On Marco, John Boehner discusses discusses Syria, health care, Russia

Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said President Donald Trump “did the right thing” in ordering a military strike against Syria.

It was “probably the best thing he has done since he was sworn in as president,” Boehner said Friday at the Caxambas Republican Club’s event at the Marco Island Yacht Club. Boehner purchased a condo on Marco in 2014.

“It was very important for lots of reasons on lots of levels,” including sending “a hell of a strong message” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, referring to the Syrian regime's top ally.

Former President Barack Obama contemplated taking military action against Syria  in 2013. At the time, Boehner wrote a letter asking the president to "provide a clear, unambiguous explanation of how military action — which is a means, not a policy — will secure U.S. objectives and how it fits into your overall policy."

Boehner seeks answers from Obama on Syria

The same day, Boehner issued his letter, at least 111 House lawmakers signed a letter by Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va., calling on Obama to seek a vote of congressional approval before any military action was taken. The lawmakers contended that to act without their authority would violate the Constitution.

Boehner later said he would approve Obama's request for authority to launch a military strike against Syria.

“I was with President Obama when he wanted to do something with the Syrians,” he said. “And he and I and (House Democratic leader Nancy) Pelosi were on the same page, but the rest of the country just dumped all over us; it was a bad moment.”

He said Trump had authority to take the action that he did, despite “chatter from the left and some goofballs on the far right” who have said otherwise.

“He has the ability to do this (and) he told all of our allies that we’re in a different era,” he said. “We’re not going to put up with this.”

Boehner also spoke about the GOP’s efforts to reform health care.

In February, he accurately predicted Republicans would not be able to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare."

Although the party is trying to revive the fight, Boehner isn’t much more optimistic about it than he was two months ago.

“Not one time in the last 25 years have Republicans ever agreed on what a Republican version of health care insurance should look like,” he said. “Not one time. So they’re having their challenges.”

He also said the party’s ability to pass health care reform will greatly affect its future goals.

“They have to work their way through this," Boehner said. "They have to figure the health care thing out (and) they have to pass this. If they can’t do this, they can’t do a budget, they can’t do tax reform ... they can’t do anything.”

However, Trump has a strong team, Boehner said. He praised the president’s Cabinet, although he noted it's a group of people “I never expected to see serving together.”

However, Trump’s administration, and the Democrats, still have questions to answer about Russia’s involvement in the campaign, Boehner said.

Those questions, he said, include:

• What were the Russians up to during the campaign?
• Who in each of the campaigns was talking to the Russians and why?
• What happened after the election during the transition period and why?

Boehner said an investigation by the House and Senate intelligence committees and a bipartisan report will be the only ways to resolve the issue and answer those questions.

“I think the American people need to know what the hell all of this is about,” he said. “There’s a lot of nonsense going on here, and the American people deserve to know exactly what happened.”

He also said a bipartisan report would give the news media, whom he called “the biggest loser in the election,” a full, detailed and accurate story about Russia’s involvement in the election.