Boehner: 'Not A Time For Compromise'

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12:34 PM ET Boehner: 'Not A Time For Compromise'

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who has largely avoided national media in recent weeks, appeared on Sean Hannity's radio program on Wednesday and openly declared that Republicans will not compromise with Democrats if the GOP takes over Congress in 2011.
"This is not a time for compromise, and I can tell you that we will not compromise on our principles," said Boehner, who will likely be elected House Speaker if Republicans win control. "To the extent the president wants to work with us, in terms of our goals, we'd welcome his involvement."

Gone are the days when top Republicans pleaded for the White House to display bipartisanship and embrace more of their ideas. This past summer, Boehner criticized President Obama over a speech he found overly partisan, and claimed, "All of the president’s talk of post-partisanship, reaching out and finding common ground reminds us that the country deserves better than his hyper-partisan speech today."

Now, on the verge of a potential wave election that could sweep Democrats out of power in the House, GOP leaders are firing up their base by promising to be an uncompromising wrench in the cogs for the White House.

Boehner's comments yesterday echo those of other top House Republicans:

"Look, the time to go along and get along is over," said Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), the chairman of the House Republican Conference. "House Republicans know that. We’ve taken firm and principled stands against their big government plans throughout this Congress, and we’ve got, if the American people will send them, we’ve got a cavalry of men and women headed to Washington, D.C. that are going to stand with us."

Read more about Boehner's interview here.