Posted on 09/12/2010 7:58:34 AM PDT by La Lydia
Here’s a preview of how the Midterm media battles will be waged. The New York Times is running a front page feature on House Minority leader John Boehner (“a 60-year-old, perpetually tanned, sharply tailored, chain-smoking golfer”) the man recently cast as President Obama’s main foe in the Republican party, and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has taken to Twitter to tell you how much he really wants you to read it.
The article details Boehner’s “especially tight ties with a circle of lobbyists and former aides representing some of the nation’s biggest businesses, including Goldman Sachs, Google, Citigroup, R. J. Reynolds, MillerCoors and UPS” and speculates on how these ties influence his political decisions in dubious ways.
From 2000 to 2007, Mr. Boehner flew at least 45 times, often with his wife, Debbie, on corporate jets provided by companies including R. J. Reynolds. (As required, Mr. Boehner reimbursed part of the costs.) In addition, over the last decade he has taken 41 other trips paid for by corporate sponsors or industry groups, often to popular golf spots. That makes him one of the top House beneficiaries of such travel, which has recently been curbed as a result of changes in ethics rules.
It goes on, but you get the picture, and the NYT has provided a handy little chart of ‘Boehner’s K-Street Cabinet.’ Robert Gibbs, meanwhile, is very keen you read it. In a case of what might be called overplaying your Twitter, Gibbs has tweeted about the story no less than four times in the last hour, including expressing concern that the black and white chart doesn’t give proper due to Boehner’s tan. Feels like a bit too much of a good thing on Gibbs’ part, but perhaps he’s been inspired by the recent success of Sarah Palin and is hoping to wield his Twitter account in a similar manner. Maybe cluster twitters are the new negative campaign ad.
(Includes screen shot of Gibbs' tweets at link)
Sounds like Obama to me. Especially the tanned part.
I guess he ought to stop smoking with the DEms too... but Hey, It’s still sort of a free country. You still have the right to associate with most folk, even TEA Partiers, and not be singled out as suspect.
From a thread just above this, it looks like Boehner is negotiating on tax cuts for the “rich.” Boehner has held strong on certain opposition, but looks wobbly here, so I dont know how to categorize Boehner’s conservatism.
With all that said, if this president is so focused on the Minority House Leader, then Boehner has done a good job. Also, if this president is so focused on him, it may be taking his attention away from destroying any more industries.
Right .... I guess you weren’t around in the late nineties. See where hearings got us...no, we need to work on repeal of Obamacare, cutting the bureaucracy, and expansion of the private sector.
I could not agree more. I have never been a Boehner fan; although I do hear a great deal about interaction in part of the Republican caucus, I never hear a word about a campaign to be Speaker. I think there is a broad assumption that Boehner is the man if the votes are there for the R's.
However the direction of the campaign and the obvious disconnect between the country club group and the conservatives ought to lead us to the conclusion that a close look at the leadership is in order.
Maybe we should let the RATs demonize Boehner and then put someone really horrible (to them) as speaker...like Michelle Bachman.
THis is a satire, right?
I mean, except for "60-year-old", doesn't this describe Pres. BO to a tee?
No, they are trying to instill fear of Boehner in the electorate so they will vote dem just so he cannot become speaker. But all anyone has to do is think Nancy Pelosi, and then the whole thing becomes laughable.
nyt like nit
Who is Robert Gibbs ?
/sarcasm (-;
Glynnis McNichol was a writer for Huffpost and Playboy. Don’t suppose we should be surprised that she includes (“a 60-year-old, perpetually tanned, sharply tailored, chain-smoking golfer”) in her writings should we. Isn’t it interesting that those who lack faith in there position need to include those types of comments.
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