John Boehner turns down Air Force One ride to Tucson
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By JOHN BRESNAHAN | 1/12/11 6:44 PM EST
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) turned down an offer by President Barack Obama to travel on Air Force One to Arizona for a memorial service on behalf of the victims of Saturday’s shooting, a decision that has upset some Democrats.
Boehner is instead scheduled to attend a reception on Wednesday night on behalf of Maria Cino, a former top House GOP aide who is seeking the Republican National Committee chairmanship. Boehner is backing Cino’s challenge to current RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
Senior Democrats – who to date had been impressed with Boehner’s response to the Arizona tragedy – expressed surprise at what they saw as an unmistakable misstep by the new speaker: appearing at a partisan political event on the same night as the president, first lady Michelle Obama, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Arizona congressional delegation come together at the memorial service for the victims of an attack that nearly took the life of a member of the House. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) was critically wounded in Saturday’s attack, while six other people died and a dozen more were wounded. Read more here.
House Speaker Boehner decided he’s shed enough tears for the cameras, time to get down to the real work in Washington.. COCKTAIL PARTIES!
*The Speaker also serves as the partisan leader of the majority party within the chamber and has come to be regarded as only second in power and importance to the president.
*Standing behind the vice president in succession to the presidency, several Speakers have been just one step away from the highest office in the land.
Hello everyone.
Now do you honestly expect Boner to miss cocktail hour, and miss getting his drink on, in order to be at a memorial? In order for Boner to do that, he would have to stop being a self serving, no good asshole. Besides, Boner’s a drunk. Let’s keep it real. He prolly starts drinking early in the morning and if he can’t get some booze in him every few hours, dude gets the shakes.
There are bars here in Ohio that open at 5:00 am. And yes, white folks start drinking that early. I’m guessing Boner is one of them.
The memorial that Boner blew off yesterday was just the tip of the iceberg.
Expect more self serving, non caring behavior from this guy. One more thing. Boner’s heart, if he has one, is ice cold. He doesn’t give a damn about you, doesn’t give a damn about me. He’s just a cold hearted individual. But I guess he sold his soul to the devil in order to have money and power. Boner reminds me of so many ohioans. Many can be soulless.
I’m not shocked nor will I be shocked by anything he does. Wait until the pressure starts to mount on Boner. He’ll be drunk 24/7. Watch.
Wait until the pressure starts to mount on Boner.
Then he’ll really be yelling…Hell No You Can’t!
Boner will drink that bottle and ten more just like it. I’m telling you he’ll be passed out on the congressional floor before long.
Alright now! The REAL RAW deal on Boehner, from Dannie, our a resident OHIOAN.
Thanks for the 411!
Where’s that bottle and glass, SG2? Bring it on. **snickers**
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I knew it was true when I heard it, but what a lowdown mofo.
True to form, and he is an utter disgrace.
Let the spin begin! I’m calling Bullshit. It’s ok when the Rethugs do it. NOT
Boehner Didn’t Really Snub Obama, Giffords Rally
by Talking Points Memo | 12:11 pm, January 13th, 2011
House Speaker John Boehner is catching a lot of flack for missing last night’s memorial service in Tucson, reportedly declining an Air Force One invitation from President Obama in order to slap backs and clink glasses at an RNC event.
But a look at the timeline of events paints Boehner in a better light.
Yesterday, House members attended a vigil for victims of the Arizona shooting spree in an auditorium underneath the Capitol Visitor’s Center. As they trickled in, a House aide provided reporters, including me, a glimpse at the program of events and list of speakers. There was one small revision to the schedule, though: Minority Whip Steny Hoyer would be reading Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s portion of scripture, because she was on her way to Tucson with the President.
If Boehner had accepted the invitation, then the leaders of both parties would have missed the Wednesday vigil.
Presented with this recollection of events, Boehner’s spokesman Michael Steel confirmed, and defended his boss. “Boehner would not have been able to attend the bipartisan prayer service if he’d gone to Tucson,” he said. “Yesterday, Rep. Giffords’ colleagues on both sides of the aisle honored her and mourned those who were lost. The Speaker felt his place was here in the House, with them.”
Boehner’s also getting knocked around a bit for what he decided to do while in DC: he attended an organizing event for Maria Cino, whom he’s supporting to chair the RNC. But though that may have entailed chatting up donors over cocktails, Steel says he spoke for three minutes and left the event in time to watch Obama’s speech on television. And while he plausibly could have made it out to Tucson separately in time for the service, Boehner would most likely have had to charter a military plane, to which he has access as Speaker.
Republicans criticized former Speaker Pelosi for traveling via military air during her tenure, and Boehner has committed to commuting to his Ohio district on commercial flights.
Talking heads noticed his absence, and criticized him after Obama’s speech ended, and Democratic aides piled on in anonymous quotes to Politico and the Daily Caller. But the narrative taking hold — that Boehner rejected a ride on Air Force One in order to attend an RNC event — is more complicated than the soundbites.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/boehner-didnt-really-snub-obama-giffords-rally/
Wasn’t it shameful? John Boehner offered a ride on Air Force One and he refused? He wanted to attend a fund-raiser instead? It’s astounding!
Even if he had another engagement or vigil as the news is spinning now, he could have flown out later. PERCEPTION matters.
The fund-raiser could have been post-poned. We know where Boehner’s priority lies.
Yes, and WHERE ARE THE JOBS, JOHN BOEHNER?
It’s not with the American people. He blew an opportunity to be with the victims and their families. It was all about them. Not pols and pundances, or bloggers.
It came down to Tucsonans, but Boehner made his choice.
John Boehner is a disgrace. Dannie, where are you? Please weigh in on this embarrassment, if you’d care to!
Where’s that bottle and glass, SG2? Bring it on. **snickers**