SALT: Speaker Boehner On Real Issues In Real America

Speaker John Boehner sat for a one-on-one with Democratic activist Steve Rattner to discuss the real issues of America.

To start, Rattner asked Boehner about his relationship with President Barack Obama, saying, “you had a pretty good relationship.” John Boehner said, “we always had a pretty good relationship. We were handcuffed by our parties in terms of what we could actually do.”

Under John Boehner’s speakership, the federal deficit as a percent of GDP was reduced, but he said, “the problem is when you’re the leader, you still need followers. A leader without followers is a man taking a walk.”

Rattner asked, “over the next two years, do you see congress making substantial entitlement or tax reform?”

Boehner didn’t mention any specific entitlement reforms, but he did say, “Taxes are teed up well for reform, with a lot of effort put in by both sides of the aisle. [America] has the most complicated tax system in the world, that not even the IRS understands.”

Moving to current election year politics, Rattner cited a poll where more than half of republicans feel betrayed by the party, to which Boehner replied, “People are angry, and when people get angry, they become irrational, which is how we end up with Trump versus Sanders.”

Mockingly, Boehner states, “Bernie Sanders is an old curmudgeon, but he might be the most honest person running for president. He’s honest because he actually believes all that stuff.”

The DNC is so messed up in Boehner’s opinion that, “if Joe Biden arrived in a parachute inflated by Barack Obama, to save the convention, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Rattner cited another poll that most people believe the America of the future will be worse for their kids than for them. To that, Boehner replied, “What stands in our way of economic growth is the last eight years. I went to Washington to fight for a smaller, more accountable government.” He firmly believes that when both parties can have their hands on a bill, it is a good thing for the country because it becomes less political for the public.

Wrapping up, he reaffirms, “I’m a big believer in America, and in our future.”