Speaker of the House John Boehner ignored House Democrats for years, and now they are not going to help him fight off a coup attempt from his fellow Republicans.
House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) made the first comment by Democratic leadership on the potential toppling of Boehner, “It’s not our responsibility to try to solve their divisions.”
The chairman of the Democratic Caucus, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) let it be known that Democrats aren’t going to take sides in the Republican Party’s civil war, “Like the Syrian Civil War, I’m not sure it’s easy to discern which side anyone is on.”
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If Democrats stay out of the vote to topple Boehner, the Speaker of the House might be seriously screwed. Boehner needs House Democrats to at least vote present on a measure to require him to vacate the chair because it would lower the number of votes required for the Speaker to keep his position.
Democrats are in no hurry to help Boehner because he has ignored their help and ideas for years. Speaker Boehner only came knocking on the Democrats’ doors when he needed votes to pass bills that he didn’t have enough support on his own to pass.
House Democrats have bailed Boehner out of numerous Republican caused crisis over the years, but Democrats were given nothing in return. House Democrats saved Boehner’s hide for the good of the country in the past, but the Ohio Republican’s ingratitude means that Democrats are more than happy to let Boehner figure this one out on his own.
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
