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Lee Fisher

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Boehner's Got it Backward

Posted: 06/11/10 04:49 PM ET

Yesterday, Ohio's own John Boehner, nationwide Republican leader in the House of Representatives, said BP shouldn't be entirely responsible for the costs of cleaning up their oil spill in the Gulf.

Boehner apparently thinks you, I, and the rest of America's taxpayers should pay for some of the oil spill.

And he's got it completely backward.

This is the worst of Washington hypocrisy: the same people blocking support for out-of-work Americans want to help out an oil company that's responsible for the worst environmental disaster in American history.

This is a mentality we absolutely have to change in Washington, and that change starts with the rest of us.

I've been spearheading an effort among my fellow Ohioans to "Blow the Whistle on Boehner," because full public awareness and attention on this kind of proposal is what it takes to beat it back.

If you agree with me, we'd all love to have you join us by clicking here.

Since his initial comments, Boehner has tried to walk back by claiming he didn't understand the question.

But no matter what he's saying on any given day, he's steadfast in wanting to cap BP's liability for the damages it caused to families across the Gulf region.

That's wrong.

BP created this environmental tragedy, and they should be responsible for cleaning it up -- as well as repairing the damage it caused.

It's time to end the Washington mentality of bailing out BP and Wall Street for their irresponsible actions while shortchanging small businesses and everyday people.

And one thing's clear: we're never going to change that mentality by letting politicians like John Boehner propose these ridiculous schemes without getting called out.

It's like when you ask a child what he wants for dinner, and he replies "candy," just to see if he can get away with it. You can't let him.

Please stand with me and my fellow Ohioans and make clear to Congressman Boehner that there will be no BP bailout!

Thanks for your help.

 

Follow Lee Fisher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/fisherforohio

 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Foundryman
Reality trumps ideology
11:08 PM on 06/14/2010
The spray on tan company has big stock interests in BP. Boehners afraid if we lose one, we'll lose them both and that is something he couldn't live with. Someone overheard him screaming in the capital restrooms, "Hell NO i won't!! HELL no i WON'T!!!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
maillady
02:23 PM on 06/14/2010
If John Boehner is so adamant that taxpayers should help BP Amoco with their expenses maybe he should lead by example. Why doesn't he donate some of the excess money in his campaign fund or personal savings towards the cleanup. I'm sure he could use it as a tax write-off and then feel so good about himself. We will be waiting .
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dsgeorge
Proud to be Everything the Right Wing Hates
06:14 AM on 06/14/2010
as a resident living in Michele Bachmann's district I am always answering to people on HP who say "who are those Minnesotans that vote for her?" ..... well, I also would like some people to start asking the same question about the people in Ohio...."Who are you and why do you keep sending this lame brain to DC?"
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Manhattanite
05:36 AM on 06/14/2010
What else is new? Boehner was bought and paid for by corporate interests a long time go. When was the last time, Boehner got it forward?
05:15 AM on 06/14/2010
It's beyond me how the GOP are still a viable party. In fact it's exasperating. Are people just so completely apathetic? The republicans aren't even bothering to be subtle anymore in their continuing efforts to marglinalise the working class and siphon money towards the top few percent of earners. So disheartening.
HUFFPOST PUNDIT
JimR
11:50 AM on 06/14/2010
The Democrats aren't much better, unfortunately.
12:58 PM on 06/14/2010
I have a sister in Ireland who voted for Obama... and isn't happy about it. Why do you, from Ireland care or even comment?
02:09 AM on 06/14/2010
When will the citizens of this country get it.....republican politicians will do anything..lie..cheat..anything to help big business and themselves.....they will spit on the poor and middle class.
Why....do so many people in this country vote against their own best interest ?
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Annieke
Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.
10:01 AM on 06/14/2010
Because the GOP cherishes the fairytale of social mobility and by doing so they make people believe that they too can one day be part of the group of people who make more the 250K and that, when that time comes, they too will benefit of all the taxbrakes of George Bush c.s.

That scientific studies have shown that social mobility (and I am not talking from rags to riches but the step-by-step, generation-by-generation mobility) in many parts of the European Union, as well as Canada, New-Zealand and Australia, is much bigger than the social mobility in the US.
Only the UK, with its very rigid class system, has a lower social mobility than the US when we look at the western industrialized world.

