by Alex M. Parker

Democrats target John Boehner the way Newt Gingrich, Nancy Pelosi have been hit in the past

As a young Ohio congressman, John Boehner played a key role in crafting the Contract with America, the campaign pledge that catapulted Republicans into a House majority in 1994. More than 15 years later, Boehner is now hoping to spearhead a Republican return to House leadership, after a four-year lapse.

But rather than waiting until after Boehner moves into the House speaker's office, now occupied by California Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi , Democrats are already using him as the focal point of their aggressive campaign to push back on a heavy Republican tide this fall. It's a criticize-and-ridicule strategy that both Republicans and Democrats have tried in the past, but political experts are doubtful that it will change voters' minds to a significant extent. Rather, its main impact could be to help energize disillusioned Democrats, encouraging them to contribute now and to vote in November.

Boehner, who became House majority leader in 2005 following the resignation of Texas Rep. Tom DeLay, has led House Republicans since they became the minority party in 2006. Still, the celebrity -- or notoriety, in Democratic eyes -- is something quite new. As portrayed in the Democratic ads, the unabashed smoker, perpetually tanned golf lover, and 10-term House veteran would like to slash jobs for teachers and firefighters while protecting Wall Street businesses and millionaires. "There's a lot of talk about how Democrats are localizing the races," says one source close to the Democratic campaign. "We're tying Republican candidates to what the national Republican message is."

Unlike his mentor, the fiery Newt Gingrich, Boehner hasn't been a publicity magnet. His rise through the Republican ranks was mostly quiet. But Democrats are blasting him as a tool of big business and a foe of working men and women. They are also jumping on his occasional gaffes, such as when he seemed to dismiss Wall Street abuses by describing the recently enacted financial reform bill as akin to "killing an ant with a nuclear weapon."

The Democratic National Committee is seeking to make Boehner a regular on television, featuring him in many recently aired ads. One ad claims that Boehner's economic plans support businesses that send American jobs overseas. Another pokes fun at his reputed connections to Washington lobbyists, depicting "Boehner Land" as a world of tight connections between the Wall Street lobby and lawmakers. The ad uses information from a recent New York Times article, which highlighted Boehner's work with lobbyists during the passage of recent legislation.

To kick off the campaign season, President Obama chose the same city where Boehner delivered an economic address last month: Cleveland. In case the significance might be missed, Obama mentioned him by name seven times. "There were no new policies from Mr. Boehner. There were no new ideas. There was just the same philosophy we already tried for the last decade -- the same philosophy that led to this mess in the first place: cut more taxes for millionaires and cut more rules for corporations," Obama said.

The Democratic attention is intended to show Americans the consequences of a Republican takeover of the House. "It's safe to say that he's probably the most powerful unvetted leader in Washington," the Democratic source said, adding that Boehner also represents the Republican agenda if the GOP gains a House majority. Boehner provides a useful target for Democrats, who have found that focusing on former President George W. Bush is no longer a winning strategy, but who still want to highlight what they characterize as failed Republican policies of the past.

For their part, Republicans are dismissing the focus on Boehner as an ugly personal attack designed to distract voters from the real issues. "While Democrats are determined to make this election about personalities, Republicans will continue talking about the issues that are important to American families when it comes to creating jobs and getting our economy moving again," says Paul Lindsay, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

During a press conference last week, Boehner laughed off the attacks, claiming that they were part of the territory and that he was being targeted for being candid and transparent. "I'm such a scary guy," he said, with a bit of sarcasm.

The Democrats' onslaught isn't the first time a speaker of the House, current or prospective, has been in the cross hairs. Although there are other figureheads who could make easy targets -- the Senate leader or head of the party's national committee, for example -- the speaker of the House is a position established by the U.S. Constitution. Historically, speakers have been quiet, behind-the-scenes players, but in recent years both political parties have found the speaker position a convenient and simple symbol to use in national campaigns.

In the 1980s, Republicans famously skewered Massachusetts Democrat and House Speaker Tip O'Neill in a commercial that depicted him driving a big car -- symbolizing the Democratic establishment -- running out of gas. After his successful 1994 House takeover bid elevated Republican Rep. Gingrich of Georgia to national fame, Gingrich became a constant target for Democrats, especially after the GOP forced a government shutdown in 1995. Republicans and conservative commentators have railed against current Speaker Pelosi before and after the 2006 elections, which elevated her to the position. She is the first woman to hold the office.

George Washington University political science Prof. Chris Deering says that as a campaign strategy, targeting the minority leader pays little in dividends. Despite the importance of the role, most Americans are unfamiliar with the House speaker position and it will not factor into local congressional elections. "I don't think there's any evidence that these kinds of appeals really work, if you measure them at the aggregate national level," Deering says. Although talk about how congressional elections have been nationalized, he adds, voters still tend to focus on their local candidates.

Ironically, these attacks come when Americans have been reminded that Boehner is not the only powerful Republican in Congress. Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation on Sept. 12, Boehner suggested that, if forced to choose, he would favor extending the Bush-era middle-class tax cuts, while allowing those for the wealthiest Americans to expire. "I want to do something for all Americans who pay taxes," he said. "If the only option I have is to vote for some of those tax reductions, I'll vote for it."

That line was interpreted by many as a signal for compromise. It prompted the self-described "young guns" among House Republicans, such as Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan , to distance themselves from the remarks. The quick repudiation of their leader's comments fed speculation that Boehner could face competition for the speaker's seat if the Republicans are victorious.

Republicans in the Senate, which is likely to be where the tax debate begins, are pushing ahead with their plan to extend all of the tax cuts, including those for the wealthiest Americans, and they oppose any proposals that only call for piecemeal extensions.

 

Available at Amazon.com:

The Backlash: Right-Wing Radicals, High-Def Hucksters, and Paranoid Politics in the Age of Obama

The Feminine Mystique

The Disappearing Center: Engaged Citizens, Polarization, and American Democracy

The Virtues of Mendacity: On Lying in Politics

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The Political Fix: Changing the Game of American Democracy, from the Grassroots to the White House

 

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Democrats Try to Make Boehner the GOP Face of 2010 Election | Politics

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