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Conservatives lashed out at former House Speaker John Boehner after a clip of Boehner crying during the unveiling of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's official portrait went viral.
Boehner gave a speech praising Pelosi during her official portrait unveiling ceremony on Wednesday, December 14. Pelosi had earlier announced that she will retire from Democratic Party leadership after her role as Speaker concludes this year.
\u201cHere it is. Nancy Pelosi\u2019s portrait. A leader. A trailblazer. An icon. One of the most effective Speakers in our nation\u2019s history. Absolutely stunning.\u201d— Victor Shi (@Victor Shi) 1671054236
The tearful Boehner—who was Speaker of the House from 2011 to 2015—called Pelosi "unfailingly gracious" and expressed how much his own daughters admire her.
You can hear what he said in the video below.
\u201cWATCH: former Speaker of the House Boehner sobs at @SpeakerPelosi\u2019s portrait unveiling ceremony saying, \n\n "My girls told me, 'Tell the Speaker how much we admire her.'" \n\nReally captures the extent of the legacy Pelosi has left (and continues to leave).\u201d— Kaivan Shroff (@Kaivan Shroff) 1671054565
Addressing Pelosi, Boehner said:
"You’ve been unfailingly gracious to me, to my family and, frankly, my team here in Washington."
"And Madam Speaker, I have to say, my girls told me, ‘Tell the Speaker how much we admire her.'"
Boehner choked up at that point, though the display angered conservatives who perceived it as a sign of weakness from oft-abhorred establishment Republicans.
\u201cBoehner is a perfect example of why Republicans can\u2019t stand Washington. There are no stakes for the elites. The terrible policies, the support for abortion until birth, the harm caused. None of it matters. It\u2019s just one big cocktail club where they all cry for each other.\u201d— Bonchie (@Bonchie) 1671102631
\u201cBoehner crying in tribute to Pelosi while talking about how his daughters are Democrats is a pretty good summation of Republican leadership over the past couple of decades https://t.co/qccwcscgVU\u201d— Ben Shapiro (@Ben Shapiro) 1671109988
\u201cJohn Boehner has and always will be an embarrassment to the Republican Party.\n\nWhat a disaster of a person and a horribly corrupt politician.\u201d— Brigitte Gabriel (@Brigitte Gabriel) 1671070204
\u201cJohn Boehner crying as he paid tribute to Nancy Pelosi is the perfect symbol of uniparty pathology\u201d— Monica Crowley (@Monica Crowley) 1671060770
Others were much kinder and praised the moment as an example of civility in Washington.
\u201cAmazing to watch John Boehner tear up at Nancy Pelosi's portrait unveiling. "Leaders lead," he said, thanking her. \n\nPowerful reminder of the present dysfunction with a House GOP controlled by its pro-coup caucus.\u201d— Susan Glasser (@Susan Glasser) 1671052973
\u201cWe desperately need more bipartisanship.\u201d— Brian Levin (@Brian Levin) 1671117068
\u201cWhat happened to Republicans like this, they are few & far between?\u201d— \ud83d\udc99 Betsy Barnes \ud83d\udc99 (@\ud83d\udc99 Betsy Barnes \ud83d\udc99) 1671118703
\u201cA good man. I always liked Speaker Boehner. And from a time when you could be a Republican with pride and honor.\u201d— Delly Dismantled \u271d\ufe0f\u262e\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Delly Dismantled \u271d\ufe0f\u262e\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1671143756
Boehner praised Pelosi's remarkable political career, saying there hasn't been a single Speaker on either side of the aisle who "has wielded the gavel with such authority or with such consistent results.”
He was just one of many who paid tribute to Pelosi during the ceremony. Former Democratic President Barack Obama honored Pelosi in a brief video appearance. Others, like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy—whose own bid for the Speaker position is currently imperiled—sat in silence during the event.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he has been impressed by Pelosi for many years, saying it was apparent from the moment she arrived in Congress that she "knew the issues, she knew the politics, and most importantly, she knew what she was fighting for.”