WASHINGTON, DC – In his weekly press conference on Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) drew a stark contrast between House Republicans’ focus on creating jobs and addressing real challenges, and President Obama’s taxpayer-funded campaign to distract attention from his failed record on jobs, energy and the economy.  Following are video and text of Speaker Boehner’s remarks:

ON THE “CLEAR DIFFERENCE” BETWEEN REPUBLICANS’ FOCUS ON JOBS & DEMOCRATS’ FOCUS ON POLITICS: 

       “You know, families and small businesses around our country are still struggling in this economy and many are continuing to ask, ‘Where are the jobs?’

       “Clear difference in the focus of the two parties right now.  Republicans focused on jobs and the economy, passing nearly 30 bills blocked by the Senate.

       “The president and his party have a different focus, and it’s about politics, not about the American people.

       “Last month, a Democrat leader in the Senate explained to the press how his party planned to exploit the Violence Against Women Act for political gain.  And as POLITICO reported, Senate Democrats wanted to manufacture a fight ‘to accuse Republicans of waging a ‘war against women’ and provide ‘fodder for a campaign ad.’”

ON PRESIDENT OBAMA MANUFACTURING FIGHTS & CAMPAIGNING ON TAXPAYERS’ DIME:

       “But the White House, it seems, is also entirely devoted to this type of petty politics. 

       “This week, the President traveled across the country on taxpayers’ dime, at a cost of $179,000 an hour, insisting that Congress fix a problem that we were already working on.  Frankly, I think this is beneath the dignity of the White House.

       “Democrats and Republicans knew that this was going to take effect.  Democrats and Republicans fully expected this would be taken care of.  And for the president to, to make a campaign issue out of this and then to travel to three battleground states and go to three large college campuses on taxpayers’ money to try to make this a political issue is pathetic.  And his campaign ought to be reimbursing the treasury for the cost of this trip. 

       “Our country’s facing some major economic and fiscal challenges, yet here’s the president wasting time on a fake fight to try to gain his own re-election.  These are the types of political stunts and, frankly, they aren’t worth it and worthy of his office.  This is the biggest job in the world, and I’ve never seen a president make it smaller.”

ON PRESIDENT OBAMA DIVERTING ATTENTION FROM HIS FAILED RECORD ON JOBS, ENERGY & THE ECONOMY:

       “The president keeps attempting to invent these fake fights because he doesn’t have a record of success or a positive agenda for our country.  It’s as simple as this: ‘The Emperor has no clothes.’

       “They can’t talk about their record on jobs, because their policies have made the economy worse.  They can’t talk about their record on spending, because the president’s policies have added $5 trillion to the national debt.  And they can’t talk about their record on gas prices, because gas prices have more than doubled on the president’s watch.” 

ON HOUSE REPUBLICANS TAKING ACTION TO ADDRESS GAS PRICES, PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL & ECONOMIC SECURITY & CREATE JOBS:

       “Listen, Republicans have listened to the American people; we’ve got a better plan.  Our plan to help American job creators continues to be our focus.  We’ve got over 30 bills that are awaiting action in the United States Senate. 

       “This week, we’ll pass four more bills to stop cyber-terrorism.  We’re also moved to conference this week on a highway bill that includes the Keystone pipeline, a commonsense measure that will keep us from sending North American energy to China and create thousands – tens of thousands – of jobs here in our country. 

       “Listen, Republicans have taken on the tough issues that face our country. We’ve offered solutions to solve them.  I would urge the President, and some Democrat leadership, to show some courage and to join us.”