Obama to blast Boehner's 'ant' remark

[sabra]

Source: MSNBC

Mark Murray writes: The White House has released excerpts of President Obama's upcoming speech today in Racine, WI, to signal that he will use his remarks to criticize the Republicans on the economy -- and in particular House Minority Leader John Boehner (though not by name).

...

(J)ust yesterday, I was stunned to hear the leader of the Republicans in the House say that financial reform was like using a nuclear weapon to target an ant. That’s right. He compared the financial crisis to an ant. The same financial crisis that led to the loss of nearly eight million jobs. The same crisis that cost people their homes and their lives savings.

Well if the Republican leader is that out of touch with the struggles facing the American people, he should come here to Racine and ask people if they think the financial crisis was an ant. He should ask the men and women who’ve been out of work for months at a time. He should ask the Americans who send me letters every night that talk about how they’re barely hanging on.

These Americans don’t believe the financial crisis was an ant. They know that it’s what led to the worst recession since the Great Depression. And they expect their leaders in Washington to do whatever it takes to make sure a crisis like this never happens again. The Republican leader might want to maintain a status quo on Wall Street. But we want to move America forward.

Boehner spokesman Michael Steel emails this response: “The president should be focused on solving the problems of the American people – stopping the leaking oil and cleaning up the Gulf, scrapping his job-killing agenda, repealing and replacing ObamaCare – instead of the House Republican Leader’s choice of metaphors. It's clear Boehner was not minimizing the crisis America faced - he was pointing out that Washington Democrats have produced a bill that will actually kill more jobs and make the situation worse.”

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/30/4587884...

[babylonsister]

1. Perfect! May every cable news channel pick up that sound bite.

And watch when/if they don't.

[activa8tr]

9. I am willing to bet Fox News will screw it up and make it look like

Obama is the bad guy here, for picking on poor John Bonehead.

Just guessing Fox will do that, but on some pretty good historical precedent...

[babylonsister]

30. faux probably won't even show Obama's remarks, and that

is my considered opinion based on some precedent!

[DailyGrind51]

47. A caller to Bill Press' program said that FOX didn't even cover Boehner's comment!

FOX make one of their own look stupid? When elephants fly!

[Ken Burch]

56. If the soundbite works, look for THIS caption on Fox:

"Rep. John Boehner, D-Ohio".

[millerm777]

41. fox news

Will fox news cencure Boenher remarks, was Boenher drinking??

[breadandwine]

50. Aw, come on. Unemployment comp is a form of WELFARE. Didn'tcha know?

Here's whatcha do. Take out a shotgun and shoot every unemployed person. Magically, jobs will appear out of thin air!

And throw toxic waste in the woods. That'll make the economy go up!

And while yer at it, every sick person should get up off their hospital bed and go out and get a job!

And all those people getting unemployment checks? So WHAT if that keeps up consumer demand! If people don't have enough money to buy the products rich people make, SHOOT 'EM!

THAT'LL solve EVERYTHING.

And don't forget to vote Republican.

And oh yes:

Drill baby drill!
Drill baby drill!
Drill baby drill!
Drill baby drill!
Drill baby drill!
Drill baby drill!
Drill baby drill!
Drill baby drill!


Sometimes I just WONDER about those beady little librul eyes o' yours.

[JuniperLea]

2. "The president should be focused on solving the problems of the American people"

That's what this statement is doing, it's focusing on solving one of the most corrupt, disgusting, evil, immoral, unjust, hateful, misleading, disruptive, distracting, and obstructionist practices known to Americans today... the bovine excrement spewed by the RW 24/7. If he can put a dent in that, he will help millions of Americans.

[mike_c]

3. exactly!-- the republican party IS one of the major problems faced by America....

Well said!

[lark]

45. Actually it's the ultra rich cabal that are the major problem

The Repugs are just their paid for water carriers. They get the payments and power and everyone who is not part of the right wing reich get nothing. All that value voters crap is just that - the RW finding a tool to manipulate the conservative religious voter.

