Boehner Doesn't Seem To Get It

This is a far more troubling item than it first appears to be. And it doesn't look good from the start. The first thing Boehner does is mention that Independents out number the base in their concerns over Obama. That's a bit of a tell as to which way he is leaning. But the second issue is far worse.

While I've no problem with his staying clear of some of the truly fringe stuff like the doomed birther movement, that he can't appreciate creeping socialism is rather troubling, indeed. And he seems to feed into the notion that the "base" is mostly comprised of the more extreme and unhinged elements of it.

It's hard to conclude anything other than Boehner simply doesn't get it at all. This is a genuinely troubling read.

John Boehner struggles to keep up with base

“I would point out that the greatest anxiety about the president’s policies tends to come from independents,” he said.

Long before the tea parties or Wilson’s outburst, Boehner and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) had struggled to moderate the rhetorical excesses of House conservatives hammering away on Obama’s birth certificate, decrying the creation of “death panels” and ferreting out signs of creeping socialism.

Sources say they have been especially wary of the possible damage inflicted on the party’s reputation by bomb-throwing Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who last fall called for an investigation into whether members of Congress are “pro-America or anti-America.”

Still, Boehner has largely avoided antagonizing the base on these hot-button issues — steering clear of using the words “death panel” — while criticizing Democrats for involving the government in end-of-life decisions. He’s been particularly careful to avoid the fate of former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who found himself publicly espousing positions that didn’t have widespread support in his own conference.

Cross-posted at RightWingNews.

Comments

[mark l.]

federal spending increased 18.9% from 02-05.
gdp increased 9%, same period.

how could one consider themselves a conservative, while simultaneously supporting the gop?

“I would point out that the greatest anxiety about the president’s policies tends to come from independents,” he said.

no doubt. Nothing has done more to increase independent voters, than the actions of the gop, when they held power. Spending and immigration were going to help draw the independents back into the fold?

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Here's my call for a viable third party....God help you in the beltway if the center ever breaks from the wings for a full frontal assault

[tim maguire]

"He’s been particularly careful to avoid the fate of former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who found himself publicly espousing positions that didn’t have widespread support in his own conference."

Call me naive, but isn't a leader's job to build support for important issues, rather than simply be a mouthpiece for somebody else's idea of what's an important issue?

[brooklyn]

Sorry Mark L, could not disagree with you more.

The GOP is NOT the problem we face today, and through this Party, like Reagan before, we have empowered sound Conservative principles.
3rd Party delusions are only going to enable the Democratic Party, just as they did in 1992 and in 2006.

Boehner here is quoted by POLITICO? And assumed by a fine blogger as to not get it?

Please, he is correct in trying to make the outrage of Governmental excess a NON PARTISAN issue, to project properly to the misguided Liberal Democrats and the Beltway mindsets, that the vast majority of Americans, regardless of Partisan Identity, do not want what the Democrats are presenting. He is of course not saying that nearly all Republicans are against the Obama spending and take over games, because that is obvious. He is also making it clear, that many Democratic Partisans support this fiasco of the Democratic offering.

The GOP in mass, voted against the Obama - Pelosi Stimulus debacle, against CAP AND TAX, are completely opposed to the Nationalization of Public Health Care.

Again we see a growing self destructive mindset of hyperbole and fashion which is crushing the opposition to the Democratic Party.

How many votes did Pat Buchanan get in his 3RD PARTY effort?

The Republican Party, and the Bush Administration got a square deal from many on the Conservative side. Not only did they cut taxation during their tenure, they provided Tort Reform, Bankruptcy Reform, successful Affirmative Action legal challenges, serious Conservative Judicial appointments to the Courts, a strong National Defense, etc.

Federal Spending after 9-11 was going to be massive, and much of the expense was not only in regards to Defense. In fact, the Bush Administration did more than the previous 5 Presidential Administrations in Border security, Immigration control, Deportation streamlining, etc., which costs money. But few Conservatives who cry about Illegal Immigration give them credit, even for fighting the Liberal Democrat Advocacy groups to finish the Border Fence south of San Diego with Duncan Hunter prior to 9-11.

Today, any President inheriting the mandated spending created by Democrats, would be forced to spend as much. It simply didn't cost as much when Ronald Reagan was President, and that is what GW Bush was talking about, when he wisely and bravely tried to reform Social Security with Free Market - private sector solutions.

Some are so lost in a fashion, they betray the sound efforts of the legendary WFB, who built a movement on basis, reason, objectivity, instead of hyperbole.

Dumping the GOP is a form of suicide, which we watched enable the likes of Nancy, Harry, Hillary, Barack, etc., in the 2006 Midterms, which even gave rise to the enabling of the disastrous Maverick Campaign. We ceded power to the Democrats, and gave Washington and many in the USA, the foolish idea only a Democratic LIGHT could win the Presidency.

Don't do it again, don't enable the folly by abandoning the sound Conservatives fighting in Washington within the admirable GOP.

Their efforts in the GWOT alone, deserves praise and support.

Stop the nonsensical delusions...

[brooklyn]

Oh and PS...

This poster was sent a number of emails after 2006, with Democratic Partisans bragging how they pretended to be libertarian, and successfully empowered the Democratic Party by debasing the Republicans. Don't always buy into the expression of some on a comments page, who are so eager to dump the GOP and claim to be conservative.

