Clarence Page: The weeper of the House

[babylonsister]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-oped-1219-page-20101219,0,5980958.column

The weeper of the House


House Republican leader John Boehner cries at the drop of a patriotic phrase. (J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press / December 19, 2010)

Tears brought on by kids and the American Dream
Clarence Page

December 19, 2010

snip//

During his two decades in Congress, it is fair to say that Boehner did not work his way up Republican ranks by positioning himself as a crusader for the poor and downtrodden. He's better known as a friend of businesses, big and small, and their lobbyists.

He has voted against assistance to workers whose jobs moved overseas, against expanding health care for poor children, against raising the federal minimum wage and, recently, against extending unemployment benefits until they were included with tax cuts for the wealthy.

And as the nation questioned his latest televised tears, he led House Republicans in voting against the DREAM Act, a bill that exemplifies what happens when today's American Dream runs up against political realities.

The DREAM Act would give a break to immigrant high school graduates brought to this country illegally as children and still lacking documentation. It would offer a conditional six-year residency status to those who meet its conditions, including residency here for more than five years, no criminal record, and they must join the military or attend a four-year college for at least two years.

snip//

No, you don't have to be a nativist bigot to oppose the DREAM Act, but indifference to a legal Catch-22 that's blocking thousands of honest and ambitious but undocumented kids from college and the military shows more contempt for the American Dream than a belief in it.

Maybe that's what Boehner's crying about. Maybe his conscience is bothering him.

[onehandle]

1. I believe their catchphrase this election season was 'man up.'

Mine is, 'get your head examined.'

Orange freak.

[Kdillard]

2. I hope weeper of the House catches on.

[lonestarnot]

3. My preference, and I found it here, is ickyleaker.

[AspenRose]

4. I hope he finds help for his alcoholism.

[Number23]

5. Is that the reason for all of the waterworks??

What is wrong with this man??

[livetohike]

6. Maybe he should use his government paid for health insurance

and find a good therapist :-).