Sunday, May 15, 2011 7:03:34 AM
Surprise! John Boehner Cries During Commencement Address At Catholic University
by Frances Martel | 6:45 pm, May 14th, 2011
Speaker John Boehner may never get used to the fact that he is a very important person whose ideas people listen to nowadays. The Speaker of the House choked up a little delivering a commencement address to the graduating class at Catholic University today, as he told the students to keep with them always “humility, patience, and faith”– and, of course, “always a few tears from me.”
Boehner found himself at an emotional crossroads several times during his appearance at the ceremony, particularly when receiving his honorary degree and telling stories of how he rose in the ranks in Congress. ABC News reports [ http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/what-made-boehner-cry-at-catholic-university.html ] that, while his appearance sparked some controversy from those who believed he had not done enough for the needy, he worked to highlight his legislative successes in the war on poverty, as well as giving religious advice:
“One of the students asked me, ‘Well, what prayer do you say before you go to a meeting at the White House with the president?’” Boehner said. “Well, I always ask God for the courage and wisdom to do His will and not mine. Serving others — that’s not just how I lead in Congress, it’s how I lead my life.”
A recap of Boehner’s speech (with teary highlights!) via ABC below:
[video embedded]
© 2011 Mediaite, LLC
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/surprise-john-boehner-cries-during-commencement-address-at-catholic-university/ [with comments]
===
John Boehner Gets Teary During Commencement Address
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images (File)
(WASHINGTON) -- Speaker John Boehner delivered an emotional commencement address at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, even shedding a few tears while telling the graduates they should embody certain virtues.
"Humility, patience and faith, and always a few tears from me," Boehner said.
Boehner became teary while telling a story about the morning of his leadership election in 2006, when he said he prayed to the Virgin Mary for guidance. He said on that morning when he thought he received no sign, he got a call from his former high school football coach, Gerry Faust.
"It was old coach Faust," Boehner said choking up, "calling to wish me luck, and telling me you can do it. You know I've never gotten a call from the Blessed Mother before and I don't think I ever will, but I got to tell you it was pretty darn close."
Boehner also shed a few tears when he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the university at the ceremony.
Boehner delivered the main commencement address at the ceremony which was held at the east steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the university’s campus.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio
http://www.670kboi.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=112&itemid=29668799
===
Boehner avoids mention of criticism surrounding appearance at Catholic University
By Larry Lazo, CNN
May 14th, 2011
05:50 PMET
WASHINGTON (CNN) - House Speaker John Boehner emphasized "humility, patience and faith" in his commencement speech Saturday at the Catholic University of America, steering clear of addressing concerns raised by dozens at the college over his role in passing the 2012 budget.
Boehner, a Catholic and a Republican, made no mention of a letter that was sent to him this week by a group of 70 people from Catholic University as well as other Catholic colleges across the country, criticizing the 2012 budget that Boehner helped guide through the House [ http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/11/catholic-professors-want-boehner-to-reconcider-cuts/ (at http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=63053700 ) (original letter included in the post to which this is a reply)]. The signatories included faculty, priests and nuns, among others.
The legislation called for spending cuts that could adversely affect a number of programs that help the poor and elderly.
The letter said Boehner's actions go against the Catholic doctrine.
"It is your moral duty as a legislator to put the needs of the poor and most vulnerable foremost in your considerations," the letter stated.
Stephen Schneck, a professor at Catholic University, was one of the dozens who signed the letter.
"Catholic social teachings have always emphasized the importance of preferencing the poor in regards to governance and policy-making. And if you look over the speaker's record, it doesn't seem as if he's been fulfilling that part of the deal," Schneck told CNN.
A day after receiving the letter, Boehner did not directly comment on the proposed cuts listed in the budget, but he did express his satisfaction with the system that's currently in place.
"I think America has a strong safety net for those who live near the bottom of our economy," he said.
But it's that safety net that Schneck and his colleagues say Boehner is targeting.
"In the 2012 budget there are a number of items that just seem to be quite frankly at odds with Catholic social teachings in this regard - the cuts that he makes to WIC [women, infants and children] programs, the 20% cuts in food stamps, cuts to maternal and infant grants. ... What happens to Medicare and Medicaid?" Schneck said.
A number of Christian groups have since formed what they call a "Circle of Protection [ http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/28/as-faith-coalition-for-the-poor-grows-so-does-conservative-opposition/ ]" in the hopes of doing just that - protecting groups that are in danger of being heavily impacted by cuts to various food and nutrition programs as well as to Medicare and Medicaid.
Schneck issued an invitation to Boehner to join them.
Boehner said Thursday that he feels like there are people in every religion who lean more liberal or conservative, but he said he feels good about his track record.
"I believe that the actions that I've taken during my years in Congress uphold the values of my faith," he said.
In his commencement address Saturday, Boehner emphasized doing the right thing for the right reasons: "... humility, patience and faith - the raw material of hard work and sacrifice. They will take you as far as you want to go."
