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Democrats are really sad that John Boehner is resigning. Conservatives are thrilled.

By Andrew Prokop
Obama and Boehner after the Friends of Ireland luncheon in March 2015.
Obama and Boehner after the Friends of Ireland luncheon in March 2015.
Jim Watson / AFP / Getty
Andrew Prokop is a senior politics correspondent at Vox, covering the White House, elections, and political scandals and investigations. He’s worked at Vox since the site’s launch in 2014, and before that, he worked as a research assistant at the New Yorker’s Washington, DC, bureau.

John Boehner's combative, difficult five-year speakership has been marked by many conflicts with Democrats. But his most bitter fights were with conservatives in his own party, whose opposition to his leadership spurred his decision to resign.

That's evident in the statements members of both parties are making about Boehner today. Democrats like President Obama, Harry Reid, and Chuck Schumer are showering him with praise — as are mainstream, establishment Republicans. But conservatives — particularly some outspoken 2016 presidential candidates like Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and even Marco Rubio — tend to be glad he's leaving, with some sounding positively joyful at his departure.

All this makes sense. Boehner was not even close to being a liberal, but he was viewed by Democrats overall as a Republican they could work with — which is just what infuriated the right.

Democrats think Boehner is a great guy

Mainstream, establishment Republicans also praised Boehner

Outsiders and conservatives weren't as generous

VIDEO: John Boehner's resignation press conference

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