Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, the lone candidate in the GOP primary for the 12th U.S. House District seat, is embracing his May, 30, 2012, rant on the Illinois General Assembly floor about pension reform.
Bost's tirade placed him No. 2 on CNN's top 10 all time "celebrity flip outs," which the cable network compiled after Seattle Seahawks football player Richard Sherman, in an interview following Sunday's NFC championship, erupted in a trash-talking rant against a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers.
Bost said he was disappointed with placing only No. 2 on the CNN list.
"I thought I was going to be No. 1," Bost said Wednesday.
The No. 1 rant on the list went to an Ohio politician.
Bost, the likely winner of the March 18 GOP primary, is set to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart, D-Belleville, in the Nov. 4 general election.
Enyart could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Bost's tirade placed him in the company of basketball legend Bobby Knight, actors Charlie Sheen and Alec Baldwin and college football coach Mike Gundy, whose epic meltdowns have all gone viral on the Internet, according to the list of the "best celebrity flip outs of all time" compiled by CNN correspondent Jeanne Moos.
Bost said his rant has worked to his benefit, earning a result that has been overwhelmingly positive.
"The calls we received from 50 states and six foreign countries said, 'You know what, I'm tired of government treating me that way and it's finally time for legislators to start standing up for the people who sent them,'" Bost said.
Bost's 90-second-long tirade in late May took place just hours before the General Assembly was set to adjourn for the year -- and minutes after the chamber's Democratic leaders had handed out a 200-page bill detailing pension reform.
Bost complained bitterly that lawmakers were being asked to vote on a broadly sweeping measure before they could read it.
"These damn bills that come out here all the damn time, come out here at the last second," Bost shouted. "I've got to figure out how to vote for my people! You should be ashamed of yourselves! I'm sick of it!""
To emphasize his point, the Murphysboro lawmaker threw a stack of papers into the air.
"Enough!" Bost screamed. "I feel like somebody trying to be released from Egypt. Let my people go! .. I'm trapped by rules that have been forced down our throats."
The No. 1 rant, according to the CNN list, was attributed to Phil Davidson, a Minerva, Ohio, city council member who in a September 2010 meltdown sought the GOP's endorsement for Stark County treasurer.
Screaming in a hoarse voice, Davidson voted that he "will hit the ground running, come out swinging and end up winning."
Davidson failed to get the nomination.
Contact reporter Mike Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@bnd.com or 618-239-2533.
(c)2014 Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.)
Visit the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.) at www.bnd.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.