What Boehner Should Have Told Gregory

J.D. Foster / August 10, 2010

The mainstream media is having a field day with House Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R–OH) less-than-stellar handling of a simple “when did you stop beating your wife” question posed by NBC’s David Gregory on Sunday’s Meet the Press.

Gregory repeatedly badgered Boehner about how he could square the Republicans’ newfound concern over the budget deficit with an unwillingness to pay for “tax cuts,” at one point asking, “How can you be for cutting the deficit and also cutting taxes, as well, when they’re not paid for?”

Boehner responded, “You can’t raise taxes in the middle of a weak economy.” He’s right, of course. Obama and friends want to raise taxes.  But Gregory and his media buddies keep referring to tax cuts, not tax hikes, perpetuating a politically convenient confusion.

After his observation about tax hikes on a sliding economy, Boehner should have continued with the equivalent of “Gee, David, I’m not even married.” He should have said: (more…)