Millennial Mindset: 5 Reasons John Boehner is the Worst
My hatred for John Boehner is like a cavity. Although I go about my day, I am constantly aware of the degenerative effects that he has on myself and this country. Yes, there are brief moments of peace, but when that orange grimace flashes across my newsfeed, I am reminded. Recently, the State of the Union reminded me of the enemy in our midst. Here are some facts to help you reinvigorate your hate:
1. Raising the Retirement Age
According to The Washington Post,John Boehner’s net worth is anywhere between 1.9 and 5.9 million dollars. Yet he supports changes to social security that would raise the retirement age for Americans to 70 years old. He stated, “We need to look at the American people and explain to them that we’re broke. If you have substantial non-Social Security income while you’re retired, why are we paying you at a time when we’re broke.”
I’d like to know what Boehner considers “substantial non-Social Security income,” because my guess it would place most Americans below the poverty level. All this from a man who recently put a down payment of $185,000 on a million dollar condo in addition to his family’s home in Ohio. My guess is that John Boehner doesn’t quite understand what it’s like to be part of the American middle class.
2. Not only would John Boehner prohibit gay couples from marrying, he would deny them other civil rights
He voted no on an act that would prohibit employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation. He also voted to amend the constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and voted yes to banning same-sex marriage. Plus, he voted to prohibit gay couples from adopting in DC. View the long and disheartening list of JB’s political decisions here.
3. Doesn’t believe women should be paid the same as their male colleagues
John Boehner voted against the equal pay bill in 2005, which would make it illegal to pay someone less because of sex, race, religion, age, or disability. Again in 2009 he voted no to the Lilly Ledbetter act, which would make it illegal to pay a woman less than their male counterparts for the same job. In 2012-13 Boehner did not even bother to vote on several bills and amendments that would protect victims of stalking as well as domestic and sexual violence. Boehner’s actions can only indicate that the politician does not care about preserving the rights of ALL American citizens, but perhaps only those of rich, white, heterosexual males. In 2013, Boehner remarked that the Republican party has been trying to gain female supporters (as the party notoriously has a low number) by being more “sensitive” to women voters. Why not start by granting them equal rights?
4. Didn’t vote on domestic violence bills but threw a fit about the image below
So, let’s get this straight. John Boehner didn’t vote on important bills protecting citizens from discrimination, but contacted the Smithsonian Museum in DC when they featured Wojnarowicz’s A Fire in my Belly. The film featured an image of a crucifix covered in ants. Yeah, that’s it. Just so we’re clear on what JB considers important.
