Boehner: Americans Are 'Scared To Death' Of Health Reform

On Fox News this morning, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) predicted that a health care bill would not pass anytime soon. Boehner cited the apprehension of lawmakers from both parties. But the main obstacle to reform, the House Minority Leader claimed, is a U.S. public that has "soundly rejected" the efforts.

Despite the absence of a public option and Medicare buy-in proposal, Boehner said, the bill still sets the stage "for the government takeover of our health care system." The reform efforts alone, according to Boehner, are a source of untold anxiety for the public.

The American people are scared to death of what their government is doing to them. And they're saying very clearly, 'Washington, would you just stop?!"

One item that people fear, Boehner noted, is the supposed cuts to Medicare the bill would bring.

[See the TPM Photo Feature of other GOPers who are now fashioning themselves as the saviors of Medicare here.]

The Fox anchor then sought Boehner's opinion of the recently announced plans to bring Guantanamo Bay detainees to a facility in Illinois. Boehner flatly rejected the decision, questioning the need to replace Guantanamo -- "one of the best prisons in the world" -- as the holding center. He hinted strongly that he would support legislation to block the move, saying "this fight is far from over."