John Boehner: President Obama Uses Tea Party Congress As 'Excuse'

WASHINGTON -- It's not that the House Tea Party caucus gets in the way of compromise -- it's that President Barack Obama uses the group as an excuse for not cutting deals, House Speaker John Boehner charged Monday.

Speaking in an interview on PBS NewsHour, Boehner (R-Ohio) added that it will require "courage" to find ways to cut spending and the debt.

"We've had a lot of very good discussions. Unfortunately, did not see a lot of results," Boehner said before denying that he's been hamstrung by the conservative freshman class in his talks with the president over things like extending the debt limit last summer.

"When the president and I have been able to come to an agreement, there has been no issue at all in getting whatever the agreement was, passed," Boehner said. "I think it's an excuse that the White House uses, because there are so many areas we have not been able to come to agreement on."

While Boehner said he's ready to deal with tough spending and debt issues, he suggested others -- apparently including Obama -- are not.

"There is a way to do this, but it takes courage," Boehner said. "I am more than willing to address this problem at any moment with the president, because the future of our country depends on us coming to an agreement that will begin to solve our debt problem."

Boehner has suffered numerous setbacks because of rebellions from the right within his caucus, most recently when his members balked at a deal to extend the payroll tax cut -- opposition that ended in an embarrassing reversal for the GOP just before Christmas.

The speaker insisted that such issues were not a big deal. "While there are some divisions within the Republican side of the aisle, they pale in comparison to the divisions on the other side of the aisle," Boehner said, apparently referring to conservative Democrats who often vote with the GOP, and liberals who sometimes oppose the Democratic leadership.

"My job is to bring our team to do what's doable," Boehner said, noting that Congress is meant to be fractious. "I'm presiding over an institution that was designed not to work. The founders gave us 435 members from all across the country, one big committee, to solve America's issues. It's a demanding job, but I'm glad I've got it."

Comments

[wooper]

09:09 PM on 02/14/2012

I just wish someone in the tea party would explain how they support continued tax cuts for the top 1% but do not want tax cuts for the other 99%. Especially since I would guess the great majority of tea party supporters are in the 99%.

The answer is they have been conned into believing that it is better for them to suffer and the rich to prosper because they will create jobs with the extra money. Well, where are all those jobs they are supposed to be creating?

They top 1% has been investing the money and paying taxes on the dividends and capital gains at a 15% rate, not creating jobs, and not loaning out money to people who want to start small businesses.

It's like a ponzi scheme...very few receive a benefit that is supported by the many.

All they had to do was wave a social issue like abortion in front of the tea partiers and they blindly followed along like a donkey following a carrot on a string. People like the Koch Brothers couldn't care less about social issues. It's all about them being able to control Republican politicians, making more money and paying less taxes.

Wise up tea party. You are being used.

[My Mate Pat]

02:17 PM on 02/14/2012

Is it just me, or is his near-smile a bit weird? And sinister?

[LVirgie]

03:19 PM on 02/10/2012

Speaker Boehner will never work with President Obama, because he don't want the President to get relected. Boehner show an little racism also.

[nitwitsRus]

08:27 AM on 02/09/2012

yep
WHOLE new meanin' ta
TPin' The House

[LVirgie]

03:24 PM on 02/10/2012

John Boehner is using the XLX keystone pipeline bill for his on personal gain. Boehner have stocks in this bill and he is lying to the american peoples.

[nitwitsRus]

03:48 PM on 02/10/2012

it could be
&
it could be
Hay!
we gotta figure out SUM way
of gettin' Obama outta office?

[nitwitsRus]

03:56 PM on 02/10/2012

the teleprompter trick didn't work
&
delbertino is
unreliable

[rickwar]

08:17 AM on 02/09/2012

John Boehner: President Obama Uses Tea Party Congress As 'Excuse'

The real problem? The excuse of the House leader, John Boehner. If you can't control you're own house, you're hopeless.

Now John, go stand in the corner and have a good cry, stop blaming you're failure on someone else.

[El Jefe]

05:08 PM on 02/08/2012

We must unite against the government and forget the Democratic-Republican division. Statism/unconstitutionality is the problem.

[merle tangry]

04:04 PM on 02/08/2012

Johnny fed the Gremlins then the Gremlins ate Johnny. Johnny started cryn' smashed his head into a bottle then the tanning bed then his podium. Bye Johnny the Cantor is singing you offstage.

