On Nov. 7, 2006, voters across the nation rejected what they perceived as President Bush’s mismanagement of the war effort and Republican corruption. From House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., defending Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., against the FBI to Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., entering rehab because of filthy e-mails to underage boys to Rep. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., being whisked away to jail, American voters had enough.
Fast-forward just over a month to Rep. John Boehner’s fight to become the new House Minority Leader. The Ohio Republican admitted that the public viewed the GOP as corrupt and wrote, “In 1994 we made it clear we wouldn’t tolerate such activity, and showed our differences with the Democrats, by changing our rules to deny prime leadership and committee positions from any member who had been indicted. The problem is that this isn’t good enough any more. Voters correctly expect more from us, and we should expect more from each other.” His recognition of the issue and willingness to clean house helped him solidify support to become the leading House Republican.
