Speaker of the House John Boehner tried to argue that liberals are to blame for the Baltimore riots and the poor people in the inner cities would benefit economically if the Koch brothers and other billionaires got a big tax cut.
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Boehner said, “When you look at these schools in the inner cities, these families are trapped in bad schools that don’t provide a real education, and look what you get. Chuck, what we have here is fifty years of liberal policies that have not worked to help the very people that we want to help. It’s time to look at all of these programs to determine what’s working and what isn’t because until we start to find programs that actually work and provide opportunities, more opportunities, and a better education, we’re going to have more of the same.”
Chuck Todd pointed out that improving the schools in Baltimore takes government money. Boehner had no answer except to send poor kids to Boys and Girls Clubs. Speaker Boehner did use all of the buzzwords for cutting funding to public schools and giving parents vouchers for private schools. Boehner also argued that tax cuts for the wealthy would create economic opportunity in the inner cities.
The blaming of liberals for Baltimore riots is a blatant attempt by Republicans to push their failed economic agenda as a cure for a problem that was caused by their failed policies. During the recession, the Republican refusal to keep stimulus funding going harmed city and state government across the country. The Republicans triggered massive cuts in education budgets, and the ripple effect from the decisions in Boehner’s House are still being felt today.
It is beyond laughable that Boehner would blame liberals for the Baltimore riots or any other civil unrest. The current Republican budget would make life even worse for poor people in inner cities. Speaker Boehner also ignored the basic point that too many police officers around the country have targeted minorities. The Speaker is ignoring the real social and economic issues in order to argue that a tax cut for the Koch brothers would calm all domestic unrest.
John Boehner’s answer to the situation in Baltimore and around the country is to blame liberals while pushing policies that more away from the people who already have less. The only failed policies that were visible during this interview were the failed policies of John Boehner and his Republican Party.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
