux News ) that Obama has quit the cigarettes. Just ask Michelle, she had something to do with this.
Can't these people just shut their pieholes and do the job they were elected to do. Nowhere in the job description does it say they get all the tv/media access to puke up the drivel we hear, over and over again.
No one in the house has the guts to cut anything, except those programs that directly benefit the American public. God forbid if the lobbyists who own them don't have enough money for bribes,... excuse me 'campaign contributions'.
Boehner doesn't have the guts to put away the whiskey bottle.
I'm a dyed in the wool Republican but I blame both sides and the lack of leadership from this President for the failure. We desperately need term limits in Congress so we don't get in these messes. The congressmen will tell you different but they shouldn't be allowed to stay in office more than 3 terms tops and after that, be prohibited from running for public office again for 10 years. You'd see this foolishness stop and this country could get something done. Look at how many years some of these idiots have been in office. I know I didn't vote for Reid or McCain or Mad Cow Nancy to run the countries business but that seems to be whats happening. I say get rid of the deadwood and start new and just sitting around saying it can't be done is hogwash.
Jay
I agree with you but nothing is going to change until the adults takeover.
Obama is the worst excuse for a president we have ever had as a union.
He has guts.
But only when he looks in the mirror and combs his hair.
He and liberals will be the downfall of America as we know it.
Conservatives predicted that in Jan 2009. Didn't work then, won't work now.
google "Rhetoric"
Except for the fact that even though we had and still have a do nothing congress...we manage tripple/quadruple the DOW, have gotten back 6 plus million of the 8million jobs we lost, responsible under his presidency for killing Bin-Laden (something Bushi couldn't do in two terms - obama did in one) and effectively drawing down and ending two unfunded wars........yea but "he's" the worst prez ever...yea...OK!!!!
I suppose there is no hope for liberals.
Conservatives think and see.
Liberals walk around with flowers and blank checks they cannot back.
If the GOP really was serious, they would demand cutting the Pentagon budget back to pre-Iraq levels. We've ended one war and are exiting another. And yet they call for cuts while keeping their pet defense contractors on the dole. We should start with South Carolina.
Every time I start to think that the Republicans in Congress couldn't be bigger fools if they tried, they go and prove me wrong.
Speaker Boner has his head right up there where the sun don't shine. It's time The Speaker tried a little statesmanship/leadership in the spirit of doing what's right for the country and not just what the republican party tells him do. That doesn't mean he has to agree with everything that comes from the President.
President Obama is not perfect, no President is; I disagree with him on several issues. But this republican posturing, being against everything and anything that the elected President of the United States tries to do, has simply got to stop.
At least Boehner could prop up a facade of having some class when he's in front of the cameras. But four years of obstructionist posture and cavorting with the trailer park party takes its toll I guess.
If any of you think you'd be a better president, quit your job, get into politics and get elected President. I mean... since you think you'd be sooooooo much better.....
If you stopped posting a picture of your sister who I went to bed with and made some sense. we might listen.
Guts? Boehner brought up guts?
Well, I am still waiting for this "fiscally conservative GOP House," which also dictates the spending, to initiate a complete AUDIT of all War Spending from the past twelve years.
Speaker Boehner, as a taxpayer, I demand to know if any of my money aided or abetted War Profiteering.
Obscene profit from the blood of others is obscene, Mr. Speaker.
As if the GOP is serious about spending cuts...
Let's see what are federeal budget is really composed of:
50% is tied down on mandatory spending, like social security, medicare, and debt interest. The GOP talks about 'reforming' those, but not ONE of them 'has the guts' to actually cut spending on the elderly, their most trusted voting block. If anything, they accuse Obama of cutting medicare.
Another quarter is spent on the defense budget which the GOP wants to increase.
Much of the rest of the budget is also not discussed, like all we spend on government subsidies to agriculture (farmers, yet another GOP voting block) or infrastructure (heavily demanded by the GOP's corporate buddies) so in the end the GOP itself has NOT PUT FORWARD A SINGLE PROPOSAL on cutting more than 10% of the budget! And those are rare, Tea Party proposals that cut into senior's benefits... and hence much of the GOP does not support it either. Seniors are very reliably GOP voters, so if you cut social security or medicare, say goodbye to your re-election!
John Boehner should shut his ignorant, racist pie hole. I am so sick of hearing the crap that spews out of his corporate controlled mouth. He's a national disgrace.
wow..you really are an intellectual giant..
Name a time in history that any Democrat willingly cut spending on social programs? Just is not in their ideology and never will be. The Welfare Willie's and Food-stamp Fran's of the world will not accept a cut in their benefits for any reason. The whole damn government will have to go broke and send the world into a depression before any of these people get it. There will be no social programs and the rich will all lose their assets and we will have a reset in our economy. Get ready to stand in line for food and ration tickets for gasoline. Way too many stubborn people who only care about what they are getting and not what is good for the country as a whole.
Larry, if the last 3 GOP presidents had NOT signed TWENTY deficit riddled budgets AND saddled Obama with a $1.3T deficit, we wouldnt HAVE A DEBT CRISIS. The spending on social programs had NOTHING to do with creating this crisis. WHY should the poor, elderly, sick and children have to pay for what is obviously a deliberate decision by the GOP to run up debt. You guys broke it....... YOU GUYS FIX IT!
Dear Mr. Boehner:
You are NOT going get massive cuts in SS and Medicare, no matter WHAT Ryan's budget called for. Those people in those programs had NOTHING to DO with the debt crisis that YOUR party created. You want make cuts, go find them among those programs that had nothing to do with this financial mess. So, shut down the government, lead us into default or whatever. iM SURE THE American PEOPLE WOULD love that!!! After all, YOU and CANTOR voted for a great deal of this debt. Now, since you broke it...... YOU fix it!
total b.s.
LARRY:
http://zfacts.com/p/318.html
http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/06/tax-cuts-republicans-starve-the-beast-columnists-bruce-bartlett.html
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/the-fiscal-legacy-of-george-w-bush/
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/blaming-obama-for-george-w-bushs-policies/
( Bruce Bartlett held senior policy roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush
administrations and served on the staffs of Representatives Jack Kemp and Ron
Paul. )
Instead of braying "BS", thry and refute what Ive posted!
the projected explosive growth in entitlement program obligations have everything to do with demographics and unfunded promises and nothing to do with the "debt crisis"...this was an issue before 2008. Entitlements are long overdue for reform..so you attempt to try and link the two is just plain idiotic
It's not guts he and his party lacks. It's balls!