Why John Boehner Doesn't Like Golfing With President Obama

ABC News

BENJAMIN SIEGEL

House Speaker John Boehner loves golf -- just not when it's with the President of the United States.

"The president has suggested, 'Hey, do you think it would be too much trouble to play golf again?' I have to look at him and say, 'Yes,'" Boehner, R-Ohio, said in an interview with the Golf Channel, scheduled to air Monday evening.

Boehner, who held a "golf summit" with Obama in 2011 during budget negotiations, said media scrutiny makes it difficult to enjoy 18 holes with the president.

"Everybody gets bent out of shape, worried about what we’re up to, when all we’re about to do is play golf," he added.

The president has said that Boehner and Vice President Joe Biden are among his favorite golf partners.

Obama usually golfs with a small circle of friends and administration officials at Andrews Air Force Base, but spent a recent Sunday with three House Democrats -- Reps.John Yarmuth of Kentucky, Ed Perlmutter of Colorado and Joe Courtney of Connecticut.

While observers wondered whether Obama lobbied the Democrats on the recently-completed Iran deal, Perlmutter said the outing was the fulfillment of a request he made to golf with Obama in 2013, and that the group talked "very little shop."

"It was a lot of fun," he recalled. "We had a blast."

Boehner said he'd never give up golf for the Oval Office.

"You've got to either have a very special calling or be an egomaniac to want to do this," he said. "On top of that, I smoke cigarettes, I drink red wine, I play golf, I cut my own grass and I wash and iron my own shirts. I'm not giving that up to be President of the United States."

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/why-john-boehner-doesnt-golfing-president-obama-202656589.html