How does Majority Leader Boehner resolve the apparent contradictions of his public statements about whether he had discussed Mark Foley’s emailing problem with Speaker Hastert?
Roll Call has the answer (sub. req.):
The Washington Post late last Friday reported that Boehner said he had discussed the issue with Hastert, and Hastert had assured Boehner, âWeâre taking care of it.â Boehner and his aides later contacted the Post and other media outlets, including Roll Call, to retract the comment.
âThat is not true,â he said after the Postâs initial report, and he contacted the Post to say he could not be sure he spoke to Hastert personally.
Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Boehner, said the comments were consistent with earlier statements in that it is Boehnerâs recollection of events, but he is not absolutely certain of the conversation. âHe still canât be certain of that, but that is his recollection,â Madden said. [my emphasis]
Call it the Boehner Uncertainty Principle of Public Comment.
