GOP's Boehner hits Democrats' credibility on Wall Street reform

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday attacked the credibility of Democrats on financial reform.

Boehner sought to advance a new GOP argument, that Democrats can't be trusted on financial reform because of their handling of other issues.

In a one-minute speech on the House floor, the top Republican said congressional Democrats and President Barack Obama lack credibility on financial reform because of what Boehner called failed promises about the economy, healthcare reform, and bringing down the deficit.

"We're seeing a growing credibility gap here in Washington," Boehner said. "Democrats are saying one thing and doing something else."

The minority leader's speech is the latest example of an emerging GOP messaging effort to go after Democrats' trustworthiness, especially as it relates to the financial reform bill. Playing up people's concerns about whether Democrats' claims on financial reform can be taken at face value was at the center of the strategy, a Senate Republican aide said last week.

The messaging seeks to link Wall Street reform, an issue where Republicans have often played defense because of the unpopularity of big banks, with healthcare reform and the nation's high unemployment rate, issues on which Republicans have been on offense.

Boehner said high unemployment and reports of higher healthcare costs went against Democrats' claims about what the stimulus act and healthcare legislation would do, in effect saying the party's claims about its Wall Street reform bill also can't be trusted.

"Just think about that credibility gap when you see the majority insist on rushing through a Wall Street regulatory bill with the promise that it will end Wall Street bailouts," the House GOP leader said Tuesday.

"Americans were promised a new Washington," the Ohio Republican added. "Instead, it's just more of the same -- more spending, more government, and more empty promises."

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