Steve Jobs used to surprise journalists and consumers alike by randomly replying to their emails sent to his well-known email address. It was always a little shocking to find that the world’s highest-profile CEO would take the time to reply personally to a criticism, as happened when Gawker writer Ryan Tate famously got into an spat with Jobs last year. Tate didn’t even disclose that he was a journalist until fairly deep into their volley.
I had the same feeling yesterday when a reader who has asked to remain anonymous forwarded us an email correspondence he’d just had with John Boehner‘s office.
It all started when said reader became so fed up with the House blocking the extension of the Payroll Tax Holiday that he decided to send his first-ever letter to a Representative. He fired off a note to the Speaker of the House John Boehner by way of Boehner’s press secretary Michael Steel.
It’s understandable why our reader would be so fed up: the House blockage of the extension embodies the worst in government: A few GOP Representatives are willing to let taxes rise (something they’re supposed to hate) on millions of working Americans starting January 1 purely as a power play to derail any possible success of the Administration. It’s a serious issue. So our reader wrote to Michael Steel with the subject header “Please pass along to your boss,” meaning John Boehner:
To which Michael Steel himself actually replied, with colleagues CC’d:
Which Kardashian. Michael Steel, Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, took the time to personally reply to an ordinary citizen not to explain Boehner’s position or the Republican strategy on improving the country, but to simply tuant him.
The arrogant, dismissive condescension to a sincerely concerned citizen is almost sadistic. Even more so than the House’s blockage of the Payroll Tax Holiday, what’s wrong with government is this email.
The reader said to me over email: “I didn’t reply b/c I didn’t want to stoop to that level but I was very close responding ‘the one who cries a lot.’”
Touche, reader. Our government may be intellectually and morally bankrupt, but at least we can have hope for our citizens.
Correction: An earlier version of this article listed Mr. Boehner’s press secretary as Michael Steele, rather than Michael Steel.
December 22, 2011 at 4:02 pm, Howlettjordan said:
This is so stupid. Honestly, does anyone really care or are surprised? Why you would even write an article about this makes absolutely no sense. I was expecting a big long E-mail with intellectual banter going back and forth from both sides. However, we get some half witted email from a “concerned” citizen, and in my opinion, a pretty funny response from Mr. Steele. That being said, is there a problem with American Government? Absolutely. However, there is an even bigger problem with biased, self-entitled blogs like this. What we need is to end personal agendas in media and government. We will NEVER get ANYTHING done until that happens because whether we like it or not, media drives politics in this day and age… I may get blasted for my comments, but screw it.. And don’t think I am supporting Boehner or anything like that.
December 22, 2011 at 7:03 pm, The Tragically Flip said:
We need to end “personal agendas in media and government”?
They say liberals are dreamers.
And biased blogs are a bigger problem than government malfunction?
December 22, 2011 at 5:40 pm, Johan said:
It was an informal reply to an informal email. I wouldn’t take that original email seriously at all, it was completely unprofessional. Basically, this is a non-story.
December 22, 2011 at 7:11 pm, The Tragically Flip said:
How was that email “informal”? This person describes it as his “first ever letter to politician.” Does it have to come on embossed stationary with a wax seal? It was obviously sincere.
Quit rationalizing. The response was contemptuous and demonstrates the utter lack of concern Boehner’s staff have for citizen views. If Nancy Pelosi’s CoS had replied to a constitutent this way I guarantee conservatives would not be so dismissive.
December 22, 2011 at 10:26 pm, Mike said:
I think it’s quite apparent that the e-mail is informal when the writer compares John Boehner to a Kardashian.
December 23, 2011 at 1:23 am, Ricardo said:
If you could go one sentence without hitting a glaring misspelling, the e-mail might be considered formal. The response was glib, to be sure, but so was the original comparison.
December 23, 2011 at 1:23 am, Ricardo said:
If you could go one sentence without hitting a glaring misspelling, the e-mail might be considered formal. The response was glib, to be sure, but so was the original comparison.
December 22, 2011 at 5:43 pm, Nonissue said:
Hey Alex, chill baby!
It’s a joke. Sort of like this post.
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December 23, 2011 at 9:11 pm, Michael Fortner said:
If this is really what set you off, you need to keep digging. I mean, seriously? Who cares!
December 27, 2011 at 11:34 pm, Jamesi3m said:
Apparently not you, John Boehner, nor Michael Steel.
December 31, 2011 at 2:17 pm, cbohn53@gmail.com said:
AMEN, Michael!!! This rabbit hole is DEEP! This “exchange,” between a conned-stituent and his CON-gress-critter is small change humor compared to what is really going on! WAKE UP AMERICA!
December 23, 2011 at 9:11 pm, Michael Fortner said:
If this is really what set you off, you need to keep digging. I mean, seriously? Who cares!
December 25, 2011 at 7:45 am, Anonymous said:
The GOP had better get some spine if they want to win next November.
December 31, 2011 at 2:08 pm, Cbohn53 said:
Assuming there is an election?
December 26, 2011 at 8:21 pm, El Bruce said:
Actually, that was a pretty good reply to a completely content-less ranting letter. I hate Boehner, but I smiled at that one.
December 29, 2011 at 10:08 pm, Richard Small said:
u should care, this an a-hole who holds up progress and taunts his constituents
December 31, 2011 at 2:12 pm, Cbohn53 said:
LOL!! They are ALL a-holes who hold up progress and taunt their CONNED-stituents! And, if you haven’t figured THAT much out by now, its because YOU are one of the conned-stituents.
December 30, 2011 at 4:10 pm, thatguy said:
I think this is hilarious. What’s sad is people thinking politicians actually care about them. Only followers need leaders.
February 08, 2012 at 11:17 am, Tanning salon industry is backing their golden boy, John Boehner | Death and Taxes said:
[...] of the American Academy of Dermatology.Though only a small fraction of Americans use tanning beds, John Boehner appears to be one of them, and the industry found a vocal ally in the fight against what it called [...]
February 08, 2012 at 12:48 pm, Tanning salon industry is backing their golden boy, John Boehner | Speaker Boner said:
[...] only a small fraction of Americans use tanning beds, John Boehner appears to be one of them, and the industry found a vocal ally in the fight against what it called [...]
April 12, 2012 at 8:12 am, Scott Wilson said:
If the email sender stoops to insult someone by saying "you rank somewhere between Kardashian…etc… Then I think it is appropriate and actually kinda witty/humorous that Steel would answer as he did. For someone calling names, it seems puss-like to then cry afoul… because of a two word reply. Truly, he hurt your feelings.. he's sadistic? Grow a set will ya? Sheesh. I don't believe you are a conservative…because only liberals seem to whine like that.
May 17, 2012 at 8:18 pm, Ida Thompson said:
shame on you repubs for going back to the same old bs. do what needs to be dome for the majority and not just the rich just because they pay you lots of money to do so. pass some jobs bills and the construction jobs.
December 16, 2012 at 2:46 pm, How Will John Boehner be remembered? | Death and Taxes said:
[...] in negotiations.Boehner was widely known as a Washington dealmaker before he recast himself as a crying, Tea Party folk hero in 2010. He led his activist party to a standstill over increasing the debt-ceiling limit, [...]