Speaker Boehner: “The State Of Hawaii Has Said President Obama Was Born There. That’s Good Enough For Me”

video

by Mark Joyella | 4:10 pm, January 6th, 2011

» 25 comments

In his first interview since being sworn in as Speaker of the House, John Boehner makes it clear he has no questions about President Obama’s birth, saying “the State of Hawaii has said President Obama was born there. That’s good enough for me.”

In the exclusive interview with NBC’s Brian Williams–set to air tonight on NBC Nightly News–Boehner does not say he’ll tell members of Congress to simply put the matter of the president’s birth aside:

WILLIAMS: I’m curious as to how much responsibility you feel specifically because of something that happened this morning. During the reading of the Constitution, Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey was reading a portion of the document, interrupted by someone who heckled from within the chamber. It was to express doubt over the President’s American citizenship. Provided you believe the President is an American citizen, you’ve got 12 members co-sponsoring legislation that does about the same thing, it expresses doubt. Would you be willing to say, “This is a distraction, I’ve looked at it to my satisfaction. Let’s move on.”

BOEHNER: The state of Hawaii has said that President Obama was born there. That’s good enough for me.

WILLIAMS: Would you be willing to say that message to the 12 members in your caucus who seem to either believe otherwise or are willing to express doubt and have co-sponsored legislation?

BOEHNER: Brian, when you come to the Congress of the United States, there are 435 of us. We’re nothing more than a slice of America. People come, regardless of party labels, they come with all kinds of beliefs and ideas. It’s the melting pot of America. It’s not up to me to tell them what to think.

On spending and budget cuts, the Speaker says nothing is off the table, not even defense or homeland security:

WILLIAMS: Do you consider the defense budget, sacred? Do you consider?

BOEHNER: Absolutely not.

WILLIAMS: Do you consider the homeland security budget sacred?

BOEHNER: No!

WILLIAMS: What goes?

BOEHNER: Listen…

WILLIAMS: Name a program right now that we could do without.

BOEHNER: I don’t think I have one off the top of my head. But there is no part of this government that should be sacred. I believe there’s room, to find savings in the Department of Defense. There are a lot of needs at the Department of Defense. And I think Secretary Gates has a reasonable plan to allow the service chiefs to go in there and root out wasteful spending, so they can find the money that they’re going to need to make sure that we have the weapons of the future.

WILLIAMS: What’s the bare minimum we should expect from our government? You and I. What are the services beyond which you won’t go?

BOEHNER: Well clearly, I believe in the safety net. You know, we live in a competitive society. We live in a capitalist society. For those who can compete and do well, fine. Some Americans can’t compete. I think we have a responsibility as a people to help those who can’t compete. But do we have a responsibility to help those who won’t compete? I would have serious doubts about that.

Watch it here, from NBC News:

Birther, Brian Williams, good enough for me, Hawaii, John Boehner, NBC News, speaker

The Real Royal King

RINO.
CosmosDan

I can’t tell them what to think

and I can’t tell them to STFU about it either , although I’d like to.

You didn’t say it John, but I know what you meant. High five!
The Real Royal King

First day of Boehner as Weeper of the House and DJIA closes lower. The economic retreat has begun.
bealzebubba

where are the jobs?
tatboy

Brian Williams gets the first interview with the new SOTH and he considers it a high priority to ask him if he’s a birther??? Should we ask all new top Dems if they are truthers??? WTF, Brian… seriously.
The Real Royal King

tatboy said:
Brian Williams gets the first interview with the new SOTH and he considers it a high priority to ask him if he’s a birther??? Should we ask all new top Dems if they are truthers??? WTF, Brian… seriously.

I think you meant WOTH.

But, it was a stupid question. Boehner is the consummate Washington insider, and being a Birther would go completely against his grain.
Fox News: Serving the Freeper community since 1996

“I believe in the safety net. You know, we live in a competitive society. We live in a capitalist society. For those who can compete and do well, fine. Some Americans can’t compete”
‘
He deserves a primary challenge from the tea party for that comment.
ClearThinker

Boehner has dark skin. Are we sure he’s white?
tatboy

I would like to give him a hard time for the weeping thing. But I have to admit I have on occasion taken to that act myself. Barely made it through my wedding.
Answerz3

It’s good to see Boner off the narcotics and semi-coherent.
Seeing 2012 From My Window

I love FOX news says:

He deserves a primary challenge from the tea party for that comment.

