Politico
This week, House Speaker John Boehner raised eyebrows by turning down an offer to ride on Air Force One with President Obama and others headed to a memorial service in Tucson. Instead, he appeared at a reception for Republican operative Maria Cino. Now, on the heels of renewed calls for bipartisanship and toned-down political rhetoric, Boehner is saying “thanks, but no thanks” to another offer to appear at an event with the president – Wednesday’s White House state dinner.
The dinner, honoring the Chinese President Hu Jintao, will pull together leaders on both sides of the aisle, along with celebs, CEOs, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices and media bigwigs.
A Boehner aide confirmed that the House speaker was invited to the dinner but will not be attending. Boehner also turned down invitations to the previous two state dinners held during Obama’s presidency, one honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009, and the most recent state dinner honoring Mexican President Felipe Calderon in May 2010, the aide said.
Though Boehner was invited, other prominent Republican leaders were not. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has not yet received an invitation, an aide told POLITICO. Though the guest list is still being finalized, Cantor’s empty mailbox could certainly be seen as a slight, considering the most recent former House majority leader, Democrat Steny Hoyer, attended the most recent state dinner.
On the other side of the aisle: Rep. James Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the House, was invited and plans to attend. Aides are still confirming whether other Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Hoyer, will be in attendance.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
This week, House Speaker John Boehner raised eyebrows
HA! Whose eyebrows were those?
Thank you John Boehner!!!!
You know how the dems work…now that conservatives are in charge of the house all of a sudden the dems want to be bipartisan, reach across the aisle and yada, yada. Same old song and dance routine.
Smoke and mirrors just for a good pr pic! Good on John!! He’s got the peoples’ work to do…more important!
All political gamesmanship and Böhner is turning it down. Obvious no other Republican is being invited.
Obviously, John is not for sale and can not be bought at any price.(I hope.)
My first thought also WT. Now that the Repubs control the House the Dems push for civility and bipartisanship. Boehner is setting a good example by not going along with obama’s sudden outreach.
Democrats always cry for bipartisanship when Republicans take control of the House. The problem is that usually stupid Republicans go along with them. Hopefully, Boehner will change that.
I didn’t vote for bipartisanship. I voted for Conservative values and to get this nation straightened out. Agreeing with Democrats will only take it more down the toilet.
Mark Levin discussing civility said to the left, “Here’s my response, SCREW YOU.”
Levin in 2012
Agreed, Mark, JB is NOT for sale – job security at its finest!!!
Love all your input thank you so much.