Social mobility: the GOP's biggest lie and America's myth.
HUFFPOST PUNDIT
maxfax
Taa - dah!
08:59 PM on 06/13/2010
Boehner merely has the back of the Chamber of Commerce, the UNfriend of the American worker, and small businesses.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
momcat54
07:11 PM on 06/13/2010
The head of the OOmpa Loompas has long been for sale to the highest bidder. He is only confirming this fact publicly.BP has ruined millions of miles of coastline and the lives of thousands, they, along with Haliburton are responsible for this NOT the American people. Of course the poor fishermen and sea creatures of the gulf coast aren't likely to make contributions to his re election campaign.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
flacpa
A liberal CPA? Go figure
05:33 PM on 06/13/2010
Every time Boehner opens his mouth the Democrats win. He must be a Democratic party plant. You know sort of like the GOP Alvin Greene.

Please acccept the sarcasm of the thought..not the chronology
04:44 PM on 06/13/2010
Boehner... or is it Bozo. Republicans never want to spend tax money except to protect and/or bailout their corporate overlords. I bet he will push this agenda and claim we can do it while cutting taxes for the rich.
04:42 PM on 06/13/2010
"Blow the Whistle on Boehner," There's a punchline somewhere there, but I won't go there.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Richardini
Bilingual Interpreter
06:59 AM on 06/14/2010
If there were a way to impeach him or recall him, I wish they would find it soon. Boehner, or Bonehead, has pulled the biggest boners of any republican except Mitch and the rest of the republican senators, the NoBoys group. This would be George Hamilton is beyond ridiculous. A piss ant has more political ability than he does. Ohio should be ashamed of him.
03:56 PM on 06/13/2010
"When buying and selling are controlled by legislators, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." -- P.J. O'Rourke
12:38 PM on 06/14/2010
like our pres isn't owned by fannie and freddie and how many other disgraced corps and corrupt unions? Funny how liberals are so blind to their own failings
03:50 PM on 06/13/2010
here's an idea...cap liabilities that the people have to this lavish government
12:20 PM on 06/13/2010
Think of John Boehner as the Agent Orange of U.S. politics.
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10:35 PM on 06/13/2010
good one..
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Manhattanite
05:37 AM on 06/14/2010
LOL
10:54 AM on 06/13/2010
He shows a serious lack of leadership for the GOP and has ever since the election. He has lost on every point he tries to make and puts the GOP in a worse than ever light, they already don't have much to go on with the 8 years of failed GOP policies during Bush and you would think the pettiness would go away so fixing the problems the GOP left behind could take precedent.

Boehner doesn't seem to care about anything at all, especially the American people.

He has been behind most of the no votes on anything that helps Americans and siding with Big Banks, Big Insurance and Big Oil openly.

This shouldn't be tolerated by the GOP because the people are seeing a pattern after 8 years of failures, that the GOP wants to continue the same old failed policies on and on.

The GOP didn't succeed with anything for 8 years and they haven't succeeded in anything since the election but voting no, obstruction and ignoring the American people.
03:54 PM on 06/13/2010
just a thought...did it ever occur to you that both parties are the same? Each part of the monopoly they exercise over our lives. One party takes the heat one time while the other grows the government...then the other party gets in charge and takes the heat while the other grows the government. They both support big war, big oil, big banks, big healthcare, big farming, big tech, etc.

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislators, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." -- P.J. O'Rourke
04:55 PM on 06/13/2010
You know I'm curious, where did this phrase "grows the government," come from? Because I hadn't seen it before say, 2007, at the absolute earliest; I think it is something of an ugly term, because it smells to me like something which was put together in a focus group.

I am also unsure why bigness is inherently bad, but then I've never been a huge fan of the "the cure is to decentralize everything! ever!" As for them being the same - there's a key difference, I feel: The Democrats lie substantially less, and are closer to honest within the parameters which are unfortunately set by the Republicans.
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
TeraWatt60
Cogito Ergo Sum
01:14 AM on 06/14/2010
x2 fanned