Who is the Real John Boehner?

Who is the Real John Boehner?

Katrina vanden Heuvel reminds us that John Boehner is more than a harmless tan and some tears.

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Yesterday marked the beginning of the 112th Congress and the beginning of John Boehner’s (R-OH) reign as Speaker of the House. What can we expect from "the man behind the tan?" Nation Editor and Publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel joined Ed Schultz on The Ed Show last night to talk about Boehner’s corporate and banking ties and what that will mean as he takes control of the House gavel.

"Boehner is very much in the Tom DeLay mold," she explained. "John Boehner is notorious for having a very close circle of corporate titans. He’s flown on their corporate jets, he goes golfing with them." Vanden Heuvel also emphasized the role the media is designated to play in getting to the nitty-gritty of his political modus operandi and "beyond his tan, beyond those tears and looks at the policies which are going to make millions of Americans cry." Sense of humor in hand, she reminded viewers that Boehner had voted against a food safety bill in the recent lame-duck session. "What is he, for salmonella vs. the people?"

—Carrie Battan

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