Boehner turns down Air Force One ride to Tucson

John Boehner Refused To Go To Arizona On Air Force One So He Could Go Party
As we noted at the time, John Boehner’s plan for yesterday looked like this: cry about Gabrielle Giffords on the House floor for a couple of hours, then head over to get sloshed at an RNC cocktail party he was hosting that evening. Sure, it seemed a little silly at the time. But then there’s this: Boehner, like Nancy Pelosi and some off-putting Arizona officials, were invited on Air Force One to visit Giffords in the Hospital and show solidarity or whatever at the memorial yesterday....

Boehner Didnt Snub Tucson Memorial
Talking Points Memo reports: House Speaker John Boehner is catching a lot of flak for missing last night’s memorial service in Tucson, reportedly declining an Air Force One invitation from President Obama in order to slap backs and clink glasses at an RNC event. But a look at the timeline of events paints Boehner in a better light. Yesterday, House members attended a vigil for Victims of the Arizona Shooting Spree in an auditorium underneath the Capitol Visitor’s Center. As they t...

Boehner Slips
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) turned down an offer by President Obama "to travel on Air Force One to Arizona for a memorial service on behalf of the Victims of Saturday's shooting, a decision that has upset some Democrats," Politico reports. Boehner instead attended a reception last night on behalf of Maria Cino, "a former top House GOP aide who is seeking the Republican National Committee chairmanship." "Senior Democrats -- who to date had been impressed with Boehner's response to the Ariz...

Speaker Boehner skips Tucson memorial for RNC cocktail party
Stumble This! The new speaker of the House skipped a nationally televised memorial in Arizona honoring Victims of Saturday's shootings, opting instead to host a cocktail party Wednesday night. Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) declined an offer to ride to Tucson on Air Force One with President Barack Obama and other lawmakers, Politico reported. A Democratic leadership aide told the newspaper it was "disrespectful" of the speaker to miss the memorial service in order to attend a partisan political ev...

Boehner skips memorial for Ariz. shooting victims
House Speaker John Boehner did not attend last night's Tucson memorial service for Victims of the Arizona shooting rampage. Politico reports Boehner was at a Washington reception for Maria Cino, who is running for chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. An unnamed Democratic aide, speaking to Politico, said it was "disrespectful" for Boehner to skip the memorial. A Democrat identified as a senior congressional aide criticized Boehner in story by The Daily Caller for declining President ...

How Boehner spent his evening
HOW BOEHNER SPENT HIS EVENING.... At face blush, the circumstances don't cast House Speaker John Boehner in an especially flattering light. The Ohio Republican chose not to attend the memorial service in Tucson last night, instead attending a cocktail party with members of the Republican National Committee. Also, President Obama offered Boehner a chance to travel to Tucson aboard Air Force One, but the Speaker declined. Taken together, it doesn't look great. But Brian Beutler dug a little deep...

Boehner Didnt Really Snub Obama, Giffords Rally
House Speaker John Boehner is catching a lot of flack for missing last night’s memorial service in Tucson, reportedly declining an Air Force One invitation from President Obama in order to slap backs and clink glasses at an RNC event. But a look at the timeline of events paints Boehner in a better light. Yesterday, House members attended a vigil for Victims of the Arizona Shooting Spree in an auditorium underneath the Capitol Visitor’s Center. As they trickled in, a House aide provid...

No Tears For AZ Shooting Victims From John Boehner--He's Got A Cocktail Party Fundraiser To Host
Priorities, people. President Obama, the First Lady and several members of the House of Representatives boarded Air Force One en route to the memorial service for the Victims of the Tucson shooting tonight. But Speaker of the House John Boehner isn't one of them. He's got a previous engagement: an RNC cocktail party Fundraiser. No, I'm not kidding: Speaker John Boehner will host a cocktail party for the Republican National Committee at the same time that President Barack Obama will be addressin...

