Boehner wasn’t saying Tarp opponents are knuckledraggers. He is saying conservatives in general are. (I guess anyone to the right of Lincoln Chaffee)
An exaggeration, but.... yeah.
I do tend to cut elected Republicans some slack since they are subjected to such vile hate and harassment, threats and vandalism by the intolerant Left. Would you want to run for office knowing the liberals would send a convicted sex offender to stand at your property line taking pictures of your children?