For all of his grand-standing and sustained demands for jobs, Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner (OH-8) might not seem like one fearing the loss of his own job. Even in an Ohio that has been among the hardest hit by the economy, John Boehner has not let job insecurity threaten his tireless devotion to protect the rights of Wall Street executives and lobbyists. In a curious defiance tacked on to the anti-government Tea Party movement, it has been a persistent point of pride for Boehner to loudly fend off the U.S. Government from exercising any restrictions to campaign finance or any effort to regulate the financial markets which led to the economic crash, and instead sought to raise the Social Security retirement age to 70 so that more federal money could be earned off working Americans.
And now, John Boehner appears poised to become the Speaker of the House.
In a campaign year galvanized by the Supreme Court decision Citizens United, allowing unlimited corporate spending on elections without requiring disclosures, John Boehner stands to take in more money than ever before for himself and his party. The business of saying "No" to whatever comes from a Democrat has only become more rewarding for the man who cried out "Hell no!" on the House floor during the health care debate.
Indeed, John Boehner's histrionics may be more well-known than his Snooki-like tan. It is entirely possible that no other current or recent member of the U.S. House of Representatives has wept as much while addressing Congress as John Boehner.
So it is with interest that many have taken to watching the race in southern Ohio's 8th Congressional district, where newcomer Justin Coussoule has stood up to challenge U.S. Rep. Boehner in this fall's elections. A West Point graduate and attorney, Coussoule's assured demeanor strikes a marked contrast with Boehner's trademark hysteria, and his ability to discuss politics while not becoming unbridled suggests an unflappable leader not prone to pander to polarizing tactics.
In this exclusive interview at his family's home in Ohio, Coussoule shared with me his reasons for running, his concerns about a representative devoted to out of state donors instead of constituents, and how he hopes to restore civility and practicality to Washington, calling John Boehner an embarrassment to the citizens of Ohio's 8th District.
Justin Coussoule's website: www.coussouleforcongress.com
My documentary PAY 2 PLAY is exploring how big money has taken over our elections, and how we can reclaim our democracy: www.Pay2Play.tv
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