- Washington Free Beacon - https://freebeacon.com -

WH: Obama Being Called Emperor Is 'Criticism the President Wears with a Badge of Honor'

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said President Obama wears the 'emperor' label "with a badge of honor" during a press briefing Wednesday.

Responding to rhetoric from critics of Obama's impending executive action on immigration reform, Earnest said the president has no problem using the law to make "progress."

"We heard rhetoric for some time. Their most recent statement referred to 'Emperor Obama,'" Earnest said. "The fact is the president is somebody who is willing to examine the law, review the law and use every element of that law to make progress for the American people and that's a criticism the president wears with badge of honor."

Obama is set to announce his plans for an immigration overhaul on Thursday before traveling to Las Vegas on Friday to build support for his executive amnesty plan.

When asked about the legality of executive amnesty for 5 million illegal immigrants, Earnest said we would have to wait for Obama's announcement to find out whether or not it is legal.

"We'll have ample opportunity to discuss legal basis for the president's executive actions once he's announced them," Earnest said.

Sound familiar?

Speaking on Obamacare in 2010, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said lawmakers would "have to pass the bill so you that you can find out what is in it."