Boehner to Face Leadership Challenge

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Boehner to Face Leadership Challenge

November 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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Lungren is an idiot who believes in government unions, neoconservative fascism and bigotry.

Posted by: The Baloney Grinder | Nov 14, 2008 4:22:20 PM

Pence is a true conservative and would do a great job as minority leader.

Posted by: Betty | Nov 14, 2008 4:23:01 PM

Pence? The Georgia moron who compared Obama to Hitler? Absolutely brilliant! He would definitely turn the party around and around and around. I suspect he will be defeated in his next election. Georgia's demographics are slowly changing.

Posted by: Russell H Manning | Nov 14, 2008 4:23:22 PM

It would be hard for Flake, Pence, or Ron Paul to run for Majority Leader considering they are in the minority party. Bunch of smart people out there acting like they know what they are posting/talking about.

Posted by: Jimbo | Nov 14, 2008 4:24:03 PM

There was a rumor online yesterday that Mike Pence had made a deal with Boehner not to vote against him if he, Pence, could be #3.

Since I saw it once and never again, it probably was put forth by someone who simply wanted to mess up Pence.

He, Ryan, Issa, just about anyone else looks good. The football coach analogy fits: if a team has a losing record in 06 and again in 08, boot the head coach.

Posted by: Claire | Nov 14, 2008 4:30:11 PM

I believe a great choice would be Rep Congressman Zack Wamp from Tenn. He comes from a safe district and he has the track record to prove his actions. Somebody should look at him.

Posted by: jbv | Nov 14, 2008 4:30:42 PM

For Conservatives, replacing Boehner with Lungren is like replacing Bill Clinton with Hillary Clinton. Bill or Hillary is not a desireable choice and Boehner or Lungren is no better a choice.

Posted by: California_Conservative | Nov 14, 2008 4:35:48 PM

Boehner needs to go, desperately, but Lungren isn't a great alternative. His Gov race in 98 was deplorable, disorganized, lacking in anything resembling a message, and Lungren himself was an arrogant ###. Surely there is someone else...

Posted by: AlwaysThinking | Nov 14, 2008 4:38:13 PM

Boehner has got to go. But Lungren is not the man to replace him. Let's get it right.

Posted by: Ken S | Nov 14, 2008 4:39:01 PM

The GOP has lost 20 seats, not 22. Several races are uncalled. Even if they end up the Goode seat in VA that is 21, not 22. Where did you get your numbers from?

Posted by: Crabtree | Nov 14, 2008 4:39:36 PM

Mark D,

There isnt anyone that can turn this "slide" around? Please. they said the same thing in 1992, and in 1994 Newt took the Republicans on an obliteration ride of the Dems in the House, where they ruled for years and kept Clinton impotent. Only once in our lifetime has a party won 3 presidential terms in a row (Reagan/Bush), and now that it didnt happen (the majority of the time), you believe this is the end of conservatism. Give it a break. The Dems will poorly rule, and the Conservatives will be back. Its not a slide, its a dip. And someone can stop the slide, just not Boehner. I respect the others for stepping down, I dont think Boehner can defend the party's poor leadership in this race.

Posted by: Don | Nov 14, 2008 4:39:46 PM

No matter what happens with these seats, conservatism isn't dead and buried like the leftist illuminati members want us to believe. There has definitely been a change in dynamics in Washington, but given time, the liberals will make us long for another change.

Posted by: Jeff | Nov 14, 2008 4:43:27 PM

Hey Steve, who's going to pay the penalties and interest if I don't pay my taxes until October?

Posted by: Kerryrynn | Nov 14, 2008 4:49:17 PM

brotha got $2 trillions you can spare? haha the greatest jedi mind trick..."im not robbing you,look away, you are going to give me all your hard earned money and its good for you...don't pay attention to my hand in your pocket"

Posted by: brothagotadollar | Nov 14, 2008 4:52:44 PM

Paul Ryan Paul Ryan, Paul Ryan

Posted by: Tom | Nov 14, 2008 4:53:38 PM

HOW 'BOUT THE TRILLION DOLLARS BARNEY FRANK AND CHRIS DODD JUST SATTLED OUR CHILDREN WITH HMMMM. . . GIBSON? MSM JOURNALIST, NOW THE MOST HATED PROFESSION ON THE PLANET!!! LOWER THAN LAWYERS...AND THAT IS BAD. LETS RATE HOW THE MSM DOES... F-----------
F MINUS

Posted by: JOHN | Nov 14, 2008 4:53:38 PM

sorry Cogs

The quote from my last post is from
Posted by: Marylou | Nov 14, 2008 3:41:02 PM

Posted by: Gary | Nov 14, 2008 4:54:08 PM

I think a true conservative should be the minority leader. The country is not in a conservative mood right now. The Republicans will only continue to be a minority party for the forseeeeable future. Yes!

Posted by: ohio folk | Nov 14, 2008 4:55:16 PM

kerrrrryrynn

you only incur penalties if you DONT pay.

interest would apply.

APPLY FOR A BAILOUT ON THE INTEREST!

Posted by: saltcreekphil | Nov 14, 2008 4:56:00 PM

Boehner is/was a leader? A leader of what?

Posted by: Richard S | Nov 14, 2008 5:01:33 PM

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