[NewJeffCT]

4. and, we know

if republics get control of the house, they'll start looking into impeachment the day after Boehner becomes Speaker.

[redqueen]

63. Yes, impeachment will be one of their top priorities...

if not *the* top priority.

[NewJeffCT]

64. They would certainly not take that option off the table

by any stretch.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[Arkana]

6. "Repealing and replacing ObamaCare".

I love that they're still running with this even though it's an absolute loser proposition.

[emulatorloo]

12. "Poll: Favorable views of health reform law increasing among Americans"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[leeroysphitz]

7. Boner and Steal are tools and it's awesome to here the president calling them on their bullshit. n/t

[heliarc]

11. This is the best graphic I've seen in a while

That monopoly card is classic. Thanks for the laugh.

[JBoy]

8. You know it's a good ass-kicking when the official repub response is so utterly lame.

[No Elephants]

24. The Republican response is always lame.

[activa8tr]

10. Michael Steel .... let's use him to plug the oil leak in the gulf.

He's useless, even to the Republican Party.

[Thav]

13. There, I fixed it.

Boehner spokesman Michael Steel emails this response: “The president should be focused on removing the taxes of the rich American people – stopping the corporate taxes and cleaning up BP's liability, scrapping his profit-killing agenda, repealing and replacing ObamaCare with something that benefits corporations more – instead of the House Republican Leader’s choice of metaphors. It's clear Boehner was not minimizing the crisis America faced - he was pointing out that Washington Democrats have produced a bill that doesn't hand corporations more money and makes the profits worse.”

[activa8tr]

16. I think you did a good job editing Michael's remarks to make them

more accurate.

GREAT JOB!!! LOL

[laughingliberal]

14. Good! And while he's at it, he can blast Boner for calling for raising SS benefit age to 70. nt

[era veteran]

28. That caught my eye too &

at 56 I don't think my body can hold up that long.Of course thats the idea isn't it? Pronounced b o n e r in German.

[laughingliberal]

36. Right there with you. 55 and barely hanging on, now. Us middle aged boomer are a problem for them. n

[global1]

15. Obama Should Have Added To This By Saying Something Of The Following......

"And to boot Boehner and the Repugs want to raise the retirement age to 70. This is how they intend to solve this crisis."

To me the fact that he suggested raising the retirement age is as damning if not more damning than the ant quote.

The Obama and the Dems need to drive this message to the electorate as well

[activa8tr]

18. Actually hear Stenny Hoyer said something along these lines, too, not to

rain on your parade, but here's a link.... I found it quite amazing.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jun/22/leading-democra... /

"On the spending side, Hoyer said Congress should consider raising the retirement age for full Social Security and Medicare benefits, and making those benefits progressive so that wealthier recipients get less than the needy."

[global1]

20. Wow - This Has Happened To Me All My Life - Just When I Get Close To A Milestone Age.......

they push the goalposts out further and further. I'm nearing retirement age now and that just sucks if the Dems are pushing for this too.

[activa8tr]

25. This can't take effect soon, even if it were passed. Don't worry. n/t

[disndat]

60. Maybe retirement age

should be lower for some and raised for others. In other words I agree with Obama and Hoyer.

[Enrique]

17. 'It's clear Boehner was not minimizing the crisis America faced'

no, of course not. Some ants are actually quite large.

[LiberalLovinLug]

21. Don't you know it!

[yurbud]

19. great! Now ACT as seriously and beat up those in Congress and his own admin watering down bill

[Grinchie]

22. Fail - He assumes the American People know what a Nuclear Bomb is, or Care.

Obama needs to get on the ball and start doing what he promised during the campaign.

[newtothegame]

23. Like to see us spending our time pushing the administration on the agenda..

promised in the campaign, instead of getting off on some promised "zing" that might be coming in some speech.

[SemperEadem]

59. Obama tweets as does his press secretary, Robert Gibbs

you might want to look into that to get your unfiltered message across to him. I respectfully told him the other day that it's long past time for him to start knocking heads togethers.

