Ed Henry grills on Obama’s executive action: ‘He was kind of misleading’

Fox News’ Ed Henry pressed presidential spokesman Josh Earnest for explanation about recently released statistics that show Mr. Obama’s executive actions aren’t nearly as restrained as the White House has put forth, asking at one point: Isn’t he “kind of misleading people?”

First, Mr. Henry referenced a recent USA Today study that found Mr. Obama has issued far more “presidential memoranda” than previous White House chiefs — while at the same time touting his restraint in issuing executive orders, when compared to other presidents. Presidential memoranda, however, carry the same weight as executive orders, and Mr. Obama has used the former to push forward with the likes of his immigration amnesty measure.

Mr. Henry said, The Daily Caller reported: “You remember some months ago the president claimed that he’s been using executive orders ’at the lowest rate in more than a 100 years …’ But then you add on 198 presidential memorandum, it actually turns out he’s using a lot more executive action than his predecessors, right?”

And Mr. Earnest’s answer: “Well, I think there’s no doubt that the president has sought to use his executive authority to move this country forward within the confines of the law.”

Mr. Henry then followed up by asking about Mr. Obama’s claim of restraint.

“Why did he make this public claim that ’There’s this criticism that I’m acting on an executive basis, and I’m doing that at the lowest level in a 100 years?’ That wasn’t really true, right?” he asked, The Daily Caller said. He said, moments later: “Doesn’t that make the point USA Today was trying to make — that no matter what you call it, he was kind of misleading people about how often he’s using executive action?”

Mr. Earnest: “No, I think the president was being specific about the fact that his predecessors have issued far more executive orders than he has. I don’t think anybody has ever made the case from here about this president that he is not willing to use his executive authority to move the country forward,” The Daily Caller reported.