Paul Begala: Is America Ready For An Orange Speaker? (VIDEO)

CNN contributor Paul Begala cracked a joke about John Boehner's tan early in CNN's election coverage Tuesday night.

"2008 answered the question, Is America ready for a black president?" Begala said. "In 2010 we'll answer are we ready for an orange speaker?"

Boehner, who will become Speaker of the House if the Republicans win the House majority*, is often mocked for his deep tan. He has denied ever fake-tanning or using a tanning product.

WATCH:

*UPDATE Several news outlets have now projected that the Republicans will win control of the House.

Comments

[marty marty]

05:22 PM on 11/05/2010

Have we tested Mr. Boehner's sobriety? Seems like he is an alcoholic who cries.....a crying drunk. Joe Scrborough said that Boehner always fled to the bars as soon as he could each day. He did grow up in a bar. Me thinks he should be tested daily to see if he is sober! He should have to pass a sobriety scan before we walks on the House Floor. We don't need a drunk leading the House of Representatives.

[KIMBER]

03:22 PM on 11/05/2010

Is America ready for a bleary-eyed, weepy drunk speaker?

[raker]

03:18 PM on 11/05/2010

I think this is one of Congressman Tanner's early campaign ads. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFSvDlEF55I

[lostfan13]

02:24 PM on 11/05/2010

Just a cheap shot. There's plenty to complain about Boehner, and it's certainly not the quality of his tanning products that I'm most concerned about.

[Giverny]

02:31 PM on 11/05/2010

I can't agree with you more. It is going to be terrible with him as Speaker. The next two years have already planned my ulcer.

[springsm]

01:09 PM on 11/05/2010

Orange Slush.

[Ming-Na]

11:57 AM on 11/05/2010

Everytime I see the size of Paul Begala's forehead, I wanna do graffiti.

[one1byke]

08:09 AM on 11/05/2010

To all my tan-o-rexic peoples out there... this is NOT racism.

[redmaple]

03:26 AM on 11/05/2010

It's not easy being orange. Just like the colors of ... orange.

[not one of the sheep]

02:03 AM on 11/05/2010

Well we just had one whose face was frozen from too much plastic surgery so I guess we're ready for an orange one.

[NevadaDem]

12:20 AM on 11/05/2010

Yeah...what is it with that orange Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ooompa-loompa glow ??

You would think with the pay check John Boehner receives...he could at least get a high-end self tanner...not the cheapy stuff.

[nclibertarian]

08:37 PM on 11/04/2010

Should a man with a forehead the size of Kansas be commenting on someone's appearance?

[springsm]

01:12 PM on 11/05/2010

My very young grandson has a large head...he is smart and okay, but he will get hateful comments about this too...he had no choice. Boehner should work and get off the golf course and out of the bar. Boehner has choices. Begala didn't choose. Insensitive snipes. Even like Bachmann...who has very empty eyes...I expect she was born like that too.

[merger]

11:05 AM on 11/04/2010

Evidently

[booker52]

09:37 AM on 11/04/2010

Are we ready to have a speaker who is so corrupt he is remembered for passing out checks on the floor of the house from the tobacco industry????

[nclibertarian]

08:38 PM on 11/04/2010

NO, we should have senate majority leader that bought his election through the casino unions.

[Cowoak]

07:45 AM on 11/04/2010

Hey Paul, I would lay off making fun of peoples looks. I mean dude, look at your head..... Just Sayin

[not one of the sheep]

02:05 AM on 11/05/2010

Is that rug glued or stapled on? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Aranxa]

06:42 PM on 11/05/2010

There's a big difference between being born one way and purposely altering one's appearance.

[ChicagoBlackRainbowWomen]

11:19 PM on 11/03/2010

Wonder how our new speaker will explain his 365 days a year tan. After all he will be infront of the public more that usual. Simply put folks will start to notice that he has a odd skintone.

[merger]

11:06 AM on 11/04/2010

He likes the tanning beds obviously. He doesn't mind the tax that has been placed on using them.