That’ just proves you know squat about what Conservatives really think and believe.
Just4thefax

The Real Royal King said:
RINO.

Fact: He said that he has changed but we will see!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Treacher/542957672 Jim Treacher

bealzebubba said:
where are the jobs?

Don’t worry, we’ll vote out Obama when the time comes.
Alz

I understand that some States give out Certificates of Birth to people who are citizens but born elsewhere.

From what I can tell he was born here. So why won’t he release the actual birth certificate?

One of the theories is that either his birth certificate has “white” checked or that his name is “Barry”. In other words, it’s more of an embarrassment issue. He should just release it and get it over with.
More Liberty3

I like how he said that nothing is off the table. That means the DOD, and entitlements. I also like the fact the he’s not going to use military aircraft as his personal charter jet, even though he might rate such a perk. He’s going to fly with the commercial. Not a horrible start but we will see.
More Liberty3

Alz said:
One of the theories is that either his birth certificate has “white” checked or that his name is “Barry”. In other words, it’s more of an embarrassment issue. He should just release it and get it over with.

Wow good point. I believe he was born here but there is something interesting as to why he won’t release his college transcripts or his birth certificate. On the other hand, it’s a great distraction from $14.1 trillion in debt and a $1.4 trillion deficit.
http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

More Liberty3 said: I also like the fact the he’s not going to use military aircraft as his personal charter jet, even though he might rate such a perk. He’s going to fly with the commercial. Not a horrible start but we will see.

As well intended as I believe that is, I also do not think he will be able to maintain that one. The jet is not a “perk.” It is a requirement since he is now in the succession and it is not just him anymore but also several Secret Service agents. Flying commercial is just not practical between the size of the entourage, security requirements and the amazing level of paperwork required for a Secret Service agent to carry their weapons on board a commercial aircraft. (I am familiar with this process.) But I do believe Speaker Boehner meant it when he said it and will be honest with us when it does not happen that way.

What will be refreshing will be his using whatever aircraft is available as compared to False Queen Nancy’s demands for specific aircraft.
The ReaI Royal King

The Real Royal King said:
First day of Boehner as Weeper of the House and DJIA closes lower. The economic retreat has begun.

I hope this country goes down the shitter just so that I can blame it on the Weeper of the House.

And this is only day 2!!! All the Marys in heaven how I hate Democracy.

I guess you can all see what to expect from me for the next couple of years.
cjd ohio 1

The ReaI Royal King said:
I hope this country goes down the shitter just so that I can blame it on the Weeper of the House. And this is only day 2!!! All the Marys in heaven how I hate Democracy. I guess you can all see what to expect from me for the next couple of years.

yeah, you a communist, its cool
Davo

More Liberty3 said:
Wow good point. I believe he was born here but there is something interesting as to why he won’t release his college transcripts or his birth certificate. On the other hand, it’s a great distraction from $14.1 trillion in debt and a $1.4 trillion deficit.

Does anyone else get creeped-out by the Hawaiian governor COINCIDENTALLY coming forth with his brave declaration, just after Hussein arrived for his “vacation.?” Nah. They never discussed it. Nothing here to see…………..move along.
Alz

Davo said:
Does anyone else get creeped-out by the Hawaiian governor COINCIDENTALLY coming forth with his brave declaration, just after Hussein arrived for his “vacation.?” Nah. They never discussed it. Nothing here to see…………..move along.

Yea, but this governor has since clammed up. More is going on.
Tedderman

So you’rerubberglueandadumbasstoo. Honestly, give it a rest, the guy’s president for atleast the next two years and you can keep whining until then.
CosmosDan

The Real Royal King said:
Weeper of the House

That’s a keeper.
CAconservative

I don’t care where he was born. If his mother was a legal American citizen at the time of his birth, that’s good enough for me!
http://cbcf.groupsite.com Miss Capri

It’ll be a relief when Obama’s term is up, provided Trump doesn’t run or make it in as US president. Because then these stupid birthers can shut the heck up once and for all.

Kudos to Boehner, a real conservative, what a conservative and republican ought to be from what this article says.