The 'So Sue Me!' President

Before President Barack Obama had even uttered the details of his immigration plan, Republicans were threatening to take him to court. The next morning, Obama found himself a defendant on an entirely different matter as House Speaker John Boehner filed his long-awaited health care lawsuit.

These days, Republicans seem more eager to sue than an ambulance-chasing attorney. The win-loss record in court breaks heavily in favor of the president. No matter; the cases are actually targeted to the court of public opinion. Republicans want to show their base that they are fighting Obama without getting their hands dirty by passing real legislation on some of the biggest issues of the day: health care, gay marriage and immigration. Crucial swaths of presidential voters—minorities, independents and young people—align more with Democrats on those issues, so ahead of the 2016 contest, Republicans are seeking judicial asylum.