John Boehner's speaker debut: A 'home run'?

The Ohio Republican vows to fix Congress through openness and hard work as he takes over the House gavel from Democrat Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi passes on the "larger-than-most" gavel to Speaker of the House John Boehner.
(Image credit: YouTube)

The video: An emotional Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) took the gavel as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, promising to restore trust in Congress through "real transparency, greater accountability, and a renewed focus on our Constitution." Boehner said the Tea Party-fueled wave that swept aside outgoing speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats served as a reminder that Congress exists to serve the people, and the privilege of running the show can be short-lived. (Watch a clip below.) "The people voted to end business as usual," Boehner said, "and today we begin to carry out their instructions."

The reaction: Boehner's maiden speech as Speaker was a "home run," says Jennifer Rubin in The Washington Post. It perfectly summed up his party's "core message: We are humble. We heard the voters. We're here to end the spend-a-thon." So, Boehner believes Congress is "the people's House," says Steve Benen in Washington Monthly. "It is a fine phrase, and an admirable sentiment." The trouble is, the "people" Boehner and his allies seem most concerned about are lobbyists and the rich. Watch part of Boehner's address below:

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