CNN's Eric Marrapodi contributed to this report
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/14/16983/ [with comments]
===
(items linked in):
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=63121962 and preceding (and future following)
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=59484601 and preceding and following
by Frances Martel | 6:45 pm, May 14th, 2011
Speaker John Boehner may never get used to the fact that he is a very important person whose ideas people listen to nowadays. The Speaker of the House choked up a little delivering a commencement address to the graduating class at Catholic University today, as he told the students to keep with them always “humility, patience, and faith”– and, of course, “always a few tears from me.”
Boehner found himself at an emotional crossroads several times during his appearance at the ceremony, particularly when receiving his honorary degree and telling stories of how he rose in the ranks in Congress. ABC News reports [ http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/what-made-boehner-cry-at-catholic-university.html ] that, while his appearance sparked some controversy from those who believed he had not done enough for the needy, he worked to highlight his legislative successes in the war on poverty, as well as giving religious advice:
“One of the students asked me, ‘Well, what prayer do you say before you go to a meeting at the White House with the president?’” Boehner said. “Well, I always ask God for the courage and wisdom to do His will and not mine. Serving others — that’s not just how I lead in Congress, it’s how I lead my life.”
A recap of Boehner’s speech (with teary highlights!) via ABC below:
[video embedded]
© 2011 Mediaite, LLC
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/surprise-john-boehner-cries-during-commencement-address-at-catholic-university/ [with comments]
===
John Boehner Gets Teary During Commencement Address
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images (File)
(WASHINGTON) -- Speaker John Boehner delivered an emotional commencement address at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, even shedding a few tears while telling the graduates they should embody certain virtues.
"Humility, patience and faith, and always a few tears from me," Boehner said.
Boehner became teary while telling a story about the morning of his leadership election in 2006, when he said he prayed to the Virgin Mary for guidance. He said on that morning when he thought he received no sign, he got a call from his former high school football coach, Gerry Faust.
"It was old coach Faust," Boehner said choking up, "calling to wish me luck, and telling me you can do it. You know I've never gotten a call from the Blessed Mother before and I don't think I ever will, but I got to tell you it was pretty darn close."
Boehner also shed a few tears when he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the university at the ceremony.
Boehner delivered the main commencement address at the ceremony which was held at the east steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the university’s campus.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio
http://www.670kboi.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=112&itemid=29668799
===
Boehner avoids mention of criticism surrounding appearance at Catholic University
By Larry Lazo, CNN
May 14th, 2011
05:50 PMET
WASHINGTON (CNN) - House Speaker John Boehner emphasized "humility, patience and faith" in his commencement speech Saturday at the Catholic University of America, steering clear of addressing concerns raised by dozens at the college over his role in passing the 2012 budget.
Boehner, a Catholic and a Republican, made no mention of a letter that was sent to him this week by a group of 70 people from Catholic University as well as other Catholic colleges across the country, criticizing the 2012 budget that Boehner helped guide through the House [ http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/11/catholic-professors-want-boehner-to-reconcider-cuts/ (at http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=63053700 ) (original letter included in the post to which this is a reply)]. The signatories included faculty, priests and nuns, among others.
The legislation called for spending cuts that could adversely affect a number of programs that help the poor and elderly.
The letter said Boehner's actions go against the Catholic doctrine.
"It is your moral duty as a legislator to put the needs of the poor and most vulnerable foremost in your considerations," the letter stated.
Stephen Schneck, a professor at Catholic University, was one of the dozens who signed the letter.
"Catholic social teachings have always emphasized the importance of preferencing the poor in regards to governance and policy-making. And if you look over the speaker's record, it doesn't seem as if he's been fulfilling that part of the deal," Schneck told CNN.
A day after receiving the letter, Boehner did not directly comment on the proposed cuts listed in the budget, but he did express his satisfaction with the system that's currently in place.
"I think America has a strong safety net for those who live near the bottom of our economy," he said.
But it's that safety net that Schneck and his colleagues say Boehner is targeting.
"In the 2012 budget there are a number of items that just seem to be quite frankly at odds with Catholic social teachings in this regard - the cuts that he makes to WIC [women, infants and children] programs, the 20% cuts in food stamps, cuts to maternal and infant grants. ... What happens to Medicare and Medicaid?" Schneck said.
A number of Christian groups have since formed what they call a "Circle of Protection [ http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/28/as-faith-coalition-for-the-poor-grows-so-does-conservative-opposition/ ]" in the hopes of doing just that - protecting groups that are in danger of being heavily impacted by cuts to various food and nutrition programs as well as to Medicare and Medicaid.
Schneck issued an invitation to Boehner to join them.
Boehner said Thursday that he feels like there are people in every religion who lean more liberal or conservative, but he said he feels good about his track record.
"I believe that the actions that I've taken during my years in Congress uphold the values of my faith," he said.
In his commencement address Saturday, Boehner emphasized doing the right thing for the right reasons: "... humility, patience and faith - the raw material of hard work and sacrifice. They will take you as far as you want to go."
CNN's Eric Marrapodi contributed to this report
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/14/16983/ [with comments]
===
(items linked in):
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=63121962 and preceding (and future following)
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=59484601 and preceding and following
Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07
"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790
F6
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