President Obama said on a nationally televised interview that he’s tried to accommodate Republicans in Congress and wait patiently for them to make the move on immigration — and that historians will say that he’s been “very restrained” with his executive actions.
“[I’ve] bent over backwards” for Congress, Mr. Obama said during an interview on “This Week” on ABC News. He then said he’s issued far fewer executive orders then other presidents “by a longshot,” The Hill reported.
“If you ask historians, take a look at the track records of the modern presidency, I’ve actually been very restrained,” he said, The Hill reported. “And I’ve been very restrained with respect to immigration. I bent over backwards and will continue to do everything I can to get Congress to work.”
Mr. Obama then faulted House Speaker John Boehner for failing to bring any immigration bill to the floor and dismissed Republicans’ criticisms of his executive order that grants amnesty to roughly 5 million illegals as simply “a lot of rhetoric,” The Hill said.
“He still has several weeks to call that bill in the House, or he can work with me and Democrats to craft a new bill,” Mr. Obama said, The Hill reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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