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:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Help! Do we really need four Beatles biopics?Talking Point The cast of Sam Mendes' Beatles biopics has been announced
-
Test driving the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black BadgeThe Week Recommends We take the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built for a spin in Barcelona
-
Tuberculosis is seeing a resurgence, and it's only going to get worseUnder the radar The spread of the deadly infection is buoyed by global unrest
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to goThe Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala HarrisThe Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
