EDITORIAL: The Weak Speaker

Speaker of the House John Boehner appears to need remedial lessons in leadership.

Time and time again, Speaker Boehner has induced whiplash as the tea party element has pulled him in one direction or the other.

When negotiating on the debt ceiling, Boehner walked out on negotiations with President Obama and congressional Democrats when the tea party stamped their feet.

When it was clear that he had promised Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell votes if the Senate could agree on a payroll tax cut extension, Boehner reneged when the tea party yanked his leash.

Boehner’s cave-in to the tea party could lead to a tax increase for middle class Americans and even more damaging to the wider economy.

When the House of Representatives convened after the 2010 election, they did not elect him Speaker of just House Republicans, but Speaker of the entire House, third in line to the presidency.

It’s time for Speaker Boehner to lead, to stand up to the extremists in his party and do the work of the American people.

NATIONAL CONFIDENTIAL EDITORIAL BOARD