MSNBC’s Luke Russert to Boehner: ‘You’re One of the Most Conservative Members of the Last 20 Years’

On Thursday, MSNBC’s Luke Russert teed up some questions for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), allowing him to spew talking points defending his so-called conservatism. At least Boehner didn’t claim he was “severely conservative” like Mitt Romney did.

Russert, an establishment and permanent political class favorite who is emblematic of a mainstream media that mistakenly believe every lawmaker with an “R” next to their name is “conservative,” asked Boehner why there is such “fervent conservative opposition your Speakership.”

After surviving the biggest party revolt in more than 150 years on Tuesday to get re-elected Speaker, Boehner (R-OH) said he has given the question a lot of thought and claimed that Americans are frustrated that Washington is not listening to them. Boehner said Americans need to “take the frustration that is out there” out on “somebody” like himself and other elected leaders.

In an exchange that could have come straight out of WWE, Russert then said, “But you’re one of the most conservative Members of the last 20 years…”

Boehner, with a straight face, then claimed that he is the “most anti-establishment Speaker we’ve ever had” and said it pains him to be described as “spineless” or a “squish.” But Boehner, who argued that he had the eighth most conservative voting record, said what”pains me the most is when they describe me as the establishment.”

“I’m the most anti-establishment speaker we’ve ever had,” Boehner alleged. “Who was the guy that got rid of earmarks? Me. Who’s the guy that believes in regular order? Me. Who believes in allowing more members to participate in the process on both sides of the aisle? Me.”

Boehner was re-elected Speaker on Tuesday with less than majority support, and three House Republicans challenged him after conservatives thought Boehner sold them out when he asked President Barack Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to lobby for votes for the so-called CRomnibus bill that did not defund Obama’s executive amnesty.

Boehner vowed to fight Obama’s executive amnesty “tooth and nail” before the midterm elections in which Republicans gained control of Congress in large part because of the electorate’s dissatisfaction with Obama’s executive amnesty. But in the first big fight on Obama’s executive amnesty after the midterms, Boehner reportedly shunned conservatives for Obama and Pelosi.