
(CNN) - House Republican Leader John Boehner is known for regularly poking fun at reporters about their hairstyles. But at his weekly press conference on Thursday he couldn't contain himself.
As he launched into his regular refrain about the Democrats' budget, saying it "spends too much, it taxes too much, and it borrows too much", he stopped himself - trying to hold back laughter during his own opening comments.
He quickly singled out a young print reporter, telling him, "You really do need to do something with that hair of yours." As reporters laughed, he joked, "I couldn't wait any longer."
He went on to finish his opening comments, but before calling on the same reporter, he teased, "Get a brush, would ya?"
The reporter had good sense of humor about the crack from the Ohio Republican, and shot back, "I'll get a haircut if you pay for it."
When Boehner called on the next reporter, he referred to him as "the bald guy."
But Boehner didn't confine his critique to male members of the Capitol press corps. When a female reporter, wearing her long hair pulled back, prefaced her question by joking that she hoped her hair was ok, Boehner couldn't resist: "You mean what's wadded up in the back of your head?"
Some reporters chuckled, but others thought the GOP leader was being a little harsh.
Boehner continued his hair assessment, saying, "It looks so nice hanging down. It looks like you got up a little late and decided that, you know, I just wadded up the back. For those of you that don't know about me and ponytails, males get it - males get it just as bad as females."
He then apologized to the reporter, joking "you started it," and let her ask her question on the budget.
With Congress about to start a two week recess, Boehner blamed the long stretch of six straight weeks in Washington for his punchy mood and attempt to have some fun with reporters. "That's why I'm trying to be humorous today to my friend who needs a brush and a friend who needs some hair," Boehner said.
As reporters walked out of the press conference, one asked Boehner's press secretary what she put in the Republican leader's coffee this morning.


Where to begin...Boehner needs to look at himself in the mirror. Helmet head, spray on hair isn't all that attractive either.
Just one more comment, Boner. Where in Ohio do you get a tan like that? From a can? Or, have you spent too much time at Bernie Madoff's mansion in Florida? Sure refreshing to know Republicans are more interested in hairdo's than fixing the economic mess you helped create.
Boehner carries a "bag of groceries" under each of his eyes and shouldn't be laughing at anybody. Just more proof there isn't too much of a brain under the hair on Boehner's head.
What a hamboned, jar-necked buffoon. This is the best that the GOP has? Barry Goldwater is rolling over in his grave so much that he has almost driven himself half way to China via middle Earth.
At lease he HAS hair John. Just goes to show you how nasty & sore losers these rethugs are.
The Republicans