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House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) believes that a "political rebellion" akin to the American revolution of 1776 is brewing, that the Social Security retirement age should be raised to 70, and that the Wall Street reform bill currently moving through Congress is comparable to "killing an ant with a nuclear weapon."

In an explosive interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the GOP leader also charged that Democrats are "snuffing out the America that I grew up in." He added, "Right now, we've got more Americans engaged in their government than at any time in our history. There's a political rebellion brewing, and I don't think we've seen anything like it since 1776."

Boehner did not go so far as to predict, as he has before, that this "political rebellion" would necessarily mean that Republicans will retake the House of Representatives in November, paving the way for him to become the next Speaker.

But he charged that the "American people have written off the Democrats. They're willing to look at [Republicans] again."

Boehner went on to say that the passage of the historic overhaul of the country's health care system had "pushed most Americans over the edge," and insisted that he would lead an effort to repeal the bill if Republicans were voted back into power in November.

Boehner's criticism of the Democratic agenda then moved to the recently-negotiated financial regulatory reform package, which he likened to "killing an ant with a nuclear weapon." According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Boehner argued that the financial system would be better served by "more transparency and better enforcement by regulators."

The minority leader also answered questions about Social Security, which he said could not remain solvent as it is currently structured.

Ensuring there's enough money to pay for the war will require reforming the country's entitlement system, Boehner said. He said he'd favor increasing the Social Security retirement age to 70 for people who have at least 20 years until retirement, tying cost-of-living increases to the consumer price index rather than wage inflation and limiting payments to those who need them.

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"We need to look at the American people and explain to them that we're broke," Boehner said. "If you have substantial non-Social Security income while you're retired, why are we paying you at a time when we're broke? We just need to be honest with people.

"

UPDATE:

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs responded to Boehner's attack on the Wall Street reform bill, accusing him of "opening one's mouth and removing most of the doubt that you're completely out of touch with America." Gibbs went on to say that millions of Americans had been financially devastated by the practices that the bill is designed to address and said that Boehner's criticism "demonstrates how out of touch you are currently and it demonstrates exactly the type of mindset that he would bring to leading the House of Representatives."

FURTHER UPDATE:

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has suggested similar solutions for extending the solvency of Social Security. During a speech at a Third Way event on June 22, 2010, Hoyer said:

"On the spending side, we could and should consider a higher retirement age, or one pegged to lifespan; more progressive Social Security and Medicare benefits; and a stronger safety net for the Americans who need it most."

Watch Boehner's health care comments:

Watch Boehner's social security comments:

Know something we don't? E-mail us at [e-mail]

Comments

[mmellema]

Boenher, McCain, Mcconnel are the real enemies of this country. Obvious racists that can't deal with an intelligent black man in the White House and try to sabotage everything. Over 200 bills sitting in Senate they won't act on, Butt kissing with BP, Insurance and Wall Street and selling out the middle class. OK war money but denying unemployment payments, trying to stop Wall Street reform, health care and lying about everything. What kind of idiot supports the GOP? Going back to the Bush policies would be a major disaster. Bush stinks. This country wants change but the GOP fights against it.

[FrogDaddy]

I disagree with Representative Boehner. Americans haven't written off democrats in order to boost republican representation. I think that Citizens are tired of politicians altogether! The men and women who are running this country have no clue what it's like to actually live and work here. They are so far disconnected that they aren't qualified to represent the citizen public! Democrat and Republican alike, only care about the next term.

[taylorfive]

well put! fanned.

[Lorianne]

Pelosi Sneaked Approval of Vote on Debt Commission Recommendations into Rule Regarding War Funding
http://firedoglake.com/2010/07/01/breaking-pelosi-sneaks-approval-of-vote-on-debt-commission-recommendations-into-rule-regarding-war-funding/

FDL has learned that in a last minute move, Nancy Pelosi sneaked language into the rule that the House is voting on tonight regarding war funding.

The commission is packed with members who favor the raising the retirement age to 70, means testing, and private accounts.

It’s ironic [should read: hypocritical] that yesterday Pelosi sent out press releases criticizing John Boehner for expressing the very same positions

[awa611]

.........after reading a few more posts, he also forgets that, unlike when he was growing up, we now have an enormous amount of retired people, and future retired people, whose pensions were destroyed by the system that he has been working to protect. Boehner is such a perfect example of how republicans ignore the facts and march on in their make believe society.

[awa611]

I love how his biggest concern is paying for the war. The fact that he wants to raise the retirement age so lumps like him can use our tax money longer for their wasteful spending. Are any of his constituents paying attention and realizing what this guy really is?

