Nightly News   |  December 12, 2013

‘Are you kidding me?’ Boehner takes aim at political groups

At his final news conference of the year, House Speaker John Boehner had a message for the conservative groups who demanded that they try to stop the healthcare law. NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports.

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>>> good evening. today in washington, there was a rare outburst of candor mixed with anger and frustration. whatever anyone thinks about the speaker of the house , john boehner may have the toughest job in washington. his job is to lead his majority, republicans in congress. his problem has been the rise of the oh tea party faction, the newly arrived and highly motivated members who do not go along or get along with the wisheses of the leadership. they forced boehner 's hand in the fiscal cliff and the government shutdown . now that they have gone after a budget deal that represents real compromise and keeps the country running the speaker decided he's had enough and he said so. kelly o'donnell was there for it on capitol hill . she's there from capitol hill for us tonight. kelly , good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, brian. the house has done something we haven't seen in a long while. overwhelmingly passing a budget deal crafted by both democrats and republicans, intended to end the crisis to crisis atmosphere we have been living with. managing his own republican membership has been tough, made harder by the influence of outside groups that instantly criticize the deal before it was announced. today at his final news conference of the year, house speaker john boehner took the lid off his frustrations aimed at conservative political groups . are you enjoying this moment, being able to speak up, speak your mind in a way we haven't seen as much?

>> you know, it comes to a point when people step over the line. you know, when you criticize and you have no idea what you are criticizing it under mines your credibility.

>> reporter: while boehner owes his speakership to the tea party victories that put republicans in charge three years ago, he doesn't share their political dna. boehner is the chamber of commerce style republican, not a firebrand. the tea party 's head strong confrontations put his leadership on the rocks repeatedly. now he has a message for the conservative groups who demanded the government shutdown strategy to stop the health care law .

>> the day before the government re-opened, one of the groups stood up and said, well, we never really thought it would work. are you kidding me?

>> reporter: the fallout was swift. those conservative groups who opposed today's budget deal are unbowed.

>> i think we are representing the voices of the american people that are not being represent bid officials in congress.

>> reporter: tim hule's camp is tea party through and through.

>> i have problems trusting anyone who is dismissive of the american people .

>> reporter: the conservative rift over the budget compromise includes prominent gop senators with their own political futures to consider. florida's marco rubio . why, as a conservative, do you believe this isn't a deal you can back?

>> it's not just as a conservative. it's as an american.

>> reporter: the biggest complaint is that this deal would spend more for the government funding over the next couple of years. doesn't do enough, they say, to reduce the deficit. more than 330 house members passed this tonight. it is expected to go to the senate where it will pass, putting a lid on crisis mode we have been living with. brian?

>> an eventful and different the day on capitol hill . kelly o'donnell there for all of