Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary: 'Some People Don't Want Obama To Be Successful'

WASHINGTON — The most prominent Republican in the Obama administration is accusing GOP House members of blocking efforts to resolve the nation's problems, partly because they don't want the president to be successful.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was asked at a transportation conference Friday why it was so difficult to get big infrastructure projects built right now.

He responded that "some people don't want Obama to be successful."

He said "a big percentage of the Republicans that were elected this time came here to do zero, and that's what they've done." LaHood says those lawmakers have obstructed other people who want to get things done.

LaHood said Thursday he will not serve beyond President Barack Obama's first term, according to the Chicago Tribune. He served in Congress for 14 years before joining Obama's cabinet. After the retirement of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on July 1, he remains the only Republican in the Obama cabinet.

The Huffington Post's Sam Stein interviewed LaHood last May. The transportation secretary expressed concern for bicyclist safety and praised the creation of bike lanes in cities. When asked whether he was a "hipster" for defending cyclist safety, he said, "I don't even know what that term means."

Comments

[Armand77789]

05:48 PM on 10/16/2011

Its simple republicans are in denial that they cause the uuge defecit spendeng and thowing it off
on the democrats and I mean all 14 trillion dollars.
If you follow politics over the years it is very very obvious.

[ScribL]

07:57 PM on 10/15/2011

Thanks LaHood we all know they're do nothing good for nothings, but thanks for saying it.

[rowdiman]

07:30 PM on 10/15/2011

I'm just happy to hear someone in his Administration come out and say it. More need to speak publicly and show they have Obama's back.

[lrrymry]

05:56 PM on 10/15/2011

The Tea party people are really tea baggers, they would like to watch this admin. fail so they could say I told you so. Then Paul Ryan and John Beohner would stand behind them cheering. Not one of them has the interest of the country at heart. They are pirates and privateers and want to take the ship down with them. May God help us the middle class.

[centsable]

06:30 PM on 10/15/2011

One month after Obama was sworn in, one month, McConnell said the republicans top priority was to make Obama a one term president. This, even if Obama fails this nation fails also...is it personal or just hate?

[rowdiman]

07:31 PM on 10/15/2011

Personal Greed on their part. They don't even care about their own constituents, just their own personal wealth. Sad state of affairs, isn't it? Fanned.

[lrrymry]

09:17 PM on 10/15/2011

I think it is both.

[scottwarhar]

05:44 PM on 10/15/2011

Teapublicans are repressive and digressive.They believe that even though they were elected by a minority they claim to speak for a majority.If there is progress they believe they will lose so thier only hope is failure.If we are allowed to vote I believe the next election will be the last for many of these people.Good bye,adios,and don't let the door hit you.

[tinkertoy]

02:58 AM on 10/19/2011

The 'cons need to go the way of the Whigs. Buh-bye! Don't the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.

[AndyMorrow]

03:25 PM on 10/15/2011

Republicans and Tea Partiers have already demonstrated their intent to stall any movement forward. They want it their way or no way. The party of uncompromising greed.

[Totto]

03:50 PM on 10/15/2011

And they will do this indefinitely, if they are given the chance.

[Reba Latimer]

04:10 PM on 10/15/2011

Yes,you may not,but I hate the tea party,I really do.

[Reba Latimer]

04:22 PM on 10/15/2011

The tea party hates Obama so much,that will do any thing to destroy him,no matter the cost to
America.just look at the clowns the Republicans have as candidates to run against Obama,it
would be laughable if not for the fact one of them could really become the next President.

[Z trufflesniffer]

03:10 PM on 10/15/2011

I don't think he'll get any who will argue against this comment. Of course it true. His party is the party of greed and ego and I can't tell you which comes first. I suspect greed and ego walk hand in hand these days.

[lrrymry]

05:58 PM on 10/15/2011

They are twins

[Z trufflesniffer]

06:36 PM on 10/15/2011

Identical and attached at the hip as well.

[knott wrench]

03:04 PM on 10/15/2011

Exactly, He "Hit the Nail on its Head". A lot more people have come to this realization.

[kevamy]

04:18 PM on 10/15/2011

Well the only way to fix this is to vote anyone who refuses to work with this president out of office in 2012. This is not the democratic way and if you are only in Washington to obstruct then get out.

[knott wrench]

04:28 PM on 10/15/2011

The thing is, once a Politician gets in, they continue to try and stay in office any way they can, which begets them "Ethically Compromised" when Grover Norquest "Offers his 'Pledge'" to them.

