House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday displayed emotional candor rare for a national leader, acknowledging to reporters that it stings when critics call him “spineless” or a “squish.”
The Ohio Republican was re-elected to a third term as speaker on Tuesday, but suffered the defection of 24 GOP House members, many of whom said their opposition to Boehner stemmed from pressure from their constituents expressed through phone calls and emails. Boehner said he understands that Americans are frustrated with Washington, and that as the speaker, he stands to pay a price for that in form of public dissatisfaction with his leadership.
But the specific charge from conservatives that he is insufficiently right of center, or a GOP establishment lackey, is another matter, and Boehner admitted that it bothers him. He expressed himself after a reporter asked him: “About 25 members of your own conference voted against you, there’s a lot of opposition [from people] with outside conservative influence. Why is there such fervent, conservative opposition to your speakership?”
“Listen, I’ve given some thought to this, as you might imagine,” Boehner answered, with a chuckle. “The American people are very frustrated — they’re frustrated with a struggling economy, they’re frustrated because they don’t think Washington’s listening and they want action. I talk to Americans every day; talk to my constituents every day and this frustration that’s out there, they need to take it out on somebody, take out on [President Obama,] take it out on me. And, it comes with the territory.”
The reporter followed up: “But you’re one of the most conservative members of the last 20 years, does it frustrate you?”
Boehner said: “During my years here when I voted, I had the eight most conservative voting record in the Congress. And, it does pain me to be described as spineless, or a squish. And, I tell you what pains me the most is when they describe me as the establishment. Now, I’m the most anti-establishment speaker we’ve ever had. Who was the guy who got rid of earmarks? Me. Whose the guy that believes in regular order? Me. Who believes in allowing more members to participate in the process, from both sides of the aisle? Me.”
Boehner on Thursday did not rule out punishing Republicans who opposed him during Tuesday’s floor vote for speaker, but said he has not made any final decisions. He is typically hesitant to retaliate against GOP members who oppose him, in some measure because he was considered an insurgent trouble maker early in his congressional career. He has never accepted an earmark for his district, even during the 1990s and 2000s, when they were popular.
Immediately after the speaker vote, two members who opposed him, Reps. Richard Nugent and Daniel Webster, both of Florida, were removed from the House Rules Committee. The panel sets the parameters of debate on legislation and members are appointed to the committee by the speaker. Then on Wednesday, Boehner backtracked, suggesting members who opposed him might not be punished despite demands for retribution from his allies.
Republican aides said whether to punish members who opposed Boehner, or not, would probably be made on a case-by-case basis.
In some instances, it is likely to fall to committee chairmen to decide whether to take action against the Boehner opponents who serve on their panels. Some members might escape immediate punishment, but a few years from now, their request for a plum committee assignment might be denied by the Steering Committee because of this week’s vote, although another reason for the snub is likely to be given.
“My focus is on the American people’s priorities,” Boehner said. “This family conversation will continue; we’ll come to some resolution in the days and weeks ahead.”
