Boehner

The early pictures being painted of Boehner are not flattering.(NYTimes 3rd and 4th paragraph)

(Boehner) who represents change — even if his track record has not always embodied it.

Easygoing and well liked, with a perpetual tan, a low golf handicap and an ever-present Barclay cigarette between his fingers, Mr. Boehner, 56, looks like a throwback to the 1950's — Dean Martin comes to Congress.

(LATimes paragraphs 1 and 2)

WASHINGTON — Rep. John A. Boehner, with his ever-present cigarette, seems like a throwback to the days of Capitol Hill's smoke-filled rooms.

He is hip-deep in political contributions from an industry he oversees. He was once scolded for passing out campaign checks from tobacco interests on the House floor. He was booted from a leadership post eight years ago.

(WaPo smoky office in 2nd para, this in the 6th page A01)

Boehner, who has extensive links to lobbyists, hardly represents a radical break from the past.

(WaPo different article page A05)

But Boehner has had his share of taint. He handed out checks from tobacco lobbyists on the House floor in 1995 while lawmakers were weighing tobacco subsidies. In 2004, he allowed Sallie Mae to throw him a fundraiser while the student lending outfit was lobbying his committee. And he is a frequent flier on trips paid for by special interests.

It doesn't look like the press is going to be too kind to Mr. Boehner. No "fresh start" stories, no "reshaping the Republican House" stories. They all focus on his backroom maneuvering to get the job, and they all imply a history of corruption.

And they all mention his smoking and the "handing out tobacco checks on the house floor."

Regardless of the truth of Boehner's history, I find it fairly surprising that they're going after him on his first day. This may be a tremendous failure for the GOP House, trading "current scandal" Blunt for "past scandal" Boehner. This is their reformer.

ALSO, from three weeks ago, take note of this story in the Chronicle of Higher Education about Boehner's questionable ties to Sallie Mae. If the Dems don't make hay on this.....