Battle Royal
Roll Call Staff
The House Majority Leader race has turned into mudslinging city. In one of the latest examples, a supporter of Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) really stirred the pot when he declared at the crowded bar of Bobby Van’s steakhouse the other night that Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is the “freaking bride of Frankenstein.”
Let’s just say, that was too blunt for the Blunt camp.
We’re not sure who exactly heard the insult. But the offending party, who requested to remain anonymous in hopes of keeping both of his legs, says he’s certain somebody in the Blunt camp heard him. Because on Wednesday, he says, “they had somebody call me.”
The Boehner supporter, a former GOP aide who works in the private sector, says somebody who called him on his cell phone “threatened” him. Allegedly, the caller, whose identity was marked “unavailable” on caller ID, asked whether the Boehner supporter really wanted to be “out there if Roy Blunt becomes Majority Leader.”
The Boehner guy said the caller also added, “I just wanted to let you know ... you have to be careful.” Once the Boehner guy demanded to know who was calling, the line went dead.
People in the office of acting Majority Leader Blunt said they knew nothing about the phone call, or the bride-of-Frankenstein slur — though slur would aptly describe it, they said.
“After a late night of swilling cognac and smoking cigars, your source is clearly still drunk,” Blunt spokeswoman Jessica Boulanger told HOH. “We have no idea what he is referring to — and he is not likely to remember this in the morning.”
Setting the Record Straight. It may surprise some rumor mongers to know that former Rep. Jon Christensen (R-Neb.), now a lobbyist, is supporting Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) in the race for Majority Leader. Christensen tells HOH, “I’m supporting him ‘cause I think he’s the best one for the job.”
Christensen pointed out that his support comes at the serious risk of irritating whoever may beat Shadegg. Saying he believes “Roy Blunt has more votes” combined than either Shadegg or Boehner, Christensen said, “I’m supporting someone who’s running a distant third, regardless of how it affects my business.”
In another sign of the mudslinging — by Republicans themselves and Democrats anxious to watch them implode — old rumors have resurfaced over the past week or so about a titillating story involving Shadegg and Christensen’s ex-wife, a story based on a false rumor. In fact, Shadegg successfully sued two authors of two different books that mentioned the incident, and both authors and their publishers wrote letters of apology retracting the statements. (So there, gossip mongers. Now you know.)
As for getting Christensen’s support, Shadegg told HOH, “I am pleased to have Jon Christensen’s support. He knows me well, and has for years.”
Christensen even went the extra mile for Shadegg on Wednesday, when Blunt called Christensen seeking his support and help with recruiting the support of Nebraska GOP Reps. Jeff Fortenberry and Tom Osborne. “I told Roy, ‘I can’t help you with Fortenberry and Osborne, ‘cause I’m supporting John Shadegg.’”
More Lobbyists?! What do Ben Franklin and about a dozen Members of Congress and Senators have in common? (Besides sticking their fingers in light sockets.) The answer is: psoriasis. Itchy, ooh, who knew?
HOH sure didn’t, until we spotted a Franklin look-alike traipsing around Capitol Hill this week handing out “calling cards” with the Web address www.Ben300.org, the site of a nonprofit called Psoriasis Cure Now, which seeks to find a cure for the disabling skin disease.
Ben apparently was shopping for support to get more funding for the cause. According to the group’s president, Michael Paranzino, Franklin, who would be celebrating his 300th birthday this month, suffered from psoriasis, as do a handful of lawmakers, though we know not who they are.
“Statistically speaking, there should be two or three Senators, and 8 to 12 Representatives with psoriasis currently serving in Congress,” Paranzino told HOH. “But ... who they are, I do not know. But I would love to hear from them if they are out there!”
Mmm ... Lube Wings. If the Steelers win this weekend, it’s Rocky Mountain rib-eye for Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and his staff. If the Broncos win, Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and his staff will be chowing down on Quaker Steak and Lube wings, courtesy of Santorum.
That’s the wager Allard and Santorum have placed on this Sunday’s AFC title game. “Senator Allard should know that I like my steak Pittsburgh rare,” Santorum crowed in a joint press release. But Allard had a different prediction, predictably. “I watched the Steelers game last Sunday and they looked a little overweight, like they might run out of gas at our high altitude. I predict that our leaner, meaner Broncos will win in the 4th quarter.”
HOH’s take on it: Brokenhearted Redskins fans don’t give a hoot!
Please send your hot tips, juicy gossip or comments to hoh@rollcall.com.
Potts: Congress Must Not Allow Lobbying Efforts to Block Pro-Consumer Financial Planning Bill
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Quietly hidden amid debates over which agency should house a consumer financial protection agency is a simple consumer financial protection proposal. It would safeguard Main Street residents from malpractice by people claiming to be financial planners. Read Full Article
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