September 15, 2010--John Boehner's "Freedom Project"
If you are wondering why House Minority Leader John Boehner on Sunday said he might be open to voting for an extension of the Bush tax cuts even if those for the highest 2 percent of earners were allowed to expire, you might think that all of a sudden he acquired a case of political smarts. He knows that the Republicans' lockstep support for continuing the cuts for America's billionaires is already the centerpiece of the Democratic fall campaign to maintain control of the House and thus thwart Boehner's aspiration to replace Nancy Pelosi as Speaker.
He seemed to be saying--Give in on this unpopular tax break for folks who don't need it and take away the Democrats only popular position. A day later, of course, after this seeming offer on a Sunday talk show, not one other Republican lined up to follow their leader. So much for being a leader.
Though, yes, one political lapdog, Senator Joe Lieberman, erstwhile Democrat, joined the minority leader in support of continuing all of Bush's deficit-busting tax cuts.
If not political acuity, what really might have been on Boehner's mind Sunday morning was a devastating, front page article about him that appeared in the New York Times. In fine-grained detail it exposed his cozy relationship with hundreds of special-interest lobbyists. Many former staff members of his, most engaged, in quid pro quo fashion, in dangling money and fancy vacations in front of him in return for his support of legislation primarily of benefit to big corporate interests, especially for the banking and so-called investment community. (Full article liked below.)
Even a glimpse at the quasi-legal perks John Boehner receives from his corporate chums reveals the depth of his complicity. In an attempt to cover his tracks, the minority leader began by setting up a political action committee to receive financial support and certain less quantifiable benefits. Without intentional irony he calls it his Freedom Project.
According to the Times' fine reporting, the Freedom Project picks up the tab for his many trips to "golf destinations" on private corporate jets. During the last 18 months the Project spent at least $67,000 at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida, at least $20,000 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, and another $20,000 at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
Now that's what I call freedom.
Boehner came into office in 1990 with six others who self-described themselves, with no nod to Mao Zedong, as the Gang of Seven. They were devoted, they proclaimed, to cleaning up the mess in Washington, symbolized to them by the fancy, taxpayer-subsidized Capitol Barbershop and the white-glove, plantation-style Senate restaurant. Further, each of them pledged to serve as citizen legislators, which meant that they would term-limit themselves. On day one they proclaimed that they would serve only six years, three two-year terms in office.
That was 20 years ago. The other six are gone, mostly under clouds of corruption (none incidentally stepped aside voluntarily); but John Boehner remains.
He explains this to anyone who remembers his pledge that he sees himself as essential to reigning in the Democrats, especially when it comes to spending. He fails to mention that when the Republicans had a majority in the House he voted for all the Bush tax cuts that added at least $3.0 trillion to our deficit. The same deficit he now promises to reduce if he become Speaker.
Maybe, then, Boehner's offhand comments about his willingness to perhaps compromise with the Democrats on tax breaks for the wealthy was only unintentionally smart but in truth was more to show some independence from those fat cats who behind the scenes pull his political strings.
In the meantime, the Democrats will be featuring John Boehner as their version of a boogieman during the fall campaign. Just as the Republicans showcase Pelosi.
So maybe it will come down to this--vote Democrat and suffer at least two more years of that "horror-show" from San Francisco, as the GOP labels her; or, vote Republican and see the House ruled by that orange-faced man from Ohio, as the Dems characterize him. Aren't voters fortunate to have such an inspiring choice.
He seemed to be saying--Give in on this unpopular tax break for folks who don't need it and take away the Democrats only popular position. A day later, of course, after this seeming offer on a Sunday talk show, not one other Republican lined up to follow their leader. So much for being a leader.
Though, yes, one political lapdog, Senator Joe Lieberman, erstwhile Democrat, joined the minority leader in support of continuing all of Bush's deficit-busting tax cuts.
If not political acuity, what really might have been on Boehner's mind Sunday morning was a devastating, front page article about him that appeared in the New York Times. In fine-grained detail it exposed his cozy relationship with hundreds of special-interest lobbyists. Many former staff members of his, most engaged, in quid pro quo fashion, in dangling money and fancy vacations in front of him in return for his support of legislation primarily of benefit to big corporate interests, especially for the banking and so-called investment community. (Full article liked below.)
Even a glimpse at the quasi-legal perks John Boehner receives from his corporate chums reveals the depth of his complicity. In an attempt to cover his tracks, the minority leader began by setting up a political action committee to receive financial support and certain less quantifiable benefits. Without intentional irony he calls it his Freedom Project.
According to the Times' fine reporting, the Freedom Project picks up the tab for his many trips to "golf destinations" on private corporate jets. During the last 18 months the Project spent at least $67,000 at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida, at least $20,000 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, and another $20,000 at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
Now that's what I call freedom.
Boehner came into office in 1990 with six others who self-described themselves, with no nod to Mao Zedong, as the Gang of Seven. They were devoted, they proclaimed, to cleaning up the mess in Washington, symbolized to them by the fancy, taxpayer-subsidized Capitol Barbershop and the white-glove, plantation-style Senate restaurant. Further, each of them pledged to serve as citizen legislators, which meant that they would term-limit themselves. On day one they proclaimed that they would serve only six years, three two-year terms in office.
That was 20 years ago. The other six are gone, mostly under clouds of corruption (none incidentally stepped aside voluntarily); but John Boehner remains.
He explains this to anyone who remembers his pledge that he sees himself as essential to reigning in the Democrats, especially when it comes to spending. He fails to mention that when the Republicans had a majority in the House he voted for all the Bush tax cuts that added at least $3.0 trillion to our deficit. The same deficit he now promises to reduce if he become Speaker.
Maybe, then, Boehner's offhand comments about his willingness to perhaps compromise with the Democrats on tax breaks for the wealthy was only unintentionally smart but in truth was more to show some independence from those fat cats who behind the scenes pull his political strings.
In the meantime, the Democrats will be featuring John Boehner as their version of a boogieman during the fall campaign. Just as the Republicans showcase Pelosi.
So maybe it will come down to this--vote Democrat and suffer at least two more years of that "horror-show" from San Francisco, as the GOP labels her; or, vote Republican and see the House ruled by that orange-faced man from Ohio, as the Dems characterize him. Aren't voters fortunate to have such an inspiring choice.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
5:10 AM
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