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The Spectacle Blog

Boehner: "This Is Not a Time for Celebration"

By Philip Klein on 11.2.10 @ 11:49PM

The projected incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner struck a low-key tone here at the Hyatt in downtown DC, adressing Republicans' sweeping victories in Tuesday's midterm elections.

"This is not a time for celebration," Boehner said, citing the stubbornly high unemployment rate. "This is a time to roll up our sleeves."

Republicans said at the outset that they wanted to avoid similar images to Democrats' celebrating their victories in 2006, and the event was much more subdued than the typical election night parties.

Boehner said that Americans had delivered a clear message to Obama: "Change course."

At one point, Boehner became choked up when he discussed how he spent his childhood waiting tables at his father's bar. "I've spent my whole life chasing the American Dream," he said.

It should be interesting to see whether this helps humanize him a bit, and stave off efforts to stigmatize him as Newt Gingrich was when Republicans won in 1994.

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TennesseeVolunteer| 11.3.10 @ 12:47AM

This is a little off the topic but John Boehners Mother in Law used to come to our house when I was a kid to play cards with my Mom and other ladies back in the old days of having a "card club" at your home.
Based on that, I have a kinship with Leader boehner because we come from the same kind of neighborhood. His speech tonight was by far his finest hour. Continue to talk to the American people with truth and humility and the people of America will support the Republican leadership as we fight through deficits and tough times.