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Boehner to Face Leadership Challenge
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ShareNovember 14, 2008 2:52 PM
ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: A conservative California congressman announced Friday that he's mounting a leadership challenge to House Minority Leader John Boehner, as the GOP continues to assess the fallout from last week’s election losses.
Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif., becomes the first rank-and-file House member to announce his intent to challenge the top House Republican in next week’s leadership elections. The No. 2 and No. 3 House Republicans have said they’re stepping down from their posts, but Boehner is seeking another term as minority leader.
“I am embarking on this effort because I think our Party is in trouble,” Lungren wrote in a letter to colleagues Friday afternoon. “If we don’t admit our difficulties and address them aggressively, we not only run the risk of becoming a permanent Congressional Minority but we will do a disservice to our nation.”
Lungren’s bid -- coming on the heels of an election where Republicans lost at least 22 House seats -- represents a conservative challenge to Boehner, as many in the party advocate a back-to-the-basics approach to rebuilding the party. But most House insiders consider Lungren’s attempt to be a long-shot at best; Boehner retains strong ties to his members despite last week’s losses, and he has been lobbying colleagues heavily to maintain his status.
Lungren, 62, narrowly won reelection last week to a third consecutive term representing suburban Sacramento. His father was Richard Nixon’s personal physician, and Lungren previously served 10 years representing Long Beach in the House, from 1979-1989, before becoming California’s attorney general.
Lungren lost the California governor’s race to Democrat Gray Davis in a lopsided 1998 election, in a campaign where Davis portrayed Lungren as out-of-step with Californians on abortion rights, off-shore drilling, and banning assault weapons.
In May, ABC’s Brian Ross reported that Lungren attended a conference of aviation industry lobbyists in Hawaii this past winter, via a loophole in campaign finance laws that allowed him to charge some to his campaign committee $5,000 in first-class airfare and four nights at a posh resort.
Lungren's office points that the trip was pre-cleared by the House ethics committee and the Federal Election Commission.
“Organizations have their conventions usually at nice places, and I’ll admit -- I like to go to that particular one,” Lungren told Ross. “I don’t understand why you have such a big deal about pools. I’m a California kid, I grew up around pools. We do a lot of business around pools. . . . I probably wouldn’t have been in Pittsburgh in January. Do I look like I would go to Pittsburgh in January?”
Responding to the announcement, Boehner, R-Ohio, released a statement: "Dan Lungren is a respected member of our conference and a man deeply committed to the principles that have defined our party since the beginning.”
November 14, 2008 in Washington | Permalink | User Comments (161)
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Two trillion dollars missing,Paulson breaking the bill by not using the 750 billion for its intended purpose. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac want more money-after the way they were pilfered through by Dodds,Franks, Kerry, & Obama-without any repercussions--no wonder the backroom deals would replace anyone who questions the activities in Congress-the auto manufacturers do not need a bailout---research people research--THE ONLY REASON THEY WANT THE BAILOUT IS BECAUSE THE UNIONS REFUSE TO MAKE CONCESSIONS!!!!!
Posted by: CTAY | Nov 14, 2008 4:03:38 PM
If Boehner stays Republican leader, I'm burning my card. This idiot is the author of how to bring the Republican Party to its knees.
Posted by: Ned | Nov 14, 2008 4:04:31 PM
I have every intention of voting for Paul Ryan as the next Wisconsin governor. There's gotta be someone suitable from Oklahoma (aka the redest state in the union).
Posted by: ChasB | Nov 14, 2008 4:05:08 PM
Boenher is a liberal rino joke, but Lundgren is not the answer, PENCE IS. NO MORE RINO'S....McCain just showed you what we think of liberal repubs
Posted by: GORDON | Nov 14, 2008 4:06:32 PM
Seriously, folks, let us Republicans decide who should be our leader, NOT the media. Be on alert for how and when they start telling us just whom they think should be our leader!!! Seriously folks, are Brian Ross and Rick Klein going to guide us?
