House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) says that he isn’t willing to talk about a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants until he gets “a little foreplay” from President Barack Obama.

During a small meeting with reporters on Tuesday, ABC’s Jonathan Karl asked Boehner if he was ready to discuss a path to citizenship as a part of immigration reform.

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“How about a little foreplay first?” the Speaker replied, according to a tweet from CNN’s Dana Bash, who called the comment “a quote for the ages.”

A quote for the ages. When asked about a path to citizenship on immigration @speakerboehner responded “how about a little foreplay first” — Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) February 12, 2013

“The thing I am most concerned about immigration reform is the president getting in the way,” Boehner reportedly said. “Sometimes I think he’d rather have an issue than a solution. Here’s the guy who four years ago said he was going to have immigration reform, and he’s done absolutely nothing for four years. I hope the president will play a constructive role.”

Boehner spokesperson Michael Steel later told Talking Points Memo that the “foreplay” quip was about the legislative process, not immigration policy.

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Boehner also told reporters that Obama didn’t have the “guts” to take on spending problems in the government.

“I don’t think he has the guts to do it. He doesn’t have the courage to take on the liberal side of his own party – never has,” the Ohio Republican said.

“I don’t like the sequester. I don’t want the sequester. But, this spending issue is the biggest issue that threatens our future. When are we going to get serious about our long term spending problem? When is the President going to propose something instead of the sequester? How about Senate Democrats?”

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[Photo credit: Gage Skidmore]