Byron York‘s latest Washington Examiner article documents the different approaches John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi took when given the opportunity to turn power over to the opposing party in the U.S. House:
A look at the two speeches — Pelosi introducing Boehner and Boehner introducing Pelosi — shows striking differences. Boehner’s 2007 speech, coming after Republicans were trounced at the polls in November 2006, was self-effacing, gracious, and non-partisan. Pelosi’s 2011 speech, coming after Democrats were trounced at the polls in November 2010, was self-serving, sharp, and partisan.
Start with Pelosi introducing Boehner. The outgoing Speaker began with some boilerplate about the importance of the occasion and then turned to a subject she has addressed many times in the past four years: herself. …
Contrast that with Boehner’s speech introducing Pelosi on January 4, 2007. It was about 40 percent shorter and began with Boehner celebrating Pelosi’s achievement as first woman Speaker. “Today marks an occasion that I think the Founding Fathers would view approvingly,” he said. “And my fellow Americans, whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent, today is a cause for celebration.”
