A letter to the Washington Post about The Post's 'beatification' of Boehner

[DainBramaged]

Philip Rucker's lead front-page story on Rep. John A. Boehner's pending election to speaker of the House <"Boehner to take helm with show of austerity," Jan. 3> was nothing short of a beatification of the man. He's from a working-class background, he eschews going to a celebratory concert, and he will simply attend a prayer service and humbly take up the gavel.

In contrast, Nancy Pelosi's ascendancy was "lavish," her transition had a "triumphant tone" and a "Republican strategist" was quoted as calling hers a "coronation."

Not until the 25th paragraph did Rucker mention the main reason for the special celebrations around Pelosi's becoming speaker: She was the first woman in the history of the House of Representatives to hold the position.

Never let facts get in the way of a good story. If Boehner were the first man to be speaker, after 200 years of women at the helm, the attending celebrations would no doubt equal anything done in 2007 to honor Pelosi's historic achievement.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010705794.html

Boehner to take helm with show of austerity

By Philip Rucker
Monday, January 3, 2011

Nancy Pelosi brought camera crews and dignitaries into her childhood Baltimore neighborhood where a street was being renamed in her honor, while John Boehner is bringing his 11 siblings from working-class Ohio to Washington for a private reunion. Pelosi was feted at the Italian Embassy as Tony Bennett sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Her Republican successor was invited to the posh W Hotel for a LeAnn Rimes concert, but he is planning to skip it.

Austerity is the theme of Boehner's ascendancy to House speaker this week, placing the start of this new Congress in stark contrast to the more lavish festivities that accompanied Democrat Pelosi's swearing-in four years ago.

On Wednesday, after a bipartisan prayer service at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Boehner will recite the oath and take the gavel from Pelosi with the attendant pomp and no more - except, perhaps, a few tears.

Then the 61-year-old Ohioan will deliver his maiden speech to the new House, which includes a huge cadre of freshman lawmakers. Many are rambunctious Republicans who sailed into Washington with the tea party winds and are determined to use their majority to undo President Obama's legislative record.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/02/AR2011010203521.html

[northoftheborder]

1. Thank God for C-Span.

[OHdem10]

2. WAPO is owned by Republican Family. The Editorian and OPED

pages have a Republican Slant.