Axelrod also defended the president's speech on the economy. Axe on Boehner: 'Squeal and repeal'

David Axelrod on Friday labeled House Speaker John Boehner’s approach to government: “squeal and repeal.”

“The speaker said last week before the president made his speech that he’s going to be judged by the laws he repeals, not by the laws he passes,” Axelrod said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “Well if ‘squeal and repeal’ is your approach to government, then we have a problem.”


The former White House and campaign adviser also defended President Barack Obama’s speech on the economy on Wednesday at Knox College in Illinois, which some have said bore striking resemblance to a speech he gave at the school eight years ago. Axelrod said Obama’s speech was similar because he was touting ideas he has consistently believed in.

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“He believes that if we’re going to preserve and enhance the middle class in our economy, we have to invest in education and research and development and infrastructure and do certain things to secure the future. He’s been saying that for a long time, his budgets reflect that, those are the principles he’s fighting for,” Axelrod said. “And it may irritate Speaker Boehner to hear it because he doesn’t agree with it, but the American people voted on, this is what the president ran on.”

Asked about Obama using the phrase “phony scandals” in the speech, Axelrod said he thought the IRS was not a political scandal.

“What I believe is that what happened at the IRS was stupid and disturbing. I don’t think it was a scandal,” he said. “I think the behavior was something that needs to be corrected but I don’t think it was the political scandal — but I don’t think that’s the big issue.”

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David Axelrod