Posted by: Anne | Nov 14, 2008 4:06:56 PM
what the GOP need to do is stop moving further right. They need socially moderate leaders, not conservative. They need to return to the true meaning of what it meant to be republican, FISCAL conservatism, smaller government. Using social issues as wedges will not work going forward, the younger generations reject it. But hey, go ahead, double down on your religious wingnuttery and stay in the wilderness. You have lost the moderates, you have lost pretty much every demographic except white people and evangelicals. How's that working out for you?
Posted by: Sara | Nov 14, 2008 4:07:08 PM
I can't believe republicans are silly enough to believe that they can somehow sell us on what they represented in the past. Wake up and start looking to the future! Otherwise we will have a permanent democratic majority and republican minority. FYI, my issues with the GOP are that they have no solutions and they are always shoving their religious views down our throats. Enough with the republican social engineering and we might give you a chance.
Posted by: steve | Nov 14, 2008 4:07:40 PM
Sara above:
I'm religious but not a "religious nut." Is that possible in your world? And I do not support "gay marriage" nor do I support "assisted suicide." BTW it was liberal Blacks who supported Obama who won Prop 8 here in California. How does that square with your assertions?
Posted by: Anne | Nov 14, 2008 4:11:12 PM
Flake or Mike Pence for Majority leader. Pence is stellar!
Posted by: Mark | Nov 14, 2008 4:11:36 PM
Jeff Flake would be a real shake up at the top. No pork, no earmarks. Top rating by the ACU.
Posted by: Brian Costin | Nov 14, 2008 4:12:06 PM
Wasn't it not very long ago Boehner was telling us we had to pass the bailout. He reminds me of the sleazy lawyer played by Micky Roark in the movie Rainmaker.
Posted by: Jim | Nov 14, 2008 4:13:21 PM
Lungren a disaster because he lost to Gray Davis? No, that simply showed how stupid most of California is because the result of Davis being in office was catastrophic....the same things WOULD NOT have happened if the Leftyfornians had gone with Lungren.
As one of the world's leading brand image makers, I can tell you Boehner is a stunning disaster on every front.
Posted by: Zeko | Nov 14, 2008 4:15:04 PM
Ditto on Paul Ryan.
Must be the new image & face of the party.
We gotta get smart, folks.
Posted by: Brad | Nov 14, 2008 4:15:40 PM
Steve, honestly, social engineering? That's the socialist...er...democrats way to rule...I mean...govern. I agree that we need to focus on fiscal responsibility but also espouse personal responsibility. We can't deal with any more of this babysitting, birth to death, overlording of the oppressed. Refusing to let them fail and pick themselves up is the true oppression. We can't trade the reality of freedom for the myth of fairness. Find someone who stands for that!
Posted by: ChasB | Nov 14, 2008 4:15:52 PM
If ONLY ABC had been so quick in ferreting out damaging items behind boma. IF ONLY. IF ONLY.
If only ABC had been so quick and decisive in ferreting out damaging items on Pelosi. If only ABC had been so quick in ferreting out the inner workings of Reid's fast buck land deal in Nevada. IF ONLY. IF ONLY.
Posted by: Jake | Nov 14, 2008 4:16:09 PM
"....McCain just showed you what we think of liberal repubs."
And the nation showed you what it thinks about conservatives, in case you've missed it, Gordon.
Posted by: Mojo | Nov 14, 2008 4:17:53 PM
So many Questions -- So Few answers... Keep 'em smiling.
Posted by: Donld | Nov 14, 2008 4:18:15 PM
Screw change we need a revolution!!!!
Ron Paul for House Minority Leader!!!
He's the only true conservative in congress!!!
Posted by: Over it | Nov 14, 2008 4:19:56 PM
#1: If ABC had that video of Lundgren handy they must dislike him. This means he must be a pretty good guy!
Posted by: Tipster | Nov 14, 2008 4:19:58 PM
The Republicans have been without a brain since Gingrich stepped down. They are clueless. They can't figure out who their friends are and haven't the foggiest who their REAL enemies are, either.
Posted by: Xenophon | Nov 14, 2008 4:20:02 PM
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