Boehner's Offers of Committees to GOP Challengers Defies Fiscal Austerity Message

[one...two...tree 2,762]

ATLANTA – Deep in rural Georgia, the Republican who may become the next speaker of the U.S. House is playing let's-make-a-deal with voters.

Minority Leader John Boehner promised this week that if southwest Georgia residents unseat Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop, he will support placing GOP challenger Mike Keown on the House Agriculture Committee. It's a promise designed to get Keown votes in a red-soil district that harvests the nation's largest peanut and pecan crop.

As Republicans campaign to win a majority in Congress, Boehner has dangled similar promises in Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Hawaii, sometimes in districts where single economic interests like farming or defense dominate regional economies.

Such pledges are not unusual in an election year, but they contradict GOP messages about fiscal austerity.

For example, Boehner promised newly elected Republican Rep. Charles Djou of Hawaii his support for a seat on the House Appropriations Committee. Democrats are making a special effort to unseat Djou after he won a special election in May when two Democrats on the ballot split the party's vote.

The committee's perk is the power to dole out money for projects in members' districts. But Djou criticizes the federal government for taxing and spending too much. In one breath, he said the committee seat would give Hawaii "a huge amount of influence."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101022/ap_on_go_co/us_boehner_committee_promises

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You know what's funny is that Boehner may not even be the next Speaker. The Tea Party is why the GOP is going to win this round and DeMint has been front and center of that particular movement. Watch for a power play post Nov 2.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You know what's funny is that Boehner may not even be the next Speaker. The Tea Party is why the GOP is going to win this round and DeMint has been front and center of that particular movement. Watch for a power play post Nov 2.

Is it me or does Boehner look like the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz?

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You know what's funny is that Boehner may not even be the next Speaker. The Tea Party is why the GOP is going to win this round and DeMint has been front and center of that particular movement. Watch for a power play post Nov 2.

Umm Boehner is not a Senator, DeMint is. My bad. Ignore this post.

Who's the dumbass who rated this a +1?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You know what's funny is that Boehner may not even be the next Speaker. The Tea Party is why the GOP is going to win this round and DeMint has been front and center of that particular movement. Watch for a power play post Nov 2.

Exactly. No matter which party wins, the old guard is gone...I am crossing my fingers.

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Exactly. No matter which party wins, the old guard is gone...I am crossing my fingers.

OMG it was you!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Umm Boehner is not a Senator, DeMint is. My bad. Ignore this post.

Who's the dumbass who rated this a +1?

Me. I was giving you the benefit of the doubt. The Senate is a different story, and DeMint won't have the votes there.

[mawilson 2,133]

Fuckin Republican-Democrat regimers.

[Pooky 3,794]

It's a pity Bumbling Boehner isn't likely to lose his re-election race, because I'd like nothing better than to dump him on the same trash pile as I'd like to see Dingy Harry Reid consigned to.

Why does America elect so many idiots to public office?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Is there really anyone out there that believes a GOP Congress would propose austerity? If so, you haven't paid attention.