Boehner: I Was Just Teasing Republicans On Immigration Reform

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, joined by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., right, meets with reporters following a Republican caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 12, 2014. After months... House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, joined by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., right, meets with reporters following a Republican caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 12, 2014. After months of railing against President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, Republicans scored a key victory in a hard-fought congressional race in a Florida special election Tuesday that largely turned on the federal health care law and that had been closely watched as a bellwether of midterm elections in November. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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In his first Capitol Hill press conference after a two-week recess, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) downplayed his mocking of fellow Republicans last week for shying away from immigration reform.

“You tease the ones you love,” Boehner told reporters, saying he was “misunderstood” and reverting to his earlier position that President Barack Obama was the “biggest impediment” to the House acting on immigration.

He said he’d continue talking to House Republican to see “if” there was a way forward, and called on Obama to show Congress that “he can be trusted to implement the law.”

In a public meeting with his constituents, Boehner suggested his colleagues were too afraid to take on immigration reform, theatrically mocking them in a high-pitched voice: “Ohhhh. Don’t make me do this. Ohhhh. This is too hard.”

Conservatives were upset. Heritage Action, a tea party group, quickly criticized the Speaker after the remarks were reported. The National Review published an editorial on Monday titled “Boehner’s Tantrum,” arguing that “the system is working as it should: Fear of political repercussions is keeping congressmen from voting for unwise legislation.”

“What we cannot do is redeem the spectacle of a man who treats his fit of pique as though it were an act of leadership,” the editors concluded.

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Notable Replies

  1. Perhaps he’s just been teasing whole country about his position in the House, too!

  2. I was pretty sure he didn’t mean it and/or intended to walk it back at some point…

  3. We want Pelosi, We want Pelosi, We want Pelosi

  4. These rubes are getting more sad and pitiful by the day. Just teasing? Really? How cute.

    Running scared is a good look on you, Republicans.

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