Boehner, Blunt To Head Up House Republican Leadership
Ugh…
WASHINGTON - Republicans Friday chose Rep. John Boehner as minority leader, succeeding Speaker Dennis Hastert in the top GOP leadership post for the Democratic-controlled House that convenes in January.
Boehner defeated Indiana conservative Mike Pence. The vote tally was 168-27 with one vote for Texas Rep. Joe Barton. Boehner’s election cements the Ohio conservative’s resurrection within GOP leadership ranks. His elevation to succeed Hastert, R-Ill., as the party’s front line leader came despite unrest within the rank and file and a spirited campaign by Pence.
According to the article Blunt will stay in his post as Whip.
Fitting that Boehner would be House Minority Leader given that it was his actions (among those of others) that lead Republicans into minority status in the House.
This statement was interesting:
“We need to start by rebuilding the Republican brand,” Boehner said. “Republicans need to get back to our core principles and rededicate ourselves to the reform mind-set that put us in the majority 12 years ago.”
That’s great, but why wasn’t Boehner talking this way back in February of this year when he took over for DeLay?
I am so disappointed by this. Whatever else the election may have been, I think it was clearly a message from voters that they were tired of voting for “limited government” candidates who have done nothing to actually limit government. Yet Republicans don’t seem to have gotten that message because the leadership they’ve now chosen in the House and Senate (where Trent “There’s No Pork I Don’t Like” Lott will be Minority Whip) is the same leadership that was wholly ineffective in advancing a conservative agenda in Congress.
After the crushing defeat Republicans suffered earlier this month they needed to show Americans, and especially the conservative base, that they are rededicating themselves to principle. Republicans needed to give their base something to cheer about, but by maintaining the status quo in Congressional party leadership all they’ve done is give the base a reason to scratch their collective heads.
