House Speaker John Boehner paid a visit to the Missouri breakfast caucus Tuesday and raised a few eyebrows with an apparent off-color joke.
Referring to an early congressional campaign, the Republican said his name was often mispronounced.
"You know my name looks like Beaner, Bonner, Boner," he said.
"Well, at least it's not Weiner," he added, referring apparently to former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat, who resigned after tweeting racy pictures of himself.
Boehner -- pronounced BAY-nor -- also urged delegates to work against Barack Obama this fall.
"He's never had a real job," the speaker said.
Party, anyone?
There's no shortage of them in Tampa this week, and they come in all forms -- from cigar parties to museum receptions. Not surprisingly, many come courtesy of corporate America.
This week, the Kansas delegation has been treated to an evening hotel-lobby gathering stocked with sandwiches, beer and wine courtesy of the RJ Reynolds tobacco company, and another courtesy of Burlington Northern railway. Tuesday afternoon brought a Koch Industries gathering at Steinbrenner Field, about 10 minutes from the Kansas hotel.
Missouri has had breakfasts sponsored by Burlington Northern and Monsanto. Delegations from across the country have enjoyed similar perks.
Ron Paul delegates are pretty steamed here, and there was the potential for some drama on the convention floor Tuesday afternoon.
The Paul delegates are most angry at the treatment of their colleagues in the Maine delegation. It largely went for Paul in state caucuses, but the party leadership elbowed the Paul delegates aside.
"It happened to Maine. It will happen to you next," said a paper distributed overnight to Missouri delegates. "Stop the power grab."
Privately, Republicans in the Missouri delegation said the Paul faction, which includes three delegates from the Kansas City-Jackson County area, are indeed upset at the treatment of the Maine caucus. So, apparently, is Paul.
They promised a bit of a fight over the rules and credentials, although Romney's campaign had far more delegates than needed to quash any squabbles.
Josh Romney, 37, addressed the Missouri contingent as well Tuesday. He spoke with reporters outside the hall, saying his mother, Ann, wasn't very worried about her big speech Tuesday night.
"She does not get very nervous," Josh said. "I don't know. I wish she would get more nervous than she is."
He also said his father, Mitt, the nominee, understands the importance of his speech Thursday.
Delegates officially nominated Romney and Paul Ryan on Tuesday afternoon.
Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab's message to delegates Tuesday morning: Give it your all to help Republican legislative candidates win in November.
"I know we're focused on the presidential race. I get it," the Olathe Republican said.
But if Democrats defeat even a few conservative candidates, the message will be that voters rejected the conservative agenda, Schwab reasoned, even though there's no doubt that conservatives will govern the Sunflower State for the next two years.
"Leave it all out on the table," Schwab said.
When Kansas and Missouri delegation leaders cast their votes for president Tuesday, they also talked up their states. Here's some of what they said:
Kansas GOP Chairwoman Amanda Adkins: Kansas, "a state where we grow leaders like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bob Dole and our incredible governor, Sam Brownback. A governor who is leading us to become a no-income-tax state. In Kansas we celebrate success like KU basketball, the WSU Shockers and K-State football, otherwise known in 2011 as the Texas state champs. Leadership, success, these are all great qualities in Mitt Romney. We are most pleased to offer 39 delegate votes for Mitt Romney and one for Rick Santorum."
Missouri GOP Chairman David Cole: Missouri, "home of the world champion St. Louis Cardinals, and the only battleground state that voted Republican in 2008, casts three votes for Senator Santorum, four votes for Ron Paul, and 45 votes for the next president of the United States, Mitt Romney."
