Boehner to 9,700 Ohio State graduates: Be humble

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner’s (BAY’-nurz) commencement speech to the largest graduating class in Ohio State University’s history was at times emotional and at times light-hearted.

The Cincinnati-area Republican choked up several times Sunday during his 8-minute address at Ohio Stadium, urging students to work hard, be humble and persevere. About 9,700 students received degrees, and 40,000 relatives and friends attended.

Boehner drew laughs with a joke about the name of a colleague involved in a scandal over lewd photos, saying his own name was often mispronounced. “Thank god it’s not Weiner,” he said.

The address otherwise steered clear of Washington politics.

A group of students and local activists had protested his appearance earlier, saying Republican budget proposals cut taxes to the wealthy while cutting money for schools, health care and clean energy.