[centsable]

06:34 PM on 10/15/2011

The only way to do this is to vote. Bi tch and complain, get angry, shout, spit, but go to the polls in 2012. See what happens when voters stay home....VOTE 2012!!!

[lrrymry]

06:00 PM on 10/15/2011

The sleeping giant the american middle class has awoken and hopefully will throw these pirates out of office.

[Chris Harter]

02:29 PM on 10/15/2011

I think that if they don't do anything then their benefits and pay need to be held back,just like it is with the 99% 's! There is no good reason for our Gov to be acting like they're in 1st grade but if THEY insist then they need to have their allowance taken away.

[FluffBear]

02:23 PM on 10/15/2011

HOLY SCHNIKEE! It has finally been, said. This should be the number one headline so ALL GOP can see that a Republican ACTUALLY AGREES WITH US DEMS. You do not want to see the President succeed.. and you are always saying that is not the case. Psh..

[Goldshield]

02:18 PM on 10/15/2011

La Hood is not a true Republican he's a RINO (Republican in name only), if you read his bio's he is more in tune with the democrats than the republicans.

The Washington Post reported that of the $60 million in earmarks LaHood secured for his district in 2008, $9 million went to campaign donors.[17]

He's certainly not someone the conservative wing of the republican party (the Tea Party) will support, they are against earmarks, pork barrel spending, cronyism he will never get their support.

[Rasheada Rodgers]

12:32 PM on 10/17/2011

Aside from your opinion on what type of Republican he is, the point is that many people in the United States see that there is a high level of obstruction. We can see that especially the tea party republican's real goal is to make Barack Obama a one term president at all costs. If Barack Obama found a cure for cancer they would try to stop him from curing everyone because they hate him and the idea that he is President just that much. Us American can see that Barack is being setup for failure at every turn. The opposition to OUR President, opposition to him even attempting to help the economy and lack of changes to Corporate greed are the reasons why the Majority of voters are supportive of the Wall Street protesters.

[Goldshield]

04:13 PM on 10/17/2011

"We can see that especially the tea party republican­'s real goal is to make Barack Obama a one term president at all costs."

The Tea Party goal is to have every politician a one term politician. Tea Party which I might say is not a political party per se but a collection of like minded conservatives who dislikes all political parties. We feel that a politician when he get elected should represent those that elected him/her, not the way it is now. Once a politician get elected he/she gets Washingtonized and becomes a party politician not the peoples politician.

Lincoln's republic of a "Government of the People" has morphed into a Government of the Party, By the Party and For the Special Interest, We the People don't count except for one vote and we say Void-Them all (Vote, Out, Incumbent, Deadbeats) and never pull the party lever vote on another smaller party that supports him/her. Why, because voting on the liberal or conservative line take power away from the establish party and returns it to the people.

[nativemama]

12:35 PM on 10/15/2011

Why do American voters not see the lack of interest that the Repubs have in helping them out? I mean, really. You don't have to like the President or like the Dems....but why not LIKE/LOVE the country by helping it do better? What is in us to hate so much as to watch our citizens suffer so much while we do nothing but talk? And why do the citizens themselves think they would better with the people who do not care for them. What am I seeing wrongly here?

[Z trufflesniffer]

03:12 PM on 10/15/2011

American voters need the president to show them otherwise. He is not leading but then neither is no one else in DC.

[Eugene Skidmore]

03:49 PM on 10/15/2011

you cant "lead" in washington when you`re stymied at every quarter. his public promotion of his jobs plan is leading the nation.

[kevamy]

04:20 PM on 10/15/2011

how can he lead when they WILL NOT BE LEAD!

[aforbes808]

12:02 PM on 10/15/2011

My favorite quote: "The Republican Party. Keeping millions out of work, to put one man out of a job."

[Z trufflesniffer]

05:27 PM on 10/15/2011

Good one. Best comment of the week.

[lrrymry]

06:08 PM on 10/15/2011

Great way to sum up these pirates and privateers that call themselves republicans. They should all have to walk the plank. And give us our country back.

[Jerry Lammers]

11:35 AM on 10/15/2011

Ray LaHood is just more proof that President Obama is cut from the same cloth as George W. Bush.

[nativemama]

12:28 PM on 10/15/2011

Oh My. Just that. Oh My.

[Z trufflesniffer]

03:14 PM on 10/15/2011

No they are completely different in MMHO. No one could be as bad as gwb. Obama, I sincerely believe, wants to do good but he hasn't had the experience to back up his wishes. gwb was senseless.

[imfedup]

11:21 AM on 10/15/2011

Gee, YA THINK?