Politicsobama-government-shutdownPoliticsgovernment shutdown 2013

GOP Rep. Mick Mulvaney Says Obama Is Acting Like His High School Girlfriend

GOP Rep.: Obama Acting Like My High School Girlfriend
By 

Politics Reporter, The Huffington Post

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UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 16: Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., prepares for a Joint Economic Committee hearing in Hart Building on the impact of infrastructure investment on job creation, focusing on the manufacturing sector. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that President Barack Obama reminded him of a girlfriend he had in high school after the president called the House speaker to reiterate that he would not negotiate over budget issues until House Republicans pass a bill funding the government and increasing the debt ceiling.

"He called John Boehner (R-Ohio) yesterday to tell him he wasn't negotiating with him," Mulvaney told conservative news outlet Newsmax. "I had a girlfriend call me in high school and tell me that she was giving me the silent treatment; that's sort of what it sounded like."

Mulvaney's comparison was a new one for congressional Republicans, who have insisted on concessions from Democrats to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling, which will be reached on Oct. 17.

Obama has said he is willing to negotiate with congressional Republicans over budget issues after they pass a debt ceiling increase and resolution to fund the government. He said Tuesday that he was willing to accept even a short-term deal and negotiate with Republicans.

Boehner rejected that approach after Obama's press conference Tuesday. "The president said today if there's unconditional surrender by Republicans, he'll sit down and talk to us," he said. "That's not the way our government works."

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Before You Go

John Boehner's Shutdown Showdown Stares
John Boehner(01 of48)
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WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 09: House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) walks through Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol, October 9, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, with House House GOP leaders, speaks with reporters following a Republican strategy session, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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U.S. House Speaker John Boehner arrives at the Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 2013. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, right, accompanied by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., walks to a news conference on the ongoing budget battle, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, following a meeting with House Republicans. Boehner said Republicans will advance legislation to temporarily extend the government's ability to borrow to meet its obligations. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
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U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-OH, arrives for a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. on October 10, 2013. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, right, accompanied by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., walks to a news conference on the ongoing budget battle, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, joined by fellow Republicans, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, following a closed-door GOP meeting, to announce that House Republicans will advance legislation to temporarily extend the government's ability to borrow money to meet its financial obligations. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, flanked by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, left, and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, following a closed-door GOP meeting, to announce that House Republicans will advance legislation to temporarily extend the government's ability to borrow money to meet its financial obligations. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, after a closed-door GOP meeting to announce that House Republicans will advance legislation to temporarily extend the government's ability to borrow money to meet its financial obligations. Boehner said the measure would advance if President Barack Obama agrees to negotiate over reopening the government and to "start to deal with America's pressing problems." The federal government remains partially shut down for a 10th day and faces a first-ever default between Oct. 17 and the end of the month. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, speaks during a news conference on the ongoing budget battle outside his office on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (credit:AP)
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Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, pauses during a news conference on the ongoing budget battle outside his office on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (credit:AP)
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Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, makes a statement outside his office to respond to President Barack Obama, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, at the Capitol in Washington. President Barack Obama says he told House Speaker John Boehner hes willing to negotiate with Republicans on their priorities, but not under the threat of economic chaos. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, as the partial government shutdown enters its second week with no end in sight. Democrats controlling the Senate plan to move quickly toward a vote to allow the government to borrow more money, challenging Republicans to a filibuster showdown as the time remaining to stop a first-ever default on U.S. obligations ticks by. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) participates in a news conference after a meeting with House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol, October 8, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) speaks during a news conference after a meeting with House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol, October 8, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio arrives for a House Republican conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio prepares leave following a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, as the partial government shutdown enters its second week with no end in sight. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) leaves a meeting of the House Republican caucus at the U.S. Capitol October 8, 2013 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. government shutdown is entering its eighth day as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain gridlocked on funding the federal government. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) arrives for work at the U.S. Capitol, October 7, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) arrives for work at the U.S. Capitol, October 7, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) arrives for work at the U.S. Capitol, October 7, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio walks to a Republican strategy session on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio walks to a Republican strategy session on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, demands that the White House and congressional Democrats negotiate with congressional Republicans about ways to re-open the government and address criticisms of the nations new health care law, Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) walks to the House floor for a vote on legislation to partially fund some operations of the federal government October 3, 2013 in Washington, D.C. Congressional Democrats and Republicans remain gridlocked on funding appropriations for the federal government as the shutdown enters its third day. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) walks to the House floor for a vote on legislation to partially fund some operations of the federal government October 3, 2013 in Washington, D.C. Congressional Democrats and Republicans remain gridlocked on funding appropriations for the federal government as the shutdown enters its third day. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) walks to the House Chamber for a vote October 3, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The House has passed the Pay Our Guard and Reserve spending bill with a vote of 265 to 160. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner speaks to the media after a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C., October 2, 2013, on the second day of the government shutdown. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) speaks to the media after a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama about the government shutdown on October 2, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner speaks to the media following a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C., October 2, 2013, on the second day of the government shutdown. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
John Boehner(33 of48)
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U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) leaves the White House after a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi about the government shutdown on October 2, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner (C) speaks to the media following a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C., October 2, 2013, on the second day of the government shutdown. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio walks to a House Republican Conference meeting to discuss the ongoing budget fight, Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (credit:AP)
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Speaker of the House John Boehner, R- Ohio, pauses during a news conference after a House Republican Conference meeting about the ongoing budget fight on Capitol Hill on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (credit:AP)
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U.S. House Speaker John Boehner speaks to the press at the US Capitol in Washington on October 1, 2013. The White House budget director late September 30, 2013 ordered federal agencies to begin closing down after Congress failed to pass a budget to avert a government shutdown. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, with House GOP leaders, speaks briefly to reporters, just after 1am, Tuesday morning, Oct. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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U.S. House Speaker John Boehner speaks to the press at the US Capitol in Washington on October 1, 2013. The White House budget director late September 30, 2013 ordered federal agencies to begin closing down after Congress failed to pass a budget to avert a government shutdown. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Speaker of the House John Boehner, R- Ohio, pauses during a news conference after a House Republican Conference meeting about the ongoing budget fight on Capitol Hill on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (credit:AP)
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U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner listens to House Republican colleagues speak at a press conference about the budget at the U.S. Capitol September 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, talks to reporters about the looming deadline to fund the government and the fight among House Republicans, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio pauses during news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, after meeting with congressional leaders of both parties to discuss the budget. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2013 file photo, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio speaks during a news conference about budget negotiations on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (credit:AP)
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FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2013, file photo House Speaker, Republican John Boehner of Ohio, takes questions from reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference on budget negotiations as Congress prepares to leave Washington for a five-week recess. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (credit:AP)
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FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2013 file photo, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington about the budget. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio pauses as he takes reporters' questions on NSA leaker Edward Snowden, the economy, and the unfinished work of the House in passing a spending bill, as Congress prepares to leave for a five-week recess, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013 during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013 that included talk about budget negotiations. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
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