After President Obama called him the “definition of chutzpah,” Rep. Darrell Issa has launched a “chutzpah” bus tour of his district.
“President Barack Obama didn’t mean it as a compliment,” said Calvin Moore, Issa’s communications director, on Thursday. “But Rep. Darrell Issa is taking it as one, launching an ‘It Takes Chutzpah’ bus tour.”
Chutzpah is a colorful Yiddish word that means “cheek” or “audacity.”
Obama called out Issa after the Congressman used a photo of the president in a mailer. “This is now a guy who because poll numbers are bad has sent out brochures with my picture on it, touting his cooperation on issues with me,” Obama said during a visit to California.
Issa has been one of the Obama administration’s most vocal critics. As chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2011 to 2015, he launched a series of investigations, calling Obama “one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times.”
The 10-term Congressman, who has endorsed Donald Trump, faces the toughest re-election fight of his political career against Democratic newcomer Doug Applegate.
The 49th Congressional District spans north coastal San Diego county and south Orange County. It has traditionally been a Republican district, but is becoming more Democratic.
