Jay Carney Says John Boehner Has 'Putin Envy'

White House Claims John Boehner Has 'Putin Envy'

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Thursday that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has a case of "Putin envy," responding to a web video that Boehner released arguing that the president was more willing to negotiate with his Russian counterpart than with the speaker.

"The video, I thought, demonstrated a little Putin envy -- a little odd, a bit of Putin envy, on the part of the speaker. Maybe he can explain it," Carney said.

White House spokesman Matt Lehrich defined the term on Twitter:

President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats have repeatedly said that they will not negotiate with Republicans over raising the debt ceiling. Meanwhile, the House GOP is pushing a plan that offers a one-year debt ceiling hike along with approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, tax reform and a one-year delay of Obamacare.

Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck brushed off Carney's comment on Twitter:

Before You Go

We Mean It... Smile!

Say Cheese! Mitch McConnell Smiles

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot