“All of life is about balance between a family and work ... it’s really no different in my job, except that there’s more to balance.”
John Boehner
Congressman
LIBERTY TWP. — Some students wanted to know if he thought having his own security detail was “cool,” or what his favorite subject was in school was.
Others wanted to know how he felt about health care reform, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and where Guantanamo prisoners should be tried.
U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp., answered them all, oscillating between patient school teacher and partisan bulldog.
“(Liberals) don’t have a lot of faith in the American people. They want the government to decide,” he told the children, when 13-year-old Abbeigh Starcher asked Boehner if he believed people were good at heart.
“Americans by and large will do the right thing, if they’re empowered to do so. If they’re trusted,” he said.
As for his favorite subjects: geography and geometry.
Boehner visited Mother Teresa Elementary School in Liberty Twp. Monday, Feb. 1. In addition to touring the school, he spoke to Starcher’s eighth-grade class.
Some questions were frank. Others were frivolous.
Do you agree with health care reform proposals? “Not in any way shape or form.”
Are you good at golf? “Let’s put it this way, I can play.”
Is having your own security cool? “They’re just always there. Always. Can you imagine what that’s like?”
Do you get nervous talking in public? “Yeah, you get nervous. I used to be awful at this, but you practice and work on it and get better at it.”
What is your biggest concern for America? “The money we’re spending today … You know who gets the bill? You do. We’ll be long gone.”
“I’m just thrilled that he came. We’ve been looking forward to it all week,” said Principal Sister Anne Schulz.
Kindergartner Richie Heirnaux echoed that sentiment as he handed the congressman a box of gifts before he left the school. “Tank you congressman Bader,” he said.
If he gets his way, Butler County’s own John Boehner will be speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives by this time next year.
But it’s no sure thing. Boehner, R-West Chester Twp., is now House leader of a party many called destroyed in 2008; but is now bristling with new confidence after a historic Senate victory in Massachusetts.
“We’ve got some wind at our back,” Boehner said as he rode to the Butler County Board of Elections to file his paperwork for re-election Monday, Feb. 1.
“I think our prospects are pretty good, but I think it’s a pretty steep hill we’ve got to climb to get to a majority,” he said.
Democrats currently control 256 seats in Congress, compared to 178 for Republicans.
He must also be re-elected this year. At this point, the only challenger to materialize is Republican Manfred Schreyer, owner of Taffy’s restaurant in Eaton.
When asked about the challenge, Boehner said he’s not thinking about it. “My focus is on trying to get our economy going and trying to create jobs,” he said.
If he took the speaker’s gavel, Boehner said balancing that national role and his responsibilities to his local constituents wouldn’t be too different from now.
“All of life is about balance between a family and work ... it’s really no different in my job, except that there’s more to balance,” he said.
Boehner lives in West Chester Twp., and estimates he spends a quarter of his time in the district.
The one thing he was unequivocal about was that he has no interest in using the speaker’s podium as a launchpad for a presidential run.
“I have never, ever had an interest in running for president. It hasn’t been my calling, and it won’t be,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.
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