Boehner Responds to Obama: How 'Bout You Move Your Speech Back a Night? (Updates: Squabble Ensues)

House Speaker John Boehner has replied to President Obama’s request to have his jobs speech/campaign kickoff in a joint session of Congress the same night that the GOP contenders are debating, with an “Um, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

As you know, the House of Representatives and Senate are each required to adopt a Concurrent Resolution to allow for a Joint Session of Congress to receive the President.  And as the Majority Leader announced more than a month ago, the House will not be in session until Wednesday, September 7, with votes at 6:30 that evening.  With the significant amount of time – typically more than three hours – that is required to allow for a security sweep of the House Chamber before receiving a President, it is my recommendation that your address be held on the following evening, when we can ensure there will be no parliamentary or logistical impediments that might detract from your remarks.  As such, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership and membership of both the House and Senate, I respectfully invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in the House Chamber, at a time that works best for your schedule.

We look forward to hearing your ideas and working together to solve America’s jobs crisis.

Shorter Boehner: Did you guys even bother to check into this at all before blaring it all over the press?

Is it just me, or is there a bit of cheek in that last sentence? It’s not like the president has proffered an actual idea of his own to create jobs since his inauguration.

Update: Newfound respect for Speaker Boehner, since Thursday is the night the NFL season kicks off.

Update: Hm. From FNC’s Ed Henry–

WH official says “Boehner’s office was consulted about the 9/7 date before the letter was released. No objection/concern was raised”

There too many unknowns in all that. Who is the “WH official” and who in “Boehner’s office” was allegedly aware of it?

Update: Now Boehner’s office says now way, didn’t happen.

Spokesman for Speaker Boehner @Brendan_Buck says “no one in the Speaker’s office” agreed in advance to the 9/7 address to Congress.