Reid: Boehner a ‘good man’

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid called Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) a “good man” and said he was “stunned” to learn he was leaving Congress.

“To say that I will miss John Boehner is a tremendous understatement,” the Nevada lawmaker said in a somewhat surprising display of warmth given their fierce battles over taxes, spending and immigration when Democrats controlled the Senate and Republicans the lower chamber.

{mosads}Even though they were almost always at odds, Reid said, “Boehner looked out for me in the ways that he could.”

“I have not always agreed and wasn’t always happy with what John told me but he never, ever misled me. He never, ever told me something that wasn’t true. And I accepted that,” he said.

Boehner is expected to retire in Florida after buying a luxury condo on Marco Island, but Reid promised to help set up a tee time if the avid golfer ever plans to visit Las Vegas.

“Whatever I can do to make his life more pleasant, I’ll be happy to do that, whether it’s setting up a golf game for him in Las Vegas or helping him in some government matter,” the minority leader said.

“I will do whatever I can because John Boehner, as far as I’m concerned, is a good man,” Reid said.

Reid isn’t the only Senate Democrat heaping praise on the Ohio Republican in the wake of his announcement. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Reid’s likely successor as Senate Democratic leader, called Boehner a “decent, principled conservative” and said that he “will be missed.”