Thank you.

[Ellis Wyatt]

"Today, any President inheriting the mandated spending created by Democrats, would be forced to spend as much. It simply didn't cost as much when Ronald Reagan was President, and that is what GW Bush was talking about, when he wisely and bravely tried to reform Social Security with Free Market - private sector solutions."

The Prescription Drug Giveaway wasn't mandated by Democrats. W did that on his own. No Child Left Behind? Also W's idea. I understand that we can't roll back the New Deal and Great Society in a single administration, but let's at least stop the growth of entitlements rather than add new ones!

As for Defense spending, he still spent more than was necessary. Take the Department of Homeland Security for instance. Part of the reason 9-11 happened was because bureaucratic red tape prevented critical intelligence from reaching the right people in time. Why then, did we create a super-bureaucracy on top of the existing bureaucracy? It makes no sense.

Even when W did the right thing (like creating the Health Savings Accounts), he packaged it with other bills that more than negated the savings. And how about his refusal to veto anything that came out of that Congress? One single veto would have set the tone for Congress and prevented many wasteful bills from getting to the floor. W couldn't do it.

The bottom line is, the Democrats were able to use that tactic of falsely claiming to be libertarian BECAUSE the GOP brushed us aside while they were in power. You can't keep disrespecting a significant portion of your base and expect them to put up with it forever.

[Peg C.]

brooklyn is right - no 3rd party. That way madness lies - not to mention ignominious failure. There is no 3rd party power in Congress and never will be. Rush and Mark are right - we HAVE to reform from within.

[rrpjr]

These are the days that try men's souls. If America survives this perfect storm of ideology on one side and cluelessness on the other, we'll survive anything. David Horowitz needs to hold a retreat for these nitwits in congress where they can at least learn what a leftist is. Of couse, none of them would go. Wouldn't be good to be seen with David Horowitz, might upset "bipartisanship."

[Dan Riehl]

Well, I have never advocated a third party approach. It's a dumb idea. The libs would run everything and there would ne nothing to even slow them down at that point. But that has nothing to do with the R leadership getting it. And based on Boehner's remarks, it can be reasonably interpreted that he doesn't. He sounds just loike someone who takes their talking points from the inside the beltway media and not the people.

[Huey]

We lost control of the house with Newt because his "bomb throwing" allowed the MSM to dominate the debate -- making it about HIM rather than his policies (or when it was about his policies, it was ALWAYS tinged with a flavor (a really "Grinch-like" flavor) of Newt.

Boehner's doing okay. He's keeping the "R's" in line. Solid votes against almost everything the big O has tossed out.

The type of "leadership" being asked for here isn't the kind which should originate from within the House -- but on a NATIONAL scale.

I had hoped (and still hope) that this voice would be Palin. No one else has a megaphone the size of hers nor can put it to better use.

[dad29]

Brooklyn, you are dead wrong.

The R party IS the problem. Shall we mention Isakson (R-Housing Giveaways)? The TEA Parties just happened to occur after Obama's election, but the cumulative Statism of Clinton and Bush were a big factor.

Did Bush bail out the auto companies? Yes. Did Bush bail out the bank-Zombies? Yes. Did Bush's SEC bumble, fumble, and utterly FAIL to require the InvBanks to hold minimal capital against their gambles? NO. Did Bush actually know what was IN the first TARP bill? NO.

Did Bush's Second Inaugural meet with well-deserved scorn for his 'America shall save the world for Democracy' crap? YES.

Boehner is in the GOP 'line' for the Pres. nomination, and finds himself in the wrong line, defending a Party which is only the slower road to Statism, of the two choices.

Boehner's Party is just another Party-Of-Gummint. It's possible that it could actually become "conservative" again. Until then, screw 'em.

[rwisher]

Boehner will drop the ball. He likes working in D.C. more than he cares about doing the right thing.

Here's my rule. Never trust a man with a darker tan than a bikini model.

He's spending too much time on himself.

[Rich K]

Its scary for a guy like boehner to jump from the centrist fence. Not knowing how his ditrict leans may mean hes in CYA mode all the time for the sake of his seat.So I will give him a pass for now as there are many more pathetic Rs with more issues than him to hold feet to the fire.
Not that anyone cares what I think but for the most part he gets many things right.

[Robert Belvedere]

Spot-on commentary.

We're never going to get very far in our efforts with such blinded people leading our side in the Congress. Mr. Boehner, the days of conviviality in the House are over. The Democrats are street brawling and you're the skinny kid trying to broker a peace who keeps trying despite having a bloody nose and a wedgee. This is ultimately not a battle between Democrats and Republicans, but a battle between Left and Right for the soul of this nation. This is not like the battles of yore when you could count on a reciprocating civility from the other side. The Left is in it all-out to win by any means necessary. Have you not been watching and listening to them since 20 January? Really, you should get off your well-padded ass, get out of Washington, jump in a car with out any advance men, and see the anger and rebellion brewing in America. Either that or get out. And I don't mean resign from the Minority Leader position; I mean get the hell out of the Congress. You're not doing your country any good being a useful idiot and patsy for the America-hating Left. They're laughing at you and us. At least have the decency, if you care at all about this nation, to remove yourself from the scene. 'You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!'

Quoted from and linked to at:
OUT OF TOUCH, OUT OF HIS MIND