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* Former state Rep. and now Congressman Mike Bost became instantly famous for his 2012 floor rant against House Speaker Michael Madigan. And the anger he showed in the video most definitely helped his congressional campaign last year. The Rothenberg Political Report, however, claims it was all an act…
What is somewhat ironic about the video and caricature of Bost is that he did not previously have a reputation for being a loose cannon. For years, he was a legislator who kept his head down until more recently when he became the designated “bulldog” for the House GOP caucus.
While it is apparently common knowledge among Downstate Republican insiders, Beltway observers may not know that the Bost rant was apparently staged. He practiced for at least a week in his office, according to multiple sources, even though Bost didn’t know the specific bill that would garner his exercise in emotion.
Sources point to the video as further evidence. None of the legislators or staff in the frame of the shot appear surprised or tried to restrain Bost during his rant. And apparently he made a mistake by not taking the binder clip off of the papers. That limited the desired scatter effect and was the reason why he threw a punch at the stack of paper. The caucus was excited that the video went viral.
“He knew he was going to do it,” according to one Downstate Republican. “Rehearsed or not, he touched a nerve with a lot of people down here.”
* But Bost denies it was staged…
Bost chuckled as he denied that claim.
“If it was rehearsed, then I got to be one of the best actors in the world, OK?” Bost said.
At the time of the rant, Bost said he was working as a Republican floor leader.
“Was it my job to argue? Yes,” Bost said. “Was my frustration real? Yes. But to say I rehearsed that, no, there was no rehearsal.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 8:31 am
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That was the best Springfield rant I’ve seen since the old Leroy Lemke / Mark Rhodes showdown on the Senate floor during the 1980 remap.
Comment by Stones Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 8:35 am
I admit I rehearse more or less the same rant every morning!
Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 8:37 am
Sounds like he didn’t rehearse enough since he forgot to take the binder clip off the papers.
Comment by Roamin' Numeral Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 8:40 am
When you are surrounded by fake authenticity, in a job ran by fiction artists, any honesty is immediately suspicious and any sincerity is questioned.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 8:41 am
If Bost was acting, then the Golden Globe goes to…
Comment by One to the Dome Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 8:44 am
Politicians often try to do things so that voters remember their name on election day. Walker walked from one end of the state to the other decades ago. It got him a lot of free news coverage and each time they would interview him it was almost a free campaign commercial.
The Bost rant did much the same thing, everybody soon remembered his name.
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 8:55 am
I hope mike is rehearsing a new rant! D.C. Needs to hear one or two!
Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 9:02 am
I thought it was common knowledge that Bost was doing a bit. That’s been pointed out here many times by more than one commenter. Not sure why he would deny that.
And no, it wasn’t great acting.
As long as we’re dispelling creation myths, the Rick Santelli tea party rant on the floor of the Merc was a bit, too. That’s also common knowledge in the taverns around LaSalle and Jackson. Dude wanted to create a brand identity.
Along the same lines of acting sophistication of Bost and Santelli, the WWE is a bit, too. They’re not real wrestlers. They wouldn’t last a minute on the mat with your average IHSA wrestler.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 9:02 am
==Dude wanted to create a brand identity.==
Santelli created a brand identity alright. It’s called yelling. Every time he gives one of his goofy reports on CNBC, he screams it.
Earth to Rick Santelli: We know you’re auditioning for Fox News on a daily basis. If one of their current, ahem, talent ever blows up their larynx, I’m sure they’ll give you a call. In the meantime, stop yelling. Thanks.
Comment by Roamin' Numeral Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 9:13 am
It was a “bit” - 100%
Did he rehearse it? Dunno.
Was it …staged…to be improved… Yeah, cause it was a “bit”, 100%.
That was his role in the Caucus; try to be Bill Black. No one will BE Bill Black, but try to take that role.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 9:18 am
Vanilla Man is spot on.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 9:22 am
Jay Hoffman did the exact same thing in the Spring 1995 session when Daniels had 18 shell bills passed on one vote.
Bost was a freshman then.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 9:53 am
To add: Jay’s definitely was not rehearsed.
Either way it is bad form in a legislative body.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 9:55 am
The reality is while did rehearse it still looked like the Bozo bean Bag Toss…all one needs to do is watch the staff behind laughing at him to know this was staged
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 9:56 am
==Either way it is bad form in a legislative body.==
Meh. As long as they aren’t hitting anybody or attacking some individual viciously and personally then I think it’s ok to have a blow up every now and then.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 10:01 am
===Jay Hoffman did the exact same thing in the Spring 1995 session===
And pretty much once every year since.
Just saying…
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 10:02 am
Bost used to yell on a pretty regular basis. It was part of what he assumed a “floor leader” was supposed to do. That’s why no one in the House took much notice, except to cover their ears when he got too close to the mic. He had the volume, but no where near the style or content of a Bill Black. This one was just more spectacular and used a good prop. Pure theater.
Vanilla Man’s statement might be true in the abstract, but it doesn’t apply in this case.
Comment by walker Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 10:08 am
Right after the “scream/rant” Bost was called a raving lunatic. During the campaign he was called unfit for office, because of the “scream/rant”.
Now, as a newly sworn in Congressman he called one of the greatest actors in the history of Illinois. Look for special category award at this years Academy Awards to be given to Bost.
Comment by Apocalypse Now Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 10:09 am
One of the best parts of the rant story was Bost’s opponent running ads that replayed that rant. I felt right then that Bost would easily win, as the D.C. consultant class running the opponent’s campaign completely misunderstood the local environment.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 10:19 am
So what if it was? Politicians are all actors to a greater or lesser extent. They are real when they get home.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 10:22 am
Winston Churchill once said, it takes at least two weeks to write a good impromptu speech, so what’s your point?
Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 10:25 am
I believe Bost that it was genuine.
Personality isn’t practice
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 10:33 am
I can’t hold this in any longer!!! Hey rotten burg political report, LET MY PEOPLE GO!!!!
Comment by William j Kelly Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 11:05 am
He had no problem voting for pork for 18 years, but suddenly he’d had enough? Yeah, I can understand the skepticism.
Comment by econ prof Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 11:14 am
Rich -
I think we need a new Horseshoe category for best floor rant/speech
Comment by New Category Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 11:48 am
=== Sounds like he didn’t rehearse enough since he forgot to take the binder clip off the papers. ===
It was the prop man’s fault.
To the post. He must have rehearsed well enough to become elected to congress.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 11:53 am
At econ prof - Bost’s remarks had nothing to do with “pork”, they were about a gun bill. And how much “pork” have Republicans been allowed to vote on over the past several years? Also, he was well known to yell on the house floor. If the rant was rehearsed, it would have made more sense. It wasn’t rehearsed, or planned, or anything of the sort.
Comment by anonymous Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 11:55 am
I spotted Bost and his wife at a Carbondale restaurant just before the holidays and took the opportunity to chat with him for a bit and offer congratulations on his election victory…even though I didn’t vote for him. Such a gracious and down-to-earth guy. Despite his rants,real or rehearsed, I do believe he’ll represent Southern Illinois well.
Comment by Deep South Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 12:02 pm
Bost got it from Jay. I hope it doesn’t become a precedent for ambitious politicians.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 1:03 pm
Absolutely correct about the mopes at the DCCC running the ad. Great job, DC guys. You reminded their voters how much Bost was standing up for them.
Total fail by DCCC running the ad.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 1:06 pm
“I’m not a phony jerk! I’m a genuine jerk!”
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Thursday, Jan 8, 15 @ 1:47 pm