John Boehner Defends Crying & Smoking

House Speaker John Bohener defended his aptness to cry and habit of smoking during an appearance on this weekend's edition of "Fox News Sunday."

"I wear my emotions on my sleeve," he said when asked to respond to critics who say his tendency to shed tears makes him look "weak" or "strange." "I'm not going to apologize for being emotionally attached to the things I feel most strongly about."

It's only the latest time Boehner has discussed the waterworks since he wept on election night last year when Republicans retook control of the House.

When asked to address his tobacco use he responded, "Why do you bring this up again?" He added, "It's a legal product. I choose to smoke it. Leave me alone."

Boehner spoke about the matter during an interview with NBC's Brian Williams earlier this month. Here's an excerpt of the exchange:

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Personal question. You're a smoker. And not just a smoker, you're a pretty committed smoker. I've got one in my own family. We all know 'em. Do you think it's fair game as a topic given smoking's prominence in the health care debate? Or do you think it should be nobody's business and a matter of personal privilege for you?

JOHN BOEHNER: Well, it just is what it is. That's my take on it. You know, it's a bad habit. I wish I didn't have it. But I have it.

Loading Slideshow

• John Boehner

  <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 112th Congress (2011-present)

• Nancy Pelosi

  <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 110th & 111th Congress (2007-2011)

• Dennis Hastert

  <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 106th-109th Congress (1999-2007)

• Newt Gingrich

  <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 104th & 105th Congress (1995-99)

• Thomas Foley

  (Pictured left) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 101st-103rd Congress (1989-95)

• Jim Wright

  (Pictured right) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 100th & 101st Congress (1987-89). Resigned from the House of Representatives on June 6, 1989.

• Tip O'Neill

  (Pictured center) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 95th-99th Congress (1977-87)

• Carl Albert

  (Pictured center) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 92nd-94th Congress (1971-77)

• John McCormack

  (Pictured center) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 87th-91st Congress (1962-71)

• Sam Rayburn

  <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 76th-79th Congress (1940-47), 81st & 82nd Congress (1949-53), 84th-87th Congress (1955-61). Died on Nov. 16, 1961.

• Joe Martin

  (Pictured right) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 80th & 83rd Congress (1947-49, 1953-55)

• William Bankhead

  (Pictured back row, left) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 74th-76th Congress (1936-1940). Took over after the death of Joseph Byrns on June 4, 1936. Died in office on Sept. 15, 1940.

• Joseph Byrns

  (Pictured left) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 74th Congress (1935-36). Took over after the death of Henry Rainey on Aug. 19, 1934. Died in office on June 4, 1936.

• Henry Rainey

  <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 73rd Congress (1933-34). Died in office on Aug. 19, 1934.

• John Garner

  <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 72nd Congress (1931-33)

• Nicholas Longworth

  (Pictured back row, 2nd from right) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 69th-71st Congress (1925-31)

• Frederick Gillett

  (Pictured second from left) <a href="http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/speakers.aspx">Speaker Of The House</a>, 66th-68th Congress (1919-25)

Comments

[vdunn33]

05:24 PM on 02/16/2011

hey John Charlies looking for a smoking partner ....says he can handle it can you crybaby ?

[Derek Ox Aukes]

09:20 PM on 02/09/2011

Obama smokes too. Just sayin. The difference is obama probably smokes them newports whereas Boehner probably smokes camels. Boehner would look so much cooler if he had a fat dip in his lip while he was sittin up there.

[Tim Janssen]

05:02 PM on 02/03/2011

Boehner's probably going to be doin' a lot more crying soon. Maybe all that orange will end up on his shirt! The curse of the National Enquirer strikes again;

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-1735-john-boehner-tabloid-cover-boy.html

[aero56]

07:41 AM on 02/03/2011

With an affair or affairs exposed, that is probably why he is crying and smoking.

[MikeLawson]

01:26 PM on 02/02/2011

Tears of a Clown, #1 with a bullet by Smokey John.

[The One True Dave]

04:15 AM on 02/02/2011

Today John Boehner comes out of his office and if he doesn't see the shadow of a lobbyist's donation check he cries for six more weeks.

[Aldo Rodriguez]

09:09 AM on 02/01/2011

It would have been a 'facepalm' to Orally if Bohener slamed his hand on the table and yelled "WE"LL DO IT LIVE! *&^%#!"

[RebootGuy]

08:59 AM on 02/01/2011

Anyone who knows an alcoholic recognizes John Boehner's behavior for what it is - alcoholic behavior. The sloppy sentimentalism, the crying outbursts, the smoking. The clues are all there - his family owns a bar, prior to becoming Speaker, he'd leave work at 5pm and hang out in bars, drinking. The man is third in line for the Presidency, and this aspect of his personality needs a closer inspection by the public and the press.

[RebeccaFransway]

09:13 AM on 02/01/2011

I'll drink to that! HIC
http://tinyurl.com/4lzcsxl

[MikeLawson]

01:27 PM on 02/02/2011

Fanned the lot of ya.

[RebeccaFransway]

02:35 PM on 02/02/2011

Not only that, but have you looked at his face in the morning? Red, and swollen. On occasion, an event can move the most stoic among us to tears, but people don't bursting into tears as often as Boehner does. And the tears are not for the successes nor suffering of others, but for his own perceived successes.

[nightprowler]

08:53 AM on 02/01/2011

some guys are angry drunks he is a crier gotta be safer for his wife and or girl friends/prostitutes .....

[Clevelandinwi]

08:32 AM on 02/01/2011

Stop drinking, smoking, crying and lying and find us some jobs, you derelict.

[Welease Wodewick]

03:32 AM on 02/01/2011

If one cries and smokes at the same time, does one extinguish one's cigarette with one's tears?

Could be a novel way to stop smoking!

[rdavidw]

02:02 AM on 02/01/2011

Little boy says when I grow up I want to be just like the "Speaker of the House, Boehner"
I will drink, smoke, cuss, be orange and cry: if I can just work in Bar just like him.

[Welease Wodewick]

03:33 AM on 02/01/2011

Pure class! ;-)

[MikeLawson]

01:28 PM on 02/02/2011

Fanned, favorited.

[SaneThoughts]

01:59 AM on 02/01/2011

Bohener has credibility?

[rdavidw]

01:57 AM on 02/01/2011

On his crying... I think it is like as the song goes.

It's my "Republican" party, and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened "Being Speaker" to you

[ladybug7]

12:43 AM on 02/01/2011

He needs professional help or anti depressants. Can you just imagine what would have been said if Nancy Pelosi had cried as much in all her years as speaker as he has in the last 6 months? Get a grip, Pal.

[MikeLawson]

01:29 PM on 02/02/2011

Its funny isn it it? When Pat Schroeder cried she was picked on by Rush Limbaugh and his brood of vipers and snakes, but when its the Orange Guy or Becky, its somehow just fine.

[phebes]

04:57 PM on 02/15/2011

She would not have gotten away with crying even ONCE! It would have been overwhelming evidence of her incompetence. Never mind that she is way more competent than bon er will ever be!