(Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday that Republicans who control the House of Representatives have to be "embarrassed" by their inability to produce legislation such as an immigration overhaul.
Obama's comments in an interview with MSNBC'S "Hardball" show were a sign that tensions linger between him and congressional Republicans after a government shutdown and close brush with a debt default in October sent all Washington politicians' job approval ratings tumbling.
Obama wants the House to approve an immigration overhaul that the Democratic-controlled Senate has already passed, but House Speaker John Boehner is showing no signs of taking action on the legislation this year as the president wants.
Obama said the concerns of some Republicans that they will face conservative challenges in the November 2014 congressional elections inhibits their ability to compromise.
"And I actually think there are a bunch of Republicans who want to get stuff done. They've gotta be embarrassed. Because the truth of the matter is that they've now been in charge of the House of Representatives ... for a couple of years and they just don't have a lot to show for it," he said.
The comments from Obama were unlikely to help improve the climate between him and Republicans, who routinely bristle at his criticisms. They say he refuses to compromise with them.
I'll tell you what is embarrassing,and that's having a pretend president that announces he is flying off to another country to attend the funeral of a Marxist mass murderer on the same week that is the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
It is also embarrassing that not a one of the 535 elected officials in DC is trying to pass a bill to remove him from office and prevent him from returning to the US unless he is wearing handcuffs and ready to stand trial.
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Quote: sneakypete wrote in post #5I'll tell you what is embarrassing,and that's having a pretend president that announces he is flying off to another country to attend the funeral of a Marxist mass murderer on the same week that is the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
It is also embarrassing that not a one of the 535 elected officials in DC is trying to pass a bill to remove him from office and prevent him from returning to the US unless he is wearing handcuffs and ready to stand trial.