Unloads

Boehner unloads on GOP's 'false prophets'

“There are people out there spreading, you know, noise about how much can get done.”

By Mike Zapler

In his first one-on-one interview since his resignation announcement, Speaker John Boehner blasted right-wing lawmakers and groups as “false prophets” who “whip people into a frenzy” to make legislative demands that “are never going to happen.”

The Ohio Republican also declared on CBS’ Face the Nation Sunday that there won’t be a government shutdown this week, though he’s “sure” it will take Democratic votes to pass a temporary funding extension.

“The Bible says, beware of false prophets. And there are people out there spreading, you know, noise about how much can get done,” Boehner said.

“We got groups here in town, members of the House and Senate here in town, who whip people into a frenzy believing they can accomplish things they know — they know! — are never going to happen,” he added.

Boehner also reflected on his four-and-a-half years as speaker, emotionally described Pope Francis’ visit last week as a moment of clarity for him, and spoke generally about his legislative plans over the next month before he departs.

“I don’t want to leave my successor a dirty barn. I want to clean the barn up a little bit before the next person gets there,” Boehner said. He was not asked about the race to succeed him as speaker, which his No. 2, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), is expected to win.

Visibly exasperated, Boehner said his top accomplishments as speaker – including the first major entitlement reform in decades, and deficit reduction – “all were voted against by my most conservative members because it wasn’t good enough. Really? This is the part I really don’t understand.

“Our founders didn’t want some parliamentary system where if you won the majority you got to do whatever you wanted,” he added. “They wanted this long, slow process. And so change comes slowly. And obviously too slowly for some.”

Asked if his critics on the right are unrealistic, Boehner exclaimed, “Absolutely they’re unrealistic!”

Boehner said he hasn’t settled on retirement plans yet.

“I don’t know, I haven’t had time to think about it. I made this decision and we’ll figure it out.”

Wrapping up the interview, host John Dickerson asked Boehner whether the “rumor” that the 65-year-old speaker does yoga is true.

“I do,” he said. “But (I'm) not as diligent about it lately as I used to (be)… As a matter of fact I thought about it this morning. Because it’s great for my back, I’ve had back problems for 50 years.”