Boehner Pens USA Today Op-Ed: 'Obama Owns This Shutdown'

[DonViejo]

IGOR BOBIC – OCTOBER 1, 2013, 3:56 PM EDT

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) wrote in a USA Today op-ed published Tuesday that the first federal government shutdown in 17 years lies squarely at the feet of President Barack Obama.

"The president isn't telling the whole story when it comes to the government shutdown," the speaker wrote. "The fact is that Washington Democrats have slammed the door on reopening the government by refusing to engage in bipartisan talks. And, as stories across the country highlight the devastating impact of Obamacare on families and small businesses, they continue to reject our calls for fairness for all Americans."

In an 11th hour gambit prior to a government shutdown Monday night, House Republicans attempted to enter conference committee negotiations with the Senate to achieve a resolution on a stopgap bill to temporarily keep the government funded. Senate Democrats flatly rejected, calling on the GOP to agree to fund the government and negotiate a real budget.

President Obama blasted Republicans Tuesday for for their singular focus on defunding his signature health law, the Affordable Care Act.

"You know, the shutdown is not about budgets or deficits," he said from the White House Rose Garden. "This shutdown is rolling back our efforts to provide health insurance to folks who don't have it. It is all about rolling back the Affordable Care Act. This more than anything else seems to be what the Republican Party stands for these days."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/boehner-pens-usa-today-op-ed-obama-owns-this-shutdown

Link to Bonehead's Op-Ed:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/10/01/boehner-shutdown-obama-compromise-column/2903505/

[Turbineguy]

1. No Boner.

You own it.

[Blue Meany]

2. Obama???? They haven't event sent him a budget to sign!!! n/t

[Downtown Hound]

3. Keep dreaming Boner.

I know you think if you keep repeating it over and over again, it will work. But it won't. It didn't work for Iraq, Benghazi, or Romney landslide, and it ain't gonna work here.

[louis-t]

4. Funny, boner didn't want to negotiate 7 months ago

when Dems requested a conference committee.......18 times. Repugs count on their followers to be ignorant.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. A last ditch call for a conference committee doesn't make up for

5 months of refusing to do one. At any rate, what's the point of even doing a conference committee unless they take repealing/defunding/delaying ACA off the table? Dems are never going to (rightfully) agree to gut their signature accomplishment. House GOP should pass a clean CR and take ACA off the table and maybe THEN they can go to conference and hammer out a sensible long-term budget. Too much to ask/hope for?

[Old and In the Way]

6. if he truly believed in the righteousness of this fight, shouldn't he proudly take credit?

Seems excruciatingly silly to blame the President when it's your job to pass responsible legislation.

[Blue Owl]

7. Might look that way to a drunkard who's half in the bag

n/t

[Pinkflamingo]

8. Hey Mr Butthead Boner-- YOU own the shutdown, you jerk.

and gov't shutdown is no way to repeal a law that is already in force.

[Brigid]

9. WRONG, Bonehead.

Again.