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‘I'm Staying,’ Minority Leader Boehner Declares

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May 18, 2008 12:46 PM

ABC News' Mary Bruce reports: Despite three straight Republican special election losses for House seats long in GOP hands, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, responded to calls for his resignation by declaring, "I'm staying."

"I've been a reformer since the day I got to Congress. … I know what needs to be done to deliver real reform," Boehner said in an appearance on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” "My job is to help bring all the members together and lead them, and show the American people that we can deliver the kind of changes that they deserve."

When asked if it was time for National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., to step down, Boehner offered the same affirmation: "He's staying."

Cole and Boehner have been known to disagree over campaign strategy and the way that the committee has been run.

"Tom and I had a very good meeting on Friday … frank and constructive, and positive," Boehner said. "We know the kind of changes that need to be made in order to help our members and help our candidates go out there and do their best in a very difficult environment."

Boehner also fielded questions on the recent scandal surrounding Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y. When asked if Fossella was defying him by not making a quick decision about his future in office, Boehner explained his confidence that Fossella would "come to the right decision, along with his wife and his family.

“I'm sure that they'll resolve it in a way that's satisfactory for them and for us,” he said, declining to say whether he has asked Fossella to step down.

Boehner confirmed that he has spoken with Fossella since his arrest for drunk driving.

"This is a very personal issue and I think it's really between Vito, his wife and family, and his constituents," Boehner said. "I know that he's given an awful lot of thought about this over the last week or so."

May 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (13)

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Thanks, Mary Bruce. Now I won't be needing my sleeping pill tonight. zzzzz.......

Posted by: Andrea | May 18, 2008 1:42:49 PM

The Republicans have a problem not because of strategy or ideas, but because of Bush/Cheney. Unfortunately for them, many of their candidates could lose even if their opponent was an inanimate object this fall. It's time for real Republicans to take back the party from the fear-mongering, tax/spend policies of Bush/Cheney.

Posted by: MIguy | May 18, 2008 2:52:40 PM

George Bush has done more damage to the Republican party in the past 7 plus years than any politician in the history of political parties. And his legacy has not been finalized yet because it will get worse. He will likely leave office with a 25% approval rating give or take a couple points. No Republican is safe in any election this fall, it is the beginning of the end for ultra conservative war mongers like Bush and his supporters.

Posted by: JRS | May 18, 2008 4:17:11 PM

The Republicans problem isn't a small thing that needs a bandaid or a slight tweak of message. Their party suffers from a mortal wound that begain the moment they put money and special interest above the people they represent. Tom Delay, Roy Blunt, John Boehner--all member of the Republican leadership which under the "Contract With America" fostered the K Street Project opening a revolving door for lawmen, lobbyisst, and influence. The constant Congressional corruption cases which have been overwhelmingly Republicans are just the visible symptoms of a ethos of greed which the American people can not withstand. The Republican party, after a stroke in 2006, will surely pass away this summer. Hopefully, their death will allow them to return from the ashes into something Honorable. Something the people can respect.

Posted by: Mannewell Darby | May 18, 2008 5:04:30 PM

I'm conservative but have no stmoach for the GOP at this point. They have been fiscally reckless and arrogant. They (I guess "we") will once again be trounced in November. The dems will kill the economy with taxes, carbon credits and more entitlements at which point the pendelum may swing back to the Reublicans.

Posted by: Seb16 | May 18, 2008 6:00:56 PM

I saw George Stephanopoulis's interview with Boehner today and he was so unimpressive that he should resign and let the seat fall into more capable hands. He is anything but a leader or a thinker. America deserves better. All Boehner is thinking of is himself and we the people are paying a price.

Posted by: brian | May 18, 2008 6:28:33 PM

John Boehner says "I've been a reformer since the day I got to Congress. … I know what needs to be done to deliver real reform,". Joh Boehner was elected to congress in 1990. What has he been doing for the last 18 years. Now all of a sudden he is granted a devine intervention of immaculate insight to reform?

Typical GOP BS.

I live in Ohio where jobs are hard to get and gas is $4:00 a gallon. What kind of reform does Boehner after 18 years of BS think he's going to give the State of Ohio now?

Want to help OHIO John? Get our jobs back and lower these gas prices.

Now you're talking reform. Idiot!!

Posted by: Demo Cratic Lover | May 18, 2008 6:57:22 PM

Oh, no you're not, Rectal Pore.

Posted by: BlueMax372 | May 18, 2008 7:07:45 PM

Thanks BlueMax372 for setting me straight. Jeez I really didn't get the fact that I was you rectal pore. You must also me a GOP douce bag like Good Ol' John.

Posted by: Demo Cratic Lover | May 18, 2008 7:40:25 PM

He's got that right MINORITY LEADER.

Obama08

Posted by: Thinking | May 18, 2008 9:07:27 PM

Good, the longer he stays, the worse it will be for the GOP in November!

Posted by: Thomas Mc | May 19, 2008 10:30:48 AM

Oh hooray Boehner, what a courageous stand! Maybe we'll get more crocodile tears out of you (whenever the cameras roll)... while you sell the country out to the highest bidder with your family of lobbyists.

Posted by: The GOP is killing the US | May 20, 2008 9:09:58 PM

THANK YOU...BOEHNER....With your leadership it will be a TOTAL WIPE OUT for the GOP in November...Maybe you can catch a ride to Texas with your wonderful LEADER..DIPSTICK..

Posted by: Pat | May 21, 2008 9:18:53 PM

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