I find little joy in the announced resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives, as a member and as its speaker, of Congressman John Boehner, who for the last five years has been third in line to the presidency.
A decent and honorable individual, Speaker Boehner and I have worked together during our shared tenure in Congress. Over the years we have developed a close, productive working relationship. We worked together to benefit the American people, not simply special-interest groups.
Speaker Boehner announced his departure one day after a joint session of Congress warmly received a message from Pope Francis. During his address, Francis talked about the shallowness of human conflict and outlined the damage that it does to individuals, to families, to nations and to the world.
Those watching Speaker Boehner during the address could see that he followed each word that the pope uttered and was deeply moved by the substance of his argument and the magnanimity of his presence.
He said he was resigning because he had grown increasingly weary of the infighting and bickering in his own party and that he wanted to avoid another period of “prolonged leadership turmoil.” Those in his party who oppose the speaker, many of them relatively new to Washington, have repeatedly challenged his conservatism. His voting record clearly demonstrates that he is a passionate conservative.
Unlike Speaker Boehner and other reasonable members of Congress, his opponents (mostly supported by the tea party) do not understand that good politics has been and shall continue to be the result of prudent political compromise. This is something the speaker understands and has attempted to convey to those who stood in the shadow of his leadership.
In the end, Speaker Boehner decided that it was better to engage in thoughtful reflection and prayer than in constant and divisive political fratricide. Deeply moved by the pope’s request that he stop and pray for the pontiff, Speaker Boehner has chosen a higher road than those who would take great delight in his personal and professional destruction.
I extend my best wishes to Speaker Boehner and his family as he leaves the halls of Congress. The American people owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for his service to our country.
SOURCE: Dallas Morning News