[No Elephants]

26. Be nice! If you looked like a refugee from sweet potato pie AND were named Boner,

you'd probably say ridiculous things,too.

[disndat]

61. What is the difference

between the pronunciations of Boehner's name, i.e., "Boner" or "Baner"? Some smart DUer, please let me know.

[JerseygirlCT]

27. Andrea Mitchell reading it now on MSNBC

Speaking with Elijah Cummings about financial reform.

[Evasporque]

29. FOX News: Horse Size Killer Ants Threaten America!....nt

[Amaril]

40. LMAO! n/t

[Guilded Lilly]

31. Boehner IS one of the biggest problems for America...

he and his damned Republican obstructionist bullshit punks.

[perdita9]

32. John Boehner is a Cockroach

The GOP should be classified with all the other vermin.

[DirkGently]

33. The "ant" that destroyed the world's economy?

Anyone notice Boehner's eyes in the video clip? He looks like he's having a hard time even shoveling this load?

Still said it, though.

[madrchsod]

34. bill press brought that statement up this morning......

oh no...bill press is the mark levin of the democrats!....

[groundloop]

35. I love a good fight - especially when I'm on the winning side

We need to see more of this. Way to go Prez.

[MBS]

37. his speech is EXCELLENT

Highly recommended! Worth seeing the whole speech, including the introduction. THIS is the man I voted for.Keep it up, Barack!

[superconnected]

38. I like that Obama doesn't just site and take it. Pelosi could learn if she wasn't so SOLD OUT to the

other side. And what do they mean "to blast"? He blasted it.

[lark]

46. Nancy pushed for single payer

Obama nixed even a hint of this. So, tell me who is the real progressive and who isn't?

[orbitalman]

39. I Say Name the SOB. nt

[Duer 157099]

42. Frankly if Obama doesn't mention the other horrific things Boner said

Then I'll be really pissed at Obama for missing a fucking GOLDEN opportunity! Talking about financial reform and ants is a little abstract compared to USING SOCIAL SECURITY to pay for the fucking WARS!!

Goddamn when are Ds going to use the fucking ammo that is just given to them?!?!?

[tilsammans]

44. With you all the way!

Why can't we too have talking points that we repeat over and over? And Boner's remarks are perfect fodder.

[Myrina]

43. I'd rather he blast Boner for his 'cut social security, not war' comment.

[pleah]

48. Orange boy sticks both orange feet in mouth.

Choke on them Orange boy!

[KansDem]

51. "Orange boy sticks both orange feet in mouth."

Judging by the interview today, I'd say he got his bottle of hooch out of his mouth just in time for his feet.

Rachel Maddow laughs & laughs about John Boehner's major political FAIL

Boehner really looks detached and out of sorts in this interview. Booze, perhaps?

[pleah]

65. LOL! Perhaps. ;)

[Divine Discontent]

49. Excellent! Now THIS guy is a stumbling block to getting things done, not progressives on this

board, as I've read recently. These monsters in the Congress that do the bidding of the corporations and belittle the problems as being just the whinings of liberals are the threat to our stability.

WTG Mr President. Do this to each and every one of them that stands in the way of true reform.

[cheneyschernobyl]

52. My concern about this hasn't been addressed yet.

If the (r) minority leader of the house is talking smack, then it actually makes him look more credible to other rethugs if someone much higher up the food chain (President Obama) replies. Where's Pelosi? Where's the DNC Chairman? Where's Reid?

This makes it look like boner is on an equal footing w/ President Obama.

Just sayin' that D's other than the President should slam boner on this.

[Maccagirl]

54. Because Reid and Pelosi are worthless and always have been

n/t

[bobburgster]

53. Good for him, except I would use their name too!

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mimosa]

57. YAY!!! That's how our president should stand up to them!

More like that, Mr. President!

[LawnKorn]

58. K&R

[The Wizard]

62. A recent picture from the Boner family reunion