Boehner, expected to be House speaker, gets call from Obama
Washington – House Republican leader John Boehner, expected to be the chamber’s next speaker, said President Barack Obama called Tuesday with congratulations for winning control of the House.
During what Boehner described as a brief but pleasant midnight conversation, the two discussed working together on priorities for Americans. Boehner said he told the president that the people expect them to cut spending and create jobs.
Boehner described the call in a statement.
Earlier in the evening, Boehner and other Republicans said they were eager to work with Obama – on their terms. Republicans have said they want to cut $100 billion in the first year and try to roll back Obama’s overhauls of health care and financial regulations.
Quayle wins House seat
Phoenix – The son of former Vice President Dan Quayle won his race against a tough Democratic challenger to represent Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District.
Ben Quayle overcame a series of questions during the campaign about his links to a racy website to claim the Phoenix-area seat of retiring GOP Rep. John Shadegg on Tuesday.
Democrat Jon Hulburd, a Phoenix lawyer, made a strong push at upsetting Quayle’s candidacy with a mix of attack ads that questioned the 33-year-old Republican’s experience and maturity.
Quayle stood out during a 10-person primary for a hard-hitting ad where he intoned “Barack Obama is the worst president in history.” He also played up his links to Arizona.
Quayle grew up in Indiana and Washington, D.C.
ACORN files for bankruptcy
Washington – ACORN, a national organization whose mission included registering and turning out low-income and minority voters, announced Tuesday that it was filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Founded in 1970, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now had in recent years become a target of conservatives who accused the group of engaging in widespread voter fraud. It was forced to scale back its efforts after a scandal erupted over undercover video footage that purported to show ACORN staff helping young activists, posing as a pimp and prostitute, to engage in illegal activity.
Subsequent investigations found that the footage had been substantially edited, but the damage was done. Congress ultimately passed Republican-backed amendments to appropriations legislation that ended federal funding for the group.
Perry calls book ‘third rail’
Austin, Texas – Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday that his new book is filled with so many attacks on Washington and the federal government that there’s no way he’ll be able to run for president in 2012.
In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press hours before Perry won a third, full term as governor, Perry described a book that is loaded with hot-button zingers on everything from Social Security to race relations.
“I think probably the best display, the best concrete evidence that I’m really not running for president is this book, because when you read this book, you’re going to see me talking about issues that for someone running for public office, it’s kind of been the third rail, if you will,” Perry told the AP. “But these are issues that really need to be talked about.”
The book, called “Fed Up: Our Fight to Save America from Washington,” goes on sale Nov. 15.
Nazi re-enactor loses bid
Toledo, Ohio – A congressional candidate criticized for dressing in a Nazi uniform during World War II re-enactments lost his election bid in Ohio. Republican Rich Iott was defeated by Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who has been in Congress since 1983.
Iott was a little-known political newcomer when photos surfaced in October of him wearing a Nazi uniform. He was a considered a long shot even before the photos went viral.
He said he took part in the historical re-enactments to educate the public and didn’t agree with the Nazis’ views or their actions against Jews.
Many Republicans said they wouldn’t support someone who would dress in Nazi attire. Critics included Eric Cantor of Virginia, the No. 2 Republican in the House.