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Boehner Elected House Speaker for Third Time
by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700
Copyright
January 8, 2015
All Rights Reserved.
Surviving a scare from the House Tea Party
Republicans, 65-year-old John Boehner (R- Ohio) was overwhelmingly voted Speaker
of the House Jan. 6 for the third time.
Faced with defections from 25 conservatives, Boehner rejected being
called “spineless" and a “squish,” largely by the rebellious Tea Party caucus,
looking for the Speaker to fight President Barack Obama on every issue. What’s left of moderate Republicans
found out the hard way Oct. 1, 2013 what it’s like to see the government
shutdown for 16 days threatening a credit default. Boehner’s endured endless right wing
propaganda that he’s somehow soft on the president, when in fact he’s ranked
among the most conservative House speakers in U.S. history. What’s different today is the Tea
Party conservative brand is so reactionary, so out-of-the-mainstream that
yesterday’s conservative icons would look liberal.
Conservative Republican icon, the late President Ronald Reagan, would be
regarded as too “moderate” for today’s conservatives. Reagan compromised with the late
House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill from 1981-1987 to do the people’s
business. Unlike today’s
conservatives, Reagan was able to compromise on military spending and taxes,
something unheard of in today’s Congress, comprised of 246 Republicans and 188
Democrats, the biggest Republican margin since Harry Truman left office in 1953. Once conservatives, led by Sen. Ted
Cruz (R-Texas) and House Budget Director Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), failed to end
Obamacare, the House refused to authorize a continuing budget resolution to fund
the government, tossing 800,000 federal workers into unemployment. Boehner played along for so long but
eventually joined Democrats to end the boycott and re-fund the government.
Since Boehner compromised with Democrats to get the government running
again in 2013, they vowed to oppose his next reelection as Speaker. Boehner stepped up Oct. 16, 2013, allowing the full House to vote on a Senate bill for a
continuing budget resolution to prevent default.
Conservative House and Senate zealots were ready to default the U.S.
government from its global budget obligations, threatening the first credit
downgrade in U.S. history—all because conservatives wanted to stop Obamacare. When the Obamacare Website
malfunctioned Oct. 29, 2013, Republicans could only say “I told you so.” None of the GOP’s dire predictions
about a U.S. bankrupting came true, as budget deficits fell, unemployment soared
and Wall Street rallied to unprecedented levels in 2014. With all its problems, Obamacare’s
enrollment totaled since 2013 over 6.6 million or 12.9%.
Boehner rejected conservative claims that he was a weak House Speaker,
prompting some 25 conservatives voted for Tea Party conservative Rep. Daniel
Webster (R-Fl.). “During my years
here when I voted, I have the eighth most conservative voting record in
Congress. An it does pain me to be
described as spineless or a squish,” Boehner told reporters, showing his
sensitivity to House approval.
Instead of apologizing for trying to compromise with Democrats, Boehner should
tout his bipartisan credentials trying, but sometimes failing, to compromise
with the White House. Unlike his
Tea Party colleagues, Boehner takes his job seriously about doing right for the
American people. Called an
“establishment” Republican by Tea Party types, Boehner rejected the label,
saying he was anything but “establishment.”
If “establishment” means preserving the U.S. Congress, then Boehner
should welcome the label.
If Boehner were really such an enemy of conservatives, he wouldn’t have
permitted the House to vote 54 times to de-fund Obamacare since 2011. Tea Party conservatives are content
to continue the Washington gridlock that once resulted in S&P downgrading U.S.
credit Aug. 5, 2011. Despite
conservative attempts to undermine Obama’s economic recovery, the economy has
managed to create nearly 10 million new private sector jobs since April 2010,
cut federal budget deficits to the lowest fraction of Gross Domestic Product
since Clinton balanced the budget in 1997, leaving office in 2001 with a $128
billion surplus. Despite all the
insults from conservative circles, Boehner managed to compromise for the good of
the country. Instead of voting only
on principle, Boehner looks at the big picture and does what’s best for the U.S.
economy and American public.
Boehner’s moderate credentials serve the Republican Party as it jockeys
for position in 2016. If the Tea
Party had its way, the GOP would be perceived by the public as too radical, too
out-of-the-mainstream for national office.
Boehner’s political instincts know that the GOP has moved too off-center
to the right, outside the long tradition of bipartisanship needed to run a
two-party system. “I’m the most
anti-establishment speaker we’ve ever had,” said Boehner referring to his
opposition to “earmarks,” saving taxpayers millions in port barrel spending. When Boehner stood up to the Tea
Party Oct. 16, 2013 to re-open up the government and prevent a government
default, he showed his profile in courage, withstanding the recent mutiny that
could have cost him his job. Before
the Tea Party sabotages the GOP, conservatives should following Boehner’s
example looking to 2016.
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