John Boehner's Letter To Fellow Republicans Today, Before His Press Conference Later Today

[TomCADem]

I know that Boehner is now trying to blame the President for causing him to walk out, and suggesting that they were closing in on deal, but here is Boehner's letter to House Republicans today, which lead to President Obama's press conference, and then Boehner's contradiction of the statements in his letter sent just hours before.

http://www.speaker.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=253410

Dear Colleague,

Our economy is not creating enough jobs, and the policies coming out of Washington are a big reason why. Because of Washington, we have a tax code that is stifling job creation. Because of Washington, we have a debt crisis that is sowing uncertainty and sapping the confidence of small businesses. Because of Washington, our children are financing a government spending binge that is jeopardizing their future.

Since the moment I became Speaker, I’ve urged President Obama to lock arms with me and seize this moment to do something significant to address these challenges. I’ve urged him to partner with congressional Republicans to do something dramatic to change the fiscal trajectory of our country. . .something that will boost confidence in our economy, renew a measure of faith in our institutions of government, and help small businesses get back to creating jobs.

The House this week passed such a plan. . .the Cut, Cap & Balance Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support.

Along with Majority Leader Cantor, I have also engaged the president in a dialogue in recent days. The purpose of this dialogue was to see if we could identify a path forward that would implement the principles of Cut, Cap, & Balance in a manner that could secure bipartisan support and be signed into law.

During these discussions -- as in my earlier discussions -- it became evident that the White House is simply not serious about ending the spending binge that is destroying jobs and endangering our children's future.

A deal was never reached, and was never really close.

In the end, we couldn’t connect. Not because of different personalities, but because of different visions for our country.

The president is emphatic that taxes have to be raised. As a former small businessman, I know tax increases destroy jobs.

The president is adamant that we cannot make fundamental changes to our entitlement programs. As the father of two daughters, I know these programs won’t be there for their generation unless significant action is taken now.

For these reasons, I have decided to end discussions with the White House and begin conversations with the leaders of the Senate in an effort to find a path forward.

The Democratic leaders of the House and Senate have not been participants in the conversations I and Leader Cantor have had with the White House; nor have the Republican leaders of the Senate. But I believe there is a shared commitment on both sides of the aisle to producing legislation that will serve the best interests of our country in the days ahead -- legislation that reflects the will of the American people, consistent with the principles of the Cut, Cap, & Balance Act that passed the House with bipartisan support this week.

I wanted to alert you to these developments as soon as possible. Further information will be coming as soon as it is available. It is an honor to serve with you. Together, we will do everything in our power to end the spending binge in Washington and help our economy get back to creating jobs.

Sincerely

John Boehner

[titaniumsalute]

1. So he lied in his presser

Gee there's a fucking shock.

[Ilsa]

2. Taxes are lower than they've been for decades. Regulations have

Been slashed. Still no new jobs. His rationale is faulty and a lie for extortion.

[titaniumsalute]

3. Yes

Clinton created 22 million jobs while taxes were much higher than now. (And he balanced a budget.)

Then Bush slashed taxes and had a net loss of jobs. The facts are the facts. Don't let them get in the way of real thoughts though.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

4. Wow.

Now that is what I mean by spin.

[TomCADem]

5. Which? His letter to his colleagues or his press conference two hours later...

...in which he contradicted his statements in this letter to his own caucas.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

6. Oh, sorry.

The letter itself seems to wear its bias proudly like a badge. Or maybe a funny hat. Or a pair of glasses which distorts what you see, making you trip over things and crash whole economies. (I never was too good with the clear thinking, especially in the area of analogies, personally. :D)