US midterms make Ohio Republican the third most powerful person in Washington – but he must balance his corporate backing with populist image.
John Boehner, the Republican in line to become the third most powerful person in the US after the sweeping Republican gains in the midterm elections, likes to portray himself as a man of the people.
The 60-year-old reminded supporters at a victory party that he "started out mopping floors, waiting tables and tending bar at my dad's tavern".
But this is also someone who is a darling of powerful corporate interests. Wall Street and the tobacco industry contribute heavily to Boehner.
"The Street is starved for someone with real-life experience in Washington and John Boehner fits it to the T," Chris Krueger of Capital Concept, a private firm that tracks Washington for institutional investors, told Reuters.
According to the Centre for Public Integrity in Washington, Boehner, who is second in line for the presidency behind Joe Biden, took more than $1.5m (£930,000) in political action committee contributions in two decades from companies such as AT&T, the telecommunications giant, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the tobacco giants Reynolds America and Altria.
He earned their support by voting with the US Chamber of Commerce 93% of the time over his career. The AFL-CIO, the umbrella organisation for unions, said Boehner voted against their interests in every vote he cast in 2008 and 2009.
His close ties with lobbyists have occasionally raised eyebrows among his fellow Republicans. Chris Shays, of Connecticut, a former House Republican who opposed Boehner's leadership bid in 2006, noted at the time: "The problem John faces is that he's so close to K Street," a reference to the Washington area favoured by lobbyists.
Long before Boehner rose to his current position as House Republican leader, he created the "Thursday group" – a weekly discussion around a conference-room table on Capitol Hill with conservative and business lobbyists, including representatives of the US Chamber of Commerce and other influential trade associations.
Despite his close ties to corporate interests, Boehner also has to keep on side the Tea Party movement, which loathes big banks and big government in almost equal measure.
According to the Washington Post, Boehner made his first congratulatory call to the Tea Party. In a televised call from a hotel suite in Washington to Tea Party activists in his south-western Ohio district, he said: "I'll never let you down."
How he squares the circle between his anti-big business supporters and powerful corporate interests will be interesting to watch, but there is no doubting Boehner's political skills – and his formidable capacity as a fundraiser.
He quickly climbed the leadership ladder after joining the House. He suffered a setback during a 1998 power struggle when he was removed from a post in the House leadership, but bounced back and started moving up again.
Boehner has been singled out by Barack Obama in campaign speeches as the face of Republican obstructionism.
He got members of his party to stick together against Obama measures that were rammed through the Democratic-led House in the past two years, including the healthcare overhaul and an $814bn economic stimulus plan.
One hundred days into Obama's administration, Boehner said the Democratic legislative agenda made him "want to throw up" and his "hell no" speech during the first healthcare debate became a YouTube sensation.
Boehner has said he plans to do everything he can – "I mean everything" – to repeal Obama's healthcare reform, a top Tea Party target.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/03/john-boehner-us-midterms
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