[Lorianne]

Pelosi Sneaked Approval of Vote on Debt Commission Recommendations into Rule Regarding War Funding
http://firedoglake.com/2010/07/01/breaking-pelosi-sneaks-approval-of-vote-on-debt-commission-recommendations-into-rule-regarding-war-funding/

FDL has learned that in a last minute move, Nancy Pelosi sneaked language into the rule that the House is voting on tonight regarding war funding.

The commission is packed with members who favor the raising the retirement age to 70, means testing, and private accounts.

It’s ironic [should read: hypocritical] that yesterday Pelosi sent out press releases criticizing John Boehner for expressing the very same positions

[ultrabop]

He said it. He wants to go back to the 50's. In that case we need to do as Ike said and beware of the military-industrial complex. We need to raise taxes so that the rich pay their share. The minimum wage would have to be raised to compensate for inflation. And tanning salons will not have been invented yet.

[CaliTLC]

I suggest that we lower the mandatory retirement age for orange people serving in Congress from Ohio with the initials J.B. and who hold the position of House Minority Leader who has served in the Navy for only 8 weeks to 60 years old.

[dancucich]

Too bad we can't freeze his retirement funds until he is 70.

[taylorfive]

you got that right. he doesn't have a clue or probably care to know how it feels to actually work all of your life.

[petermax]

and what about age discrimination Mr. Boehner?

[inthenameofBOB]

Getting a bronze glow for the summer -- at least artificially -- is about to get a little more expensive.

A 10% tax will be tacked on to indoor tanning bills starting Thursday, as part of the health-care reform President Obama signed into law in March.

John Boehner - WHAT!? My beautiful tan!.........I'm melting........melting......melting.

[cybersense]

I kind of think that whole "tan tax" think was put in just for him. hehehehe

Fitting.

But, how old is Boehner anyway? Maybe he should retire - yeah, lets just save people tons of money and retire him. BTW, I don't suppose he knows why there are so many people in retirement, does he? I don't suppose he remembers the "baby boomer" range, or that that particular generation paid in the most to social security, and should have covered the next generation, or that the last Admin (and others) took a lot out of social security and never put it back. Do you think he remembers any of this important "little" facts?

[wattalaff]

Unbelievably, he was born in 1949....he looks older...like aged leather!

[lynzyluhu]

Yes, Boehner, a lot has aged since you were born in 1776...

[xiaonan127]

do not bother what age you retire , anyway , still have to take the social security fund

[HarmNone]

"We need to look at the American people and explain to them that we're broke," Boehner said. "If you have substantial non-Social Security income while you're retired, why are we paying you at a time when we're broke?

First, Why are we broke? Who wrote the money out of the checkbook? Sound like republicans?
Second: If there is no money, we are we spending so much on a war instead of the citizens who put the money in there?

I think politicians don't want people to retire and have the time to watch and listen to what's going on and voting accordingly.

[tinka]

President Bush’s Fiscal Budget for 2008 was projected at $2.662 trillion. One-fourth of this revenue was from payroll taxes that were supposed to go towards future SS benefits. Since these benefits weren’t currently needed, the government borrowed $674 Billion to pay for other stuff like 2 wars. Bush never intended to pay it back, nor will any POTUS after him.

If that money had been allowed to chill and earn interest until needed (along with all the other borrowed moneys) the funds would accumulate and the Social Security pyramid would be intact. President Bush was not the first to help himself to the Social Cookie Jar and probably won’t be the last. What I find offensive is that they all try to sell it as something else. It isn’t going bankrupt because the working drones aren’t putting the money in; it is what coming out that killing the fund.

[Renifer]

Tinka,
Do you remember when Republicans mocked Al Gore for wanting to put the Social Security Fund into a "locked box"? I do. With all do respect, you're assertion that no president will ever protect the SS fund cannot be backed up with facts at the moment, as the future will always be unknowable. Republicans have been drooling over this fund for a long time, wanting to steal it.
Bush went on a 60 city tour to steal it. Aren't we glad that we "re-elected" Bush, so that he could spend us into oblivion such that Republicans can try, yet again, to steal the SS fund? Bush spent 22 trillion in eight years, more than all other presidents before him COMBINED, and that includes Reagan, who spent a trillion dollars of our hard earned tax money on the failed boondoggle called Star Wars that didn't produce a single viable weapon or make us safer, and Reagan's welfare for the super super rich. Repubs spend us into the ground and then point the finger when taxes have to be raised to pay for their spending. We don't need to cut spending, we need to spend to stimulate the economy into recovery, which is the only way it happens. In FDR's time we were spending 150% of GDP, and we paid it back in only a few years because the economy RECOVERED from the nightmare that Repubs left during that Republican Great Depression.

[Travis bdboy]

It has been determined by scientists that Agent Orange is not orange because of tanning beds....it's because he has his head where the sun doesn't shine for too many years.