Boehner Invokes JFK To Refute Obama On Inequality

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) on Wednesday invoked a famous John F. Kennedy quote to push back on President Obama’s new populist theme of rising income inequality.

“President Kennedy in 1960 said, ‘a rising tide lifts all boats,’ and I think that is in fact correct,” Boehner said on Laura Ingraham’s radio show. “We need to help every American. Our job here is not to divide the American people, it’s not to create envy amongst the American people. It’s to help every American have a fair shot at the American dream.”

The speaker said he merely “stared at the back of the president’s head” during Tuesday night’s State of the Union speech and tried “not to be an issue.” He also said the last time he talked to Obama was December 23.

Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: