Boehner’s climate speech is seen as one for the ages

By Molly K. Hooper
Posted: 06/30/09 07:44 PM [ET]

House Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) animated speech on climate change late last week has attracted praise from both Republicans and Democrats.

Boehner, known for his laid-back personality and constant shrugs, delivered a scathing critique of the Democrats’ climate bill that passed 219-212 on Friday. Some political observers on and off Capitol Hill say the speech could represent a significant change in Boehner’s leadership style.

Fifteen minutes into what most expected to be a two-minute closing argument against the bill, Boehner pulled out a pair of reading glasses from his coat pocket and flipped open the four-inch binder he had slammed on the lectern before him.

For more than an hour, Boehner essentially went page by page through a 300-page Democratic amendment that had been filed at 3 a.m. on Friday — 16 hours before it went to a vote.

Democrats protested, but Boehner was allowed to finish his address. The speech, dubbed the “fili-Boehner,â€