John Boehner: Obama Relationship Has Become 'Frosty'

WASHINGTON -- The relationship between House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and President Barack Obama has been "frosty" over the past two weeks, the speaker said on Sunday, despite their past work together on decreasing the deficit.

"The president and I have a pretty good relationship," he said on ABC's "This Week." "It's been a little frosty over the last two weeks. But we've got a pretty good relationship. And I've told the president, and I'm the most straight-up transparent person in this town, that I would never mislead him, that my word is my bond."

"Doesn't mean that we always agree," he added.

Boehner and the president worked together this summer on a grand compromise to cut the deficit, which would have included major spending cuts and some revenue increases. Those talks broke down, and now a congressional "super committee" is working on a plan that will likely make only a fraction of those cuts.

Boehner has said repeatedly that failing to come to an agreement with the president is one of his biggest regrets, a statement he repeated on "This Week." He said he does not think it would be easy for the two to come together again for a major deal on the deficit, saying, "It's hard to put Humpty Dumpty back together again."

"I really thought the president and I could come to an agreement," he said. "I thought that for the good of the country he and I could have solved this problem."

Still, the speaker said he strongly supports the effort by the super committee to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the deficit, which he said "has to work." The group -- 12 members representing each party and chamber -- has been tasked with finding sufficient cuts by a Nov. 23 deadline, but remains gridlocked.

He said reports of the joint committee's lack of progress do not necessarily mean it will fail.

"I wouldn't describe it as an impasse," he said. "This is hard. If it was easy, the president and I could have solved it. If it was easy, congresses over the last 20 years would have solved it."

Despite his support for compromise, Boehner doubled down on his criticism of Obama's "class warfare" message, saying the prospects for a deal are harmed by the president's call for additional taxes on the wealthy.

"We are not going to engage in class warfare," he said. "The president's out there doing it every day, and I frankly think it's unfortunate."

Comments

[javaroyal]

06:34 PM on 11/19/2011

If I use my imagination, I can see a scenario where the two parties no longer disagree on everything. What if there was one thing they could agree on ... one that would actually put people back to work? What could that look like?

Animation - Washington Compromise (copy and past in your browser if it doesn't work as a link): http://youtu.be/qvAOB-zk-5w

OK, don't shoot me ... just having fun here; nationwide, the cabinet industry (which supports housing) is about 1/3 the size it was in 2006 and could use a little positive energy!

[smburwick]

09:29 AM on 11/09/2011

ZeraLee: you are talking Rachel Maddow points. Google: Socialists in Congress.

[skippythepinhead]

09:40 PM on 11/08/2011

I can't say worst speaker ever, as I wasn't alive for most of our country's history. Worst speaker in my lifetime. And that's still saying something.

[Aurical]

10:20 AM on 11/08/2011

In related news, relationships between foxes and hens are also described as being "frosty"!

[victhpooh]

09:04 AM on 11/08/2011

Frosty? Geez, this dude has done nothing but try to destroy Obama and everything he stands for. What a whiner! If you insult someone and talk crap about them publically for 2 years, really what do you expect?

[bobbypope66]

06:11 PM on 11/08/2011

Sorry, thought you were talking about obama at first. Boehner is trying to avoid a financial collapse. Even a bigger tax on the those who EARN more couldn't pay for this new handout. Also, you can't get one of those jobs if you don't live in the northeast or if you are not part of a union.

[Chris Cappiello]

02:23 AM on 11/08/2011

I would like to come to terms with this president, it's just unfortunate he wants to DO BATTLE WITH THE RICH PEOPLE AND KILL THEM ALL! *drool*

[Bill Robison]

08:09 PM on 11/07/2011

I think Boehner will find the middle class a little bit "Frosty" also.

[Celeste5793]

05:52 PM on 11/07/2011

Boehner was terrible to this President. Boehner didn't have the courage to stand up to the far right in his own party when the President wanted and worked hard to come to an agreement with the gop. Now that Boehner is probably getting ready to run for reelection in his own district in 2012, he's trying to act like a reasonable man. I hope Boehner's district throws him out.

[Aurical]

10:26 AM on 11/08/2011

He will lose not because his base doesn't see him as reasonable enough, they think he is TOO reasonable! They think he had been too cooperative and cozy. He has not obstructed enough, unreal.

[Celeste5793]

06:26 PM on 11/08/2011

Funny, that's exactly how I see the gop (small caps).

[grayplace]

05:25 PM on 11/07/2011

Just another episode of "That's My BOehNER!"

[mdmbuzz]

04:49 PM on 11/07/2011

Worst Speaker ever.

[JEWELLINGS]

04:11 PM on 11/07/2011

President Obama should have been more than frosty years ago.

[jerseyrambo]

02:34 PM on 11/07/2011

Does boehner not recognize the greatness of this man? How dare you sir! Now, open the purse..this administration got a spendin itch that needs scratchin!

[daddycool 67]

12:32 PM on 11/07/2011

Hell NO ! You can't repair that relationship ! Too late for that now ... a**wipes !

What you do now is crush that fool and then publicly belly laugh in his face when he gets ejected from his speaker of the house slot.

[celtcalgal]

12:05 PM on 11/07/2011

dubya still gives me nightmares, I guess thats bacause some of the nightmares he created are still with us.

[Mr-Mikey]

11:59 AM on 11/07/2011

Republicans are some twisted sad sacks, they'll starve the poor.. They'll steal healthcare from childrens, they'll force women to bear children. They'll redefine their favorite pasttime (rape) so women can't get assistance, they'll steal your last dollar... They will let corporations outsource every last job, an after they are done destroying the nation... Leaving it in rubble, burning and desecrated... They'll blame it on a liberal.

Whats even more disgusting, is their base eats it up and cheers their own destruction.. ANY attempt to be better, to do better, to treat their own neighbors with a hint of compassion and dignity (EVEN when it comes from their own party members) is decried as commun1sm, socia1ism, MARX1SM, an they clutch their bibles to their chests and have a coniption about the EVILS of being kind to one another.

mayhaps you should open that good book you clutch to your chest, and read it sometimes?

[frobosetf]

12:27 PM on 11/07/2011

News Flash: Republicans are EXTREMELY generous people. However there is a big difference between helping your neighbor, and being F-O-R-C-E-D to support people who think they are entitled to your wealth, aren't grateful for the help, and have no intention of paying you back. ROBBERY IS NOT CHARITY.

[daddycool 67]

12:37 PM on 11/07/2011

After we take OUR country back ....YOU WILL BE FORCED to help your fellow citizens, because that's what we do in America. And NO, they will not pay you back So get used to it !

And if you find it just too much to handle ... you may leave our country. We won't make you stay. Most likely, we've got no use for you anyway.

[kruggerX]

07:09 PM on 11/07/2011

forget being force to pay anyone what about the JOBS that they set free with there taxcodes When they controlled Congress under Clinton. Maybe your to young or just don't remember the tax breaks that made tit profitable to move Mattel toys and other manufacturing jobs over seas. Thats why GE made BILLIONS last yuear and paid NO taxes. Because the Repblican Congress made all overseas profits none taxable. With our blue collar base gone we might not get all the way back from this ression. What kind of jobs is BIG business going to create if we leave the taxs where they are? That is the $640000 question I would like answered.