Speaker Boehner Should Go

The new Congress will convene today. But, look for nothing to change in the house of “no.” While the 113th Congress has a freshman class of nearly 100, these new recruits will help elect the same group that held positions of power in the dysfunctional 112th. This recycling of ineffectual leaders will likely be the 113th Congress’ first mistake.

I think John Boehner is a smart guy. In fact, two years ago I wrote this hopeful notion, “The negative personal attacks that have infested U.S. politics must come to an end. We can disagree, but to move forward as a nation, civility must return to our political debate. Speaker designee Boehner has the chance to make the first step. He does not have to compromise his beliefs and shouldn’t. Hopefully, he will see the best way to forward his agenda is to treat those who oppose him as equals and, in doing so, find a way to end the gridlock plaguing Washington, for it holds our national future hostage.”

Unfortunately, Mr. Boehner didn’t move an agenda forward, thus ensuring the hostage siege continued. He simply stood in the way of progress as our nation faced unparalleled national security and economic threats and a growing number of Americans were unable to make ends meet in a poor economy. Speaker Boehner has failed the leadership test.

Evidence as to why the Speaker should be replaced was in full display over the last few days as he was unable to secure enough Republican votes to pass his Plan B to avert the fiscal cliff. The Speaker couldn’t muster the votes to support his back-up plan and Boehner’s primary plan never materialized either. It’s not entirely Mr. Boehner’s fault. He was tasked with trying to lead a party divided. However, when a person in power can’t lead, he should be shown the door.

The loss of six Republican House seats in the 2012 election may be one sign of American’s dissatisfaction with what has been described as the least productive Congress in modern history. For the last four years, Boehner and the other GOP leaders in Congress have spent most of their time complaining about the President and very little time offering anything of substance as an alternative. If the Republicans in Congress were serious about moving the United States forward, they would dump the Boehner team and elect people interested in an agenda of substance instead of one of obstruction.

Harry Truman said “Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

Skillful leaders will be required if the 113th Congress wants to change things for the better. By not replacing Speaker Boehner, Congress appears poised to repeat the same dismal history witnessed over the last two years.

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Graham Gillette can be reached at grahamgillette@gmail.com 
This entry was first published as a Des Moines Register online essay.