This is a continuation of our series highlighting members who hail from red districts, yet represent the priorities of House Speaker John Boehner and leadership instead of conservatives. Part 1 can be viewed here, part 2 here and part 3 here.
When leadership wants an obscure face to carry their water in the media, to whom do they turn? When they want someone to say that we must raise the debt ceiling for fear of roiling the markets, who can they trust to deliver the message with alacrity? Rep. Charles Boustany is definitely among the first in line.
But this past February was not the first time Boustany carried water for leadership. He’s been doing that since he came to Washington in 2005. Last October, after voting to fund Obamacare, he had the nerve to put out a press release saying that his vote was to “protect the economy.” To him, the debate over Obamacare, merely represented “short-term political squabbling.” Boustany said of those pushing to defund Obamacare that “I’m not sure they’re Republicans, and I’m not sure they’re conservative.” Instead, he felt both parties could come together to push for a conservative agenda.
Indeed – his version of a conservative agenda.
Not only is Boustany one of the most progressive Republicans in the House (HAFA score= 49%), he earns the distinction of the most pro-Palestinian Republican in Congress. He was the only Republican endorsed by the radical left “J Street” anti-Israel lobby group. His other pro-Palestinian accomplishments include the following:
- Boustany was one of only three Republicans to join 33 members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus to vote against a congressional resolution condemning the “Goldstone Report,” which accused Israel of war crimes. (11/2/2009 Roll Call # 838 on H.Res. 867).
- Boustany offered an amendment that would have removed Egypt’s accountability for Hamas’ arms smuggling into Gaza (roll call #535, 6/21/2007, H.AMDT 371 to H.R. 2764).
- Co-led a letter to President Obama urging him to intervene in the Israeli-Palestinian Peace negotiations. The letter urged Obama to become intimately involved in forcing talks between Israel and the PA, and said the creation of a Palestinian state must precede transparency of the PA government, control over security, or a stable economy. Among the most radical leftists, the only other Republican signatures were former Reps. Bob Inglis (SC) and Geoff Davis (KY) (Cohen-Boustany-Carnahan Letter, May 2009).
- Sent a letter to former Secretary of State Rice requesting more foreign aid be delivered to the Palestinian Authority. It was signed by some of the most radical members of the House (Ackerman-Boustany letter, November 2007).
Boustany is the typical doomsday TARP Republican who believes that any balanced budget, structural reform and downsizing of government will lead to instability. As such, he will never use this conservative seat to push for limited government. On healthcare, he was one of 47 Republicans to vote to require insurance companies to cover mental health problems. It’s these types of one-size-fits-all mandates that have led to the increase in costs and were the precursor to Obamacare. He also supports the Obamacare Medicaid expansion. And there is no federal intervention in agriculture that he does not support.
Louisiana District 3 is rated R+19. Are we prepared to squander this district on a Boehner bootlicker – one who is pro-Palestinian to boot?