Summers Hits Boehner, Defends 'Little Punk Staffers'

[Joanne98]

On Thursday, White House senior adviser Larry Summers came to the defense of "punk staffers" trying to write new financial regulatory reform legislation, pushing back against House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) who told the banking industry a day earlier that Wall Street shouldn't let such aides push it around.

"Don't let those little punk staffers take advantage of you, and stand up for yourselves," Boehner told that vase-full of wilting lilies known as the American Bankers Association on Wednesday.

"I do not think that those who want to address these issues are 'little punk staffers' who need to be stood up to," Summers said in a speech at the National Press Club.

Summers noted that the bank lobby is the last interest group in need of a bucking up, given that it has "spent one million dollars on lobbyists per member of Congress."

"At a moment when there are four lobbyists per member of the House and Senate working on this issue, we in the Administration do not believe that the prominent issue is allowing bankers to stand up for themselves," reasoned Summers.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/18/summers-hits-boehner-defe_n_504086.html

[Enrique]

1. that Boehner quote would look good in a DNC ad

:thumbsup:

[Lifelong Protester]

2. Even though I am not much of a Sumners fan, good for him

and Boehner keeps coming across as that creepy alcoholic uncle you wanted to stay away from at family gatherings... he just gives off a creepy vibe.

[Inuca]

3. "vase-full of wilting lilies" LOL!! n/t

[Orsino]

4. Tepid, but true.

Wish he weren't so complacent about that 4-to-1 ratio.

[maxsolomon]

5. i WISH they were punk ROCK staffers

then you'd see some re-regulation!

[laughingliberal]

6. Perhaps the first thing 'the Lar' ever said I could cheer for.

Now, let's see that tough talk against the banksters turned into some real reform and regulations.

[bridgit]

7. Pft, Boehner, the image of a gin soaked knave, seems no other member of congress is so willing...

to be linked so tight with Wall Street's wanton profiteering and corporatism
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kBOAkUfthmk/SgJfbJzY8AI/AAAAAAAAEG4/1JHGVqFVf9E/s400/John+Boehner.jpg

[Arkana]

8. Larry Summers is actually right, but I'm sure

that this thread will be drowned in a sea of criticisms of him (however warranted they are).

[Bobbie Jo]

9. Rec'd for the thread title alone.

I gotta confess, I was looking for a more literal interpretation.

:kick: