House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement in response to reports that ‘Organizing for America’ – President Obama’s political operation – is helping to incite protests against reform-minded governors across the country: 

“The President of the United States has a unique opportunity and responsibility to lead this nation.  President Obama has acknowledged the challenges we face, but – thus far – he has done nothing to offer solutions.  Now, worse, his political organization is colluding with special-interest allies across the country to demagogue reform-minded governors who are making the tough choices that the President is avoiding. 

“This is not the way to begin an ‘adult conversation' about solutions to the big challenges facing our country.  Rather than inciting protests against those who speak honestly about the challenges we face, the President and his advisers should lead.

“When the American people watched the people of Greece take to the streets to protest cuts to unsustainable government programs, they worried it might foreshadow events in our nation’s distant future – but today, we see the same sort of protests on the streets of Madison, fueled by President Obama’s own political machine.

“Rather than trying to ‘win the future,’ the President’s political allies are trying, desperately, to cling to a failed past by fighting reforms our nation needs to liberate our economy from the shackles of debt and create a better future for our children and grandchildren.  The President should make it clear to his friends that the people of Wisconsin, and states across America, can handle their own affairs without Washington special-interest money and meddling.

“There is a better way.  Later today, in Washington, House Republicans will pass a spending bill that contains more than $100 billion in cuts in the next seven months – exceeding our Pledge to America.  We are making the tough choices necessary to rein in government spending, stop job-killing regulations and uncertainty, and help the private sector create jobs.  That’s how we will win the future, and build a path to prosperity.”

NOTE:  According to The Washington Post, “The president's political machine worked in close coordination Thursday with state and national union officials to mobilize thousands of protesters to gather in Madison and to plan similar demonstrations in other state capitals.” And, the Associated Press reports the President’s special-interest allies plan to spend money to gin up similar protests in Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Missouri, New Hampshire, Maine, and Pennsylvania.