[nitwitsRus]

09:22 AM on 02/08/2012

BUT
i'm glad i
won't have it
MUCH longer

[linksteroh]

09:04 AM on 02/08/2012

NO, MR. SPEAKER! It is your fault! You are the most ineffectual House Speaker possibly the worst we ever had! You have had no control over your caucus and the t-bags will be the reason you will be handing the gavel back to Pelosi, unless Cantor finishes the job and puts that knife in your back, which he has had halfway in already. Your'e a complete classless clown!

[El Jefe]

05:06 PM on 02/08/2012

Are you defending Obama or just attacking Boehner?

[linksteroh]

09:44 PM on 02/08/2012

President Obama is not without his faults, but John Boehner from day one, and I will never forget on 60 min. stated "I don't like the word compromise". When he was asked how could he work with the President if he wasn't willing to work and compromise? He stated "I won't even speak the word"! That told me he had no intention ever of working on solutions, not to mention the historic number of bills that have not been passed or even worked on. His first business as Speaker was to read the Constitution to Congress. His inability to get his caucus to work together and past legislation that would bring down the deficit and debt.
Just today the Gallup Poll came out and said the Congress approval rating was 10%! That is the lowest approval rating of any Congress in our history! The man needs to go! By the way Obama's approval rating is at 51%.

[EmpyPockets]

04:41 PM on 02/07/2012

Hey John, how come you weren't concerned with the $1B that house members funneled into the “Mission Force Enhancement Transfer Fund,” in 2011, hidden in the DOD as their personal slush funds for "earmarks". Cost the taxpayers $651Million before they were caught and had to return $350Million to the treasury. Is this why Cantor and other GOP congressmen are wanting to reverse the Defense Dept cuts? Need more slush funds? Talk about cutting spending!! Cut out your congresses pilfering of taxpayers money for their pet projects & campaign donations. I, nor any of your constituents voted to give Allen West $8M for drone engines. The DoD nor president has requested this. How many other slush funds are there? Could it be the millions & sometimes trillions missing year after year from the DOD be from the good old boys slush fund network instead of incompentance of the Pentagon?
http://endthelie.com/2011/05/29/secret-slush-fund-congress-funnel-millions-dollars-projects-earmark-ban/#axzz1ljVuBKf9

[korbendal]

03:46 PM on 02/07/2012

I still think there should be a job performance system in Congress...
you get paid or paid more only when you bring in results.
There's no reason that Congress men should get paid $175,000 for just saying "NO"...
I can do that too.. but unfortunately I get paid a fraction of that.
This way, we could provide our members of Congress an incentive to actually do some work, and save money on those who don't do anything.

[EmpyPockets]

04:52 PM on 02/07/2012

Congress works about 30 weeks per year. Their salary is nothing compared to their allowances use to lease cars, free air travel 1st class, & freebies. Avg house member allowance $1.4M each X 435. Avg senator allowance $3.3M X 100.
CNN 6-27-11 " Congress pays $6.1 million in bonuses as it debates spending cuts"

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-27/politics/congressional.bonuses_1_staff-bonuses-spending-cuts-lawmakers?_s=PM:POLITICS

[Christian Howell]

10:30 PM on 02/07/2012

Maybe a test would be better...I've had to take a test for jobs and I can't cause WWIII.

[krenzny]

03:46 PM on 02/07/2012

Please remind this Ahole that he is NOT the President.Also, he should know that most of the country is on to him and his obstructionist tactics, and his do nothing party. Let him know also, that he should maybe start bringing some boxes from home for his stuff,

[Howard Scott Pearlman 59]

03:45 PM on 02/07/2012

Boehner is a JOKE !

The uncompromising Republican Party is obstucting everything and thus keeps the Recovery from blossoming !

The Republican Party is so Anti - Jesus , all they care about is the RICH !

[Jawbey]

03:43 PM on 02/07/2012

Just put your glass down for a minute.
You will be surprised at what you can SEE.

[ReMarker]

03:36 PM on 02/07/2012

Who better to have as the 'excuse' police than a person, like Boehner, that has first hand knowledge of making excuses. Psst John, there is a difference between an excuse and a MISTAKE. America having a Tea Party Congress is a MISTAKE!!!