House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, sent a letter to President Obama this afternoon that includes a “recommendation” that the president move his request for a joint address to Congress on job creation to Sept. 8, rather than Sept. 7.
Boehner said in the letter that more time would be needed for an adequate security sweep. The House returns to session on that Wednesday, and Boehner told Obama the extra day would help “ensure that there will be no parliamentary or logistical impede mints that might detract from your remarks.”
The exchange over this issue is unusual. President Obama seems to have chosen the Sept. 7 date for political reasons, as it coincides with the big Republican presidential debate that will air on NBC at the same time President Obama wanted to deliver his address. White House officials called the timing “coincidental,” but the move outraged the right.
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh was on the air Wednesday calling on Boehner to block Obama’s attempt to give the speech on the night of the debate, as his joint address would draw viewers away from the event, which will feature newcomer candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Boehner, as speaker, has sole right to grant permission for anyone to address a joint session, and he has denied Obama’s request, which may be historically unprecedented.
“I respectfully invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in the House Chamber, at a time that works best for your schedule,” Boehner concluded in his letter.
The letter was sent by Boehner, “on behalf of the bipartisan leadership,” but that was apparently not the case. Soon after it was sent and published by various media outlets, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s office sent out a statement that said her office was not consulted at all over the letter requesting the new date.
