The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has decided to play the role of peace broker between Speaker John A. Boehner and the tea party. In a tongue-in-cheek move, the DCCC delivered to the Ohio Republican on Thursday a gift basket containing a teapot, an assortment of gourmet tea bags and mugs engraved with the names of 13 of his chief antagonists.
An intern dropped off the package at Boehner’s personal office in the Longworth House Office Building shortly before 11 a.m., according to a DCCC aide who alerted CQ Roll Call about the offering earlier in the morning.
“Dear Speaker Boehner,” read an attached note, scrawled by hand in blue ink on DCCC stationery. “With another mutiny brewing, we’re sending you a tea party to calm down your tea party. We include personalized mugs for your convenience.”
The letter concludes, “~the Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte.”
No word yet on whether Boehner will invite lawmakers — not all of whom are officially affiliated with the House Tea Party Caucus or considered loyalists by national tea party groups — over for a sit-down.
We do wonder, though, whether Boehner’s staff will ensure every member gets his or her own special mug.
Here’s a full rundown, courtesy of DCCC:
- Justin Amash of Michigan
- Jason Chaffetz of Utah
- Mike Coffman of Colorado
- Louie Gohmert of Texas
- Tim Huelskamp of Kansas
- Steve King of Iowa
- Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina
- Kristi Noem of South Dakota
- Steve Scalise of Louisiana
- Steve Stockman of Texas
- Steve Southerland II of Florida
- Tim Walberg of Michigan
- Jackie Walorski of Indiana
