JOHN BOEHNER: SINCERITY AND SUNTAN

One of the first rules for political success is that you have to be able to fake sincerity. Two days ago, I had an unusual opportunity to see, or rather read about, this rule in action. Our local newspaper has two facing editorial pages. The one on the left is, of course, liberal in its views and the columnists it carries. Conversely, the editorials on the right page and its columnists are conservative. The interesting coincidence was that both pages on the same day carried columns about House Minority leader John Boehner.

The conservative column by Cal Thomas entitled, "Mr. Speaker-in-Waiting," was based on an interview (emphasis on "interview") with Boehner, resulting in what can only be called a puff piece. The liberal writer was Bob Herbert whose column entitled, "That's where the money is,"
was based on some facts (emphasis on "facts") about Boehner's ties to big businesses and their lobbyists.

Nothing could be more contrived to put the "fake sincerity" rule to a test than Thomas's asking Boehner what his late parents "given the humble circumstances" of his background might think of him today. Quoting from Thomas, "He begins to tear up and reaches for a box of tissues." Boehner's reported reply: " 'Why me? I ask God,'" he says, " 'I'm just a regular guy with a big job.'" This is the response from the same Boehner whose "suntan" is under scrutiny as to whether it's real or fake and, if fake, does he use a tanning bed or a lotion. From there the interview allows Boehner to don his Republican robes and preach the party gospel.

Regarding the GOP loss of congressional control in 2006, Boehner said, "Our team failed to live up to our principles," the theme for asking forgiveness of fellow conservatives and vote the GOP back into power, at least in the House where his promotion awaits, next month. "I came here for a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government and that has not been what's happening. We don't need any more programs; we need to undo a lot of programs," etc., etc., etc.

Thomas closes out his column, ". . . John Boehner increasingly looks like the next (s)peaker of the House. His parents would be proud."

Contrast Thomas' Boehner-serving interview with Herbert's reporting of actual events involving Boehner and his coziness with the corporate world.

The most stunning example presented by Herbert goes back about 15 years when this "quintessential influence peddler (meaning Boehner) decided to play Santa Claus by handing out checks from tobacco lobbyists to fellow congressional sleazes right on the floor of the House." (Note, I said Herbert was reporting facts; I did not say he was free of judgment about those facts.) When Boehner's Chief of Staff was asked why money would be handed out on the House floor, there was no denial or hedging. The reply: "The floor is where the members meet with each other." Herbert linked this to the reply of the notorious bank robber Willy Sutton when he was asked why he robbed banks: "Because that's where the money is."

Herbert also recalled the more recent event when House Democrats were preparing for floor action on financial regulatory reform. Boehner and other GOP house leaders met with a reported 100 "industry lobbyists and conservative activists" to encourage them to get out and help Republicans defeat the legislation.

To summarize, in contrast to Thomas' Boehner puffery, Herbert puts it this way, "That's Boehner for you--always willing to stick his neck out for the elite."

So, I ask you, which is more fake, Boehner's sincerity or his suntan?