The Hill News

House Democrats' campaign arm named Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) their "Hypocrite of the Week" on Friday.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) gave Boehner the title for having signed a staffer up for a $5,800 "etiquette" class while having skipped a state dinner that Boehner derided as "pomp and circumstance."

“Speaker John Boehner passed on the President’s invitation to a state dinner because of ‘pomp and circumstance’ but took taxpayer money to enroll his staff in etiquette class,” DCCC spokesman Jesse Ferguson said.

The class, most specifically, is a class for a staff member on protocol to handle visiting dignitaries. As Speaker, Boehner's now responsible for meetings with world leaders who come to Washington, which often includes gift exchanges, formal seating, and other items of etiquette. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's (Calif.) office also employs staffers for protocol. Additionally, Roll Call's initial report said that Boehner's office saved $500 on tuition for the class by registering early.

"That’s too stupid to comment on," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said of the ignominious honor.

Democrats pounced on Boehner's decision to skip a state dinner when Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Washington. The GOP Speaker at the time explained that those kinds of formal settings weren't really up his alley.

"These etiquette lessons in Speaker John Boehner’s office are going to get them ready for the wrong kind of tea party," Ferguson said. "For trying to pretend like he’s not wrapped up in the culture of Washington while spending taxpayer money on Washington ‘pomp and circumstance’, Speaker John Boehner is the hypocrite of the week.”
Team Boehner took the DCCC's jab in stride, though, joking! about P resident Obama's own occasional etiquette issues.

"Should help avoid gaffes like bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia," one GOP aide said.