The story line of the moment is that it was Speaker John Boehner’s newfound tough guy image that has rallied his fractured party around him. Seemingly every news outlet has a piece about how the man better known for crying and letting his party work its will was suddenly exhorting Congress, kicking butts , twisting arms and jettisoning his laissez-faire approach . Boehner’s much-quoted “get your ass in line” comment, delivered in a closed-door session (not to mention a questionable bank heist film clip used by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy) helped to bolster the Republican House leadership’s pugnacious image.
I have no doubt Boehner’s evolving leadership style played a role in apparently rallying support around a bill that, as of this writing, is yet to be voted on. But I’d venture that something else played almost just as big a role. Shame, embarrassment and pride were likely as big a motivator to the Republican rank-and-file as any twisted arms.
Congressional Budget Office scored the latest Boehner plan, embarrassing the Speaker by saying it would only cut about $850 billion of the deficit.
John Boehner and the politics of shame - Washington Post (blog)
I have no doubt Boehner’s evolving leadership style played a role in apparently rallying support around a bill that, as of this writing, is yet to be voted on. But I’d venture that something else played almost just as big a role. Shame, embarrassment and pride were likely as big a motivator to the Republican rank-and-file as any twisted arms.
Congressional Budget Office scored the latest Boehner plan, embarrassing the Speaker by saying it would only cut about $850 billion of the deficit.
John Boehner and the politics of shame - Washington Post (blog)
