GOP In Unison Against Obama's Gitmo Speech
Almost immediately after the president wrapped, Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R- Va.) issued a statement against transporting Guantanamo detainees to the United States.
Cantor said that "aside from a few Members of Congress" who are "choosing to go against the will of their constituents, a bipartisan majority agrees that terrorists should not be brought to America's shores."
"Importing terrorists into our communities creates a situation where people in surrounding areas are put at greater risk," the statement continued.
At a press conference following the speech, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called the president's decision to close the prison "irresponsible."
"Let me state," Boehner said, "right up front that republicans oppose releasing these terrorists or detaining them in our local communities. I think on this one he is dead wrong."
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the president's speech, "a big flowery campaign speech."
"With all due respect to the president, what we need is not a speech but a plan," McConnell said at a press conference. "The plan is what was clearly missing from the speech today. What is driving this issue, in my view, is a quest for popularity in Europe more than continuing policies that have demonstrably made America safe since 9/11. Clearly these policies and practices worked."