John LeBoutillier

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John LeBoutillier (born May 26, 1953) is an Internet columnist and a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

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[edit] Childhood and early adulthood

LeBoutillier was born in Glen Cove, New York, to Thomas LeBoutillier (1913-1979) and the former Pamela Tower (born 1921). His father, a member of a prominent family, died while playing golf. Pamela LeBoutillier was the daughter of Roderick Tower (1892-1961) and the former Flora Whitney, a member of the New York Whitney family who was also descended from the Vanderbilts. Mrs. LeBoutillier was a distant cousin of U.S. Senator John G. Tower (1925-1991), a Texas Republican.

John LeBoutillier graduated from the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts, in 1971. In 1976, he obtained his bachelor of arts degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He received his Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1979.

In 1974, LeBoutillier worked in the campaign of former Vietnam War prisoner of war Leo K. Thorsness, a South Dakota Republican who failed in a bid to unseat liberal U.S. Senator George McGovern. LeBoutillier said that he raised more money from his room at Harvard for the Thorsness campaign than was accummulated from the entire state of South Dakota. As a result of this campaign, LeBoutillier has since placed a high priority on POW issues.

Out of college, LeBoutillier wrote the book Harvard Hates America, a work similar in theme to William F. Buckley's 1950 God and Man at Yale.

[edit] Member of Congress

LeBoutillier was elected to Congress in 1980, on the coattails of Ronald Reagan. LeBoutiller represented New York's 6th congressional district from January 3, 1981, until January 3, 1983. After redistricting in 1982, he unsuccessfully ran for re-election against Robert J. Mrazek in the 3rd district. After his single undistinguished term, he did not again seek public office. LeBoutillier is a resident of Old Westbury, New York.

As a congressman, LeBoutillier gave a speech in which he pronounced then House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill of Massachusetts and the federal government as a whole as "big, fat, and out of control." He attacked members of his own party, including the liberal Republican senator from Illinois, Charles Harting Percy. LeBoutillier ridiculed the popular Percy as "a living disaster with almost no redeeming features." He was then admonished by future First Lady Barbara Bush and counseled by his mentor, then U.S. Representative Jack French Kemp, to "tone it down."

In 1983, LeBoutillier was fined $7,000 by the Federal Election Commission for violating Federal election laws during the course of his 1980 congressional campaign. With contributions by individuals limited to $1,000 per person, LeBoutillier accepted a $200,500 contribution from his mother. LeBoutillier's mother was also fined $7,000.

[edit] Online commentator

In 2002, LeBoutillier spearheaded an effort to create a "Counter Clinton" Presidential Library, alongside former President William Jefferson Clinton's presidential Library in Little Rock. The proposal attracted little interest, even from many conservatives. Plans for the library were shelved in early 2005 after little money was raised for the project.

In recent years, LeBoutillier has emerged as a harsh critic of the George W. Bush administration. He has challenged the administration on its Iraqi War policies and the failure to halt the tide of illegal immigration. He is also strongly opposed to the potential nomination in 2008 of U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona for the Republican presidential nomination. In columns published in the summer of 2006, LeBoutillier predicted the Democratic takeover of both houses of Congress.

LeBoutillier writes a regular column for the website NewsMax. He is currently a regular contributor to George Galloway's radio show on TalkSport, providing a commentary on the American elections.

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Preceded by
Lester L. Wolff		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 6th congressional district
1981–1983		 Succeeded by
Robert J. Mrazek

[edit] Sources