President Obamas Extraordinary Speech at an Extraordinary Time
I think it would be hard to hear the President’s remarks and not be so grateful that such an incredible human being is our leader at a very challenging time in our nation’s history. After um, magically faith healing Rep. Giffords with his presence(?), he then spoke at the memorial service for the Victims of the Tucson tragedy. POTUS urged the nation to speak to each other in ways that heal, rather than wound. The most moving part of his Speech — besides telling us that Giffords...

Congresswomen describe seeing Giffords open eye
(01-13) 14:07 PST ABOARD Air Force ONE, CA (AP) -- Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' friends say it's nothing short of a miracle: Days after being shot in the head point-blank, the injured congresswoman opened an eye Wednesday for the first time. Two of her closest friends from Congress, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., were in Giffords' Tucson, Ariz., Hospital room at the time. Both had traveled to Arizona on Air Force One with President Barack Obama to atten...

Boehner Skips AZ Memorial to do RNC Politicking
Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi were in Rep. Gabrielle Gifford's Hospital room when she opened her eyes. The entire Arizona delegation, including President Obama's 2008 rival Sen. John McCain and his wife Cindy, were in the stadium watching the President console 14,000 mourners. Michelle Obama held tightly onto Gifford's husband Mark Kelly's hand. But where was Speaker John Boehner? Politico reported this morning that the newly ele...

Report: John Boehner Refused Air Force Ride To Tuscon, Hosts RNC Party Instead
Politico reports that newly elected Speaker of the House John Boehner declined an invitation to join President Obama on Air Force One to attend last night’s memorial in Tuscon, Arizona. Instead, Boehner was reportedly hosting a reception for RNC chair Candidate Maria Cino while other Washington dignitaries paid their respect for the heroes and Victims from the Arizona Shooting Tragedy of the last weekend. Writing for Politico, John Bresnahan reported yesterday: Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio...

Boehner's blunder? House Speaker picks cocktail party over Tucson memorial
House Speaker John Boehner is taking heat from some Democrats after skipping out on Wednesday's memorial service for the Shooting Victims in Arizona and instead hosting a cocktail party for the Republican National Committee.   The Ohio Republican turned down President Obama's invitation to travel on Air Force One to Tucson, Politico reported.   "It is disrespectful for Speaker Boehner to skip joining the President's and Bipartisan congressional delegation to the Tucson Memorial so he could h...

Abdication of duty
Abdication of Duty by digby So much for Bipartisan healing: Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) turned down an offer by President Barack Obama to travel on Air Force One to Arizona for a memorial service on behalf of the Victims of Saturday’s shooting, a decision that has upset some Democrats. Boehner is instead scheduled to attend a reception on Wednesday night on behalf of Maria Cino, a former top House GOP aide who is seeking the Republican National Committee chairmanship. Boehner is backing C...

9-year-old AZ shooting victim laid to rest
Stumble This! Tucson, Arizona - The youngest Victim of the Tucson shootings was laid to rest Thursday, after Barack Obama hailed the 9-year-old girl as an inspiration to US politicians to heal their poisonous divisions. Christina Taylor Green, who was among six people killed by a misfit gunman last Saturday, has become the heart-breaking public face of the attacks which unleashed a wave of soul-searching about America's political culture. Hundreds of people lined the streets as her small ...

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz visits friend Ariz. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at Tucson hospital to witness `miracle''
WASHINGTON -- Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Gabrielle Giffords became fast friends when they first met. Both Jewish, both rising Democratic stars under 40 at the time, they gravitated to each other. So it wasn't a surprise that Wasserman Schultz joined President Barack Obama on his visit to the Tucson Hospital where Giffords is recovering. Shortly after the president left the room, with Wasserman Schultz at her side, Giffords opened her eyes for the first time since Saturday's shooting. Then s...

