Posted on 11/10/2012 6:19:16 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
(CNSNews.com) -- Although the Republican-dominant House of Representatives controls the federal purse strings, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that Tuesday’s election victory by President Barack Obama changed how he will approach the GOP goal of repealing the health reform law, saying that the president’s reelection made it “the law of the land.”
“Well, I think the election changes that. It’s pretty clear that the president was re-elected. Obamacare is the law of the land,” Boehner told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer in an interview Thursday when asked if the House GOP would still make repeal its mission.
However, Boehner also said that the law was still “on the table,” noting that he still considered it bad policy and that it was not off limits as he begins negotiations with Obama over key budgetary issues.
As House Speaker, Boehner can prevent any funding for Obamacare or any aspect of it through amendments to funding legislation, to a continuing resolution, or by simply not allowing a floor vote on the funding.
“I think there are parts of the health care law that are going to be very difficult to implement and very expensive and, at a time when we’re trying to find a way to create a path toward a balanced budget, everything has to be on the table,” he said in the ABC interview.
When pressed, Boehner clarified that no decision had been made yet over which parts of the law would be included in negotiations, saying that parts of the law could be on the table.
“There are certainly maybe parts of it that we believe need to be changed – we may do that, no decisions at this point,” he said.
Boehner repeated during the interview that he viewed Obama’s reelection and Republicans’ failure to achieve a Senate majority as a mandate from the American public for the two parties to work together, saying that it was simply the hand he was dealt.
“I may not like the five cards that were dealt to me but those are the cards I’ve got in my hand,” he said. “Now my job on behalf of the American people is to find a way to work with my Democrat colleagues and our Democrat President to solve America’s problems. If there was one mandate that came out of the election, it was [to] find a way to work together to address our problems.”
Boehner’s office clarified his remarks about repeal of Obamacare on Thursday, after excerpts of the interview were released to the public. His official Twitter account posted a message saying that he remained committed to “full repeal” of the law.
“ObamaCare is the law of the land, but it is raising costs and hurting #smallbiz. Our goal remains #fullrepeal,” Boehner tweeted.
Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith also clarified the Speaker’s intentions on Obamacare, saying that House Republicans were committed to repealing the law despite the reelection of its namesake president.
“While Obamacare is the law of the land, it is costing us jobs and threatening our health care,” Smith told the liberal website Talking Points Memo. “Speaker Boehner and House Republicans remain committed to repealing the law, and he said in the interview it would be on the table.”
Obama’s reelection has made repeal of the law extremely difficult for Republicans after they failed to secure a Senate majority and a President who would sign repeal legislation. Obama has repeatedly stated that he has no intention of negotiating over the law and Senate Democrats have refused to vote on multiple repeal bills sent to them by the House.
There was a choice. Obama or Romney. Which represented and stood for American values more? The wonderfully successful family man with a squeaky clean background and a history of public service and bringing people to his side? or the Kenyan born affirmative action student with no experience and a questionable family that divides the country along racial and economic lines and uses thug tactics to injure people that stand in his way.
yea, the choice was clear.
If you didn’t like the man that’s fine but don’t pretend that the choice wasn’t clear, it was, it just wasn’t communicated well.
Exactly, why is that so hard for people to understand.
I’m happy we walked away with the house. Now lets look to 2014!
Since the stooopid American Voter voted for the Marxit/Fascist plans and since the stooopid American Voter has no clue about macro, micro economics, marginal pricing, marginal costs, liabilities, taxes and economic growth, I say teach them the hard way. Most of the American voters want the Republicans to work with Obama the Fascist and the Dummcrat Senate. OK, give America what it wants. Just have the handful of Repubs align with the Dems in the House, UNDER PROTEST, and vote for the expiration of the Bush Tax Cuts (which increases the tax rates of the poor by 50%+). The remaining Repubs need to make a dramatic walk out stating the Obama is a LIAR. He is not after the rich man's tax but after the poor man's money. Increasing the poor’s tax rate by 50% will bring in billions. Some how the Republican’s failed to argue this point for years and years.
If you don't like this plan, and I understand why you would not, then find me a hard fighting Speaker who is a fighter, a great negotiator, and knows what the heck to do. Right now we have a bunch of Losers in Leadership.
We all know here that it was about control, and if, according to you, it doesn’t matter which faction is in charge - then by your own logic, voting doesn’t matter either.
You should wise up and remember where you are posting.
I didnt see a choice and keeping the conservatives at bay ie Palin not asked to speak at the convention and no tea party oh and lets not forget the pussy way he acted towards obama in the debates by not taking the wood to his skinny ass.He sure went after the conservatives in the primary though didnt he?Look how fast he quit with all the instances of voter fraud that was bubbling up.Now compare him to a true conservative like Allen West of Fla who is bringing the issues of fraud into the sunlight.
This is a conservative websight and romney was anything but a conservative.You look at the way that pathetic speaker of the republican party is going on about we cant do anything about obamascare(He could defund it).The leadership is corrupt.We have no say and you are the one who may need to wise up.
We all already know that here, and wether we like it or not 0bamacare is the law of the land and we also know that Boner is not going to defund it.
Your anger toward me is misdirected.
It's an encouraging thought.
I think though that because of districting this might not be the case. A good example is Reagan. He won overwhelmingly, but the House remained liberal. The popular vote for the POTUS is probably a better measure.
Lean on your reps to act accordingly! Boehner should quit crying like a wimp and grow a set or resign and let someone with balls step up to defend our constitution and our liberty!!
I'm with you that we have to fight. If it means that sequestration happens so be it. We need big gains in the Senate in 2016 and I don't think that will occur if Pubs roll over.
The problem with obamacare is we're stuck with it. The best we can hope for is fixing it around the edges and that is a self defeating exercise.
I know. It really is just a setup for single payer. Insurance companies signed on for it figuring that they will be more profitable with all the added customers. In the end they will be put out of business.
What the SCOTUS did (especially Roberts) was give the fed govt the ability to demand we buy specific products and in the process deny our GOD given liberty.
We should continue fighting ObamaCare every step of the way. In the congress, in the courts and at the state level. Delay, defund, delay, defund, delay!! Retake the senate in 2014 and impeach Obama and Biden for high crimes and treason. Repeal ObamaCare and all of his unconstitutional Marxist b/s. Shutter the EPA!! Kick out the UN!!
I'm all for it.
In the process Pubs have to find a way to get more men to vote. One of the things I've learned is the women's gap is important because significantly more women vote than men. Conservatives get the votes from married women, especially those with children. However, we aren't getting the votes of single women, especially those with children. They have signed on to the nanny state providing for them.
I believe we will gain strength among Asians and Hispanics as well, if we can get men to vote at higher rates. The issue is what would trigger this reaction.
Repeal ObamaCare and all of his unconstitutional Marxist b/s. Shutter the EPA!! Kick out the UN!!
I just wanted to repeat this. From your mouth to GOD's ear!
Ex: When he's speaking of US soldiers.... or at the funeral of Ronald Reagan.
Not so sure that is a bad thing.
Boehner is a rino and is just as bad as the democraps.You will see that in the comming months is my bet.
Boehner hasn't gone for tax hikes yet and I think you will see that he won't in coming months.
When listing reasons for the demise of the old finer America, at the top must be the sheer stupidity of Republican primary voters.
Sadly, cowardice is rampant in our own ranks. Boehner is here to stay. I guess he at least pleases OH, which everybody spends months every four years courting.
The alleged Tea Party candidate who was running against Boehner was apparently a real nutcase. Cincinnati-area voters were in between a rock and a hard place.
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