Joe Walsh says Obama abusing his power with speech to Congress

Illinois Republican Rep. Joe Walsh

/ File,AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

If you thought the kerfuffle over President Obama's speech to Congress was over, you would be wrong.

Rep. Joe Walsh on Friday accused President Obama of abusing his power when he asked House Speaker John Boehner to address a joint session of Congress to outline his latest vision for how he wants to create jobs.

"There is no reason for him to call a joint session of Congress," the Illinois Republican said in an interview with MSNBC, "we reserve that for heads of states from dignitaries around the world and presidents in moments in crisis, and monumental moments."

"I believe he is abusing the position here," Walsh added.

MSNBC host Martin Bashir called the current circumstances "a monumental crisiss because we had job growth of zero," referring a Labor Department reported issued earlier Friday that showed the U.S. economy add no new jobs in August.

"Come, on Martin. This is a political exercise and political theater. This president respectfully has made a career out of simply giving speeches," Walsh said.

Mr. Obama is set to speak at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday night to discuss his ideas for creating jobs, including a possible $50 billion school construction initiative, and encouraging businesses to create more jobs in the U.S. by giving them preferred tax rates for bringing foreign sources of income to the U.S.

Walsh has said he does not plan to attend next week's speech.

[CBSknows]

"LEAD AMERICA BY GOOD EXAMPLE, GOOD CHOICES"

All of us make choices everyday that have a Major IMPACT on Our Country.. Our World.

Our Children and Grandchildren are always watching us to see how we treat each other when we disagree with each other.

We Can choose to be Part of the PROBLEM or Choose to be Part of the SOLUTION this is up to Each and everyone of us "OUR CHOICE"

"PART OF THE PROBLEM"

Finger Pointing, Disrespect, Lack of Team Work, Lack of Respectful Communication, we do this Privately and Publicly but PUBLICLY DAMAGES AMERICANS and Especially OUR NEXT GENERATION..OUR CHILDREN..THER CHILDREN, AMERICAS FUTURE.


"PART OF THE SOLUTION WE SHOULD ALL BE PRACTICING AT ALL TIMES"

Respect Each Other Using AMERI-Can Do Attitude and Team Work To Solve Our Problems Utilizing Respectful Communication;

"LEADING AMERICA BY GOOD EXAMPLE"

What ever choices we make Impact "OUR CHILDREN, OUR GENERATION, THE NEXT GENERATION & THE WORLD ! !

I choose to be "Part of the Solution" always trying my best to use Respect as my Guideline to follow at "All Times Publicly" it is not an easy Choice to make, but it is "THE RIGHT CHOICE TO MAKE"

Sincerely, Respectfully, Michael V. Caldwell,

"Always Striving To Be Part Of The Solution" Using Respect, AMERI-CAN-DO Attitude as my Guidelines to; "Follow At All Times"

[CincySue]

Hey Joe,

Pay your child support

[carami6]

Joe Walsh is a fraud.

[magik1369]

This idiot Walsh is a deadbeat dad and doesn't even pay child support. A recent study shows that republicans overall neglected their child support payments at a rate of 5 times that of Democrat fathers. Look at the evidence folks. Republicans have the lowest IQs in the nation, tend to be extreme religious fundamentalists, and tend to be deadbeat dads like Walsh here. As for his lame accusations of an "abuse of power", US Presidents have been addressing joint sessions of Congress since the beginning of the USA. With the internet, there is no excuse for this level of ignorance and stupidity in an elected "official." One thing is certain, the people that elected this loser made a big mistake.

[carolo43]

Obama should ask Walsh, in his speech, why he doesn't pay his child support and maybe the fool will shut up for a while?

[American1111]

I find it no Coincidence that the president of the United States of America (try to respect that) Is going to address Congress. Especially after their break, although the focus is that the President was also on break and more so focusing on his leisure time rather than the time he spent traveling around the country listening to the real American people, trying to find out what they want, and then to come up with some sort of solution to their problems. Then He wants to address Congress with this information and try to create a solution, I find it to be a good thing. Do you know what congress did on their time off? Other than those who decided to bash the president and the solutions he has been trying to get congress to help solve. I don't. Maybe we should place blame on them. Maybe the President doesn't have to give a speech to congress, because it always seems like he has to talk to them like children that can't take care of house hold chores. They want candy for dinner and if they don't get it then the chores will not get done. A leader can only be successful if he can use praise and discipline as rewards and punishments for their behavior. But when you cannot punish bad behavior then the children will continue in their bad behavior. The only way to punish congress is to vote them out, Fire them. If the president has to interrupt their TV time again to Talk to congress in front of the world to try and get them to do the right thing, then so be it. At least he talked to the real people of the United States of America and is trying to do something to solve the problem.

[wholetruth]

Obama needs to face the nation. Face US not Congress who he'll depend on nearly half to applaud his failed policy. If Obama will stand before Congress to seek to print more debt then you and every American should be outraged! Obama get on TV and look at ME not Congress. Walsh is absolutely correct. Why talk to a separate branch of government about a problem that directly affects John and Joan Doe American! I've had it with you Obama! You're a phony! Just listen folks as the dems stand up like middle school cheer leaders for Obama's remarks. Obama does not need a joint session speech. He needs to look us in the eye without his cheering section.

[rayward73446]

Walsh and his Republican cronies are hell bent on destroying the middle class, the old, and the disacvantaged. If you don't call 14,ooo,ooo Americans unemployed, and millions more underemployed a crisis, then you must be a Republican!

[RobAla]

"Come, on Martin. This is a political exercise and political theater. This president respectfully has made a career out of simply giving speeches," Walsh said.

This guy is absolutely right, but this speech will not be the first time a President conducted a political campaign speech dressed as a Presidential address. The office holds great power, and there is a tendency for Presidents to use it for whatever they feel. There is no reason for the speech other than a President who is dropping like a rock in the polls attempting to pump up a little political support.

[sharong59]

And I believe YOU Mr. Walsh are abusing your position as a Repug rep just trying to get attention! I can't believe you were elected in Illinois?! What? did you buy the election with money from the Koch Bros coffures? I thought we learned from all the corrupt Republican governors and senators we have had to be democrat. I know Rod kind of screwed things up for the dems but he was not the same man going out as he was going in. I swear for awhile,he was a real good guy. (I voted for him twice!) I don't know what happened that turned him crooked. . . maybe he was living "to high on the hog" and needed money desperately. Well, he won't have to worry about money where he's going now! My point, tho, is that we have had more crooked Repugs than dems in this state! It's time to restore the dem party and get those jugheaded, bigoted, Repug and tea party extremists out of our state and federal government positions! Voter for a Democratic America in 2012!