Boehner Upset At Dems Over Prospect Of Early Dismissal

In response to reports that House members may leave as early as this week to hit the campaign trail in their respective states and districts, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement:

“It appears Democratic Leaders would rather adjourn than help our economy create jobs by stopping all of President Obama’s job-killing tax hikes, even though a clear bipartisan majority in the House supports doing so. Instead of coming up with new ways to thwart the will of the people, Democratic Leaders should be working with Republicans to stop all of the tax hikes and cut government spending. Anything less fails our economy and shows that out-of-touch Washington Democrats are more focused on keeping their jobs than doing them.”

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[Ohio US Congress Eighth District Constituent]

Coussoule “Officially” Challenges Boehner to Debate

Whatever it takes to get the Golfer to Visit his District

Liberty Township, OH (September 3, 2010): Justin Coussoule (pronounced kuh-SOO-lee), the 2010 Democratic candidate for the Ohio Eighth Congressional District, is taking a tip from the editors of the region’s newspapers and “officially” calling his opponent out for a debate. It seems that even the editors have not been successful in convincing the 20 year incumbent to come home for traditional candidate meetings where he has an opportunity to tell them why he is best suited to continue serving the people of his home district.

“Living in the Eighth District, we know Boehner has done nothing to serve us in years. Now he’s not even showing up to pretend he’s been doing anything for Ohio. This should tell you something about Boehner’s opinion of the residents here. He already thinks he doesn’t have to advocate for us; now he thinks he doesn’t even have to report to us either,” says Coussoule. “And he’s not making a party distinction here. He’s ignoring the entire Eighth District.”

Challenging a politician like Boehner to a debate in his home district is like trying to catch a greased pig. Boehner’s slippery agenda has taken him from Minnesota and Wisconsin last week to Kansas and Missouri in the coming days, but he has yet to sit still in southwest Ohio. Coussoule wants to make it clear that if Boehner is too busy to come home, the debate can take place in Washington, D.C. or any other place in the US where Boehner seems to be more comfortable.

Unfortunately, Boehner’s record shows he’s only comfortable making appearances in exchange for signed checks and cold cash.

[Mike D Pitman]

HAMILTON — U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner’s challenger wants to debate the 10-term congressman.

But so far, Justin Coussoule, a Liberty Twp. Democrat, said Boehner, R-West Chester Twp., hasn’t accepted — and doubts he will.

“Boehner as the incumbent seeking re-election has an obligation to stand before the voters to make a case to be rehired,” Coussoule said.

The first-time public office seeker said he also must make his case if he hopes to oust the incumbent. Coussoule said Boehner is either “afraid” or “too arrogant” to debate.

“We ought to have an opportunity for the voters to hear us both in the same room on the same topics and be able to answer questions and be able to compare and contrast,” Coussoule said.

Boehner was not available for comment on this topic, but his press secretary, Cory Fritz, responded to questions via e-mail.

“His constituents know that if they have any questions about where he stands on any issue, his door is always open, and they can always count on a straight answer,” Fritz wrote.

Fritz did not, however, answer definitively whether Boehner would agree to debate Coussoule.

“Congressman Boehner is taking nothing for granted,” Fritz wrote, “and will continue to fight for better solutions to cut spending and help small businesses create jobs ....”

Coussoule said Boehner is looking past the Nov. 2 general election and actively campaigning for Speaker of the House.

In a Sept. 8 Butler County News and Issues blog posting at journal-news.com titled “The ‘debate’ debate,” some respondents said they wanted to see a debate, and one poster said Boehner is “ignoring his own constituents.”

Fritz said Boehner’s House leadership position provides a “greater platform to push for the priorities and values” of his constituency in the 8th District.

“He wants to move on up the leadership ladder, but first he’s got to make the case he’s been a leader right here in the district,” Coussoule said.

If Boehner declines to debate, or ignores the challenge, Coussoule said he will call for one throughout the campaign “and point out the fact he won’t do it.”