Husband on Giffords Eyes Opening: You Dont Understand, This Is Amazing
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi were in the room when Gabrielle Giffords opened her eyes last night, less than a week after the tragic shooting that killed six and gravely wounded her. In the background of the commentary of this event, there has been this improbable success story, as Giffords’ condition continues to improve, beyond the expectations of even her doctors. Sen. Gillibrand told the story on Air Force One last night...

Boehner Gives Tea Party The Middle Finger With RNC Endorsement
Democrats are criticizing Boehner for skipping Tucson to host an Endorsement party for Maria Cino in the race for the RNC Chair. They have something of a point. He could have gone to Arizona to foster a bi-partisan spirit at the event. But he would have been on the undercard. It was Obama's event, so I'm not certain he had to be there. But what he is doing by backing Cino out of cronyism is even worse. Senior Democrats - who to date had been impressed with Boehner’s response to...

Gabrielle Giffords Opened Her Eyes
​In a Speech full of heart-wrenching moments last night, President Obama went off script to describe the condition of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head on Saturday in Arizona by Jared Loughner. "Gabby opened her eyes," announced the president. "So I can tell you, she knows we are here, she knows we love her, and she knows that we are rooting for her through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey." The camera showed Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, embracing Mic...

Michelle Obama's Open Letter To Parents About The Tucson Shootings
First Lady Michelle Obama issued the following Open Letter to parents in the wake of the Tucson shootings via the White House blog. Dear parents, Like so many Americans all across the country, Barack and I were shocked and heartbroken by the horrific act of violence committed in Arizona this past weekend. Yesterday, we had the chance to attend a memorial service and meet with some of the families of those who lost their lives, and both of us were deeply moved by their strength and resilience i...

After Tragedy, An Open Letter To Parents From Michelle Obama
What is this? In an Open Letter just sent by the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama exhorts parents to use the Tucson tragedy as a teachable moment. It's a moment, she writes, for valuable lessons, "about the character of our country, about the values we hold dear, and about finding hope at a time when it seems far away." Here's the full text of the letter. Like so many Americans all across the country, Barack and I were shocked and heartbroken by the horrific act of violence committed in Ar...

After Tragedy, An Open Letter To Parents From Michelle Obama
What is this? In an Open Letter just sent by the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama exhorts parents to use the Tucson tragedy as a teachable moment. It's a moment, she writes, for valuable lessons, "about the character of our country, about the values we hold dear, and about finding hope at a time when it seems far away." Here's the full text of the letter. Like so many Americans all across the country, Barack and I were shocked and heartbroken by the horrific act of violence committed in Ar...

Youngest US shooting victim laid to rest
The youngest Victim of the Tucson shootings was laid to rest Thursday, after Barack Obama hailed the 9-year-old girl as an inspiration to US politicians to heal their poisonous divisions. Christina Taylor Green, who was among six people killed by a misfit gunman last Saturday, has become the heart-breaking public face of the attacks which unleashed a wave of soul-searching about America's political culture. Hundreds of people lined the streets as her small coffin was borne into the St. Elizabeth...

Michelle Obama On Tucson Shootings: Advice To Parents
WASHINGTON--A day after First Lady Michelle Obama attended a Tucson memorial for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and other Victims of a Shooting Spree, she urged parents to use the tragedy to teach Children tolerance, prayer and compassion. As parents may struggle to explain to kids how a gunman can open fire on a crowd, Mrs. Obama offered advice through an "Open Letter to parents" posted on Thursday afternoon on the White House web site. Referring to Malia and Sasha, Mrs. Obama wrote, "the questions ...

The 2011 RNC Winter Meeting
Two years ago, the GOP was reeling from two brutal Elections and a seeming eternity in the minority. As they gather for their annual winter meeting this year they have control of one chamber of Congress and are within striking distance of the other. That will not save, it seems, Chairman Michael Steele whose tenure was marked with gaffs and who leaves the Republican National Committee nearly $20 million in Debt just as it's scrambling to fund a massive redistricting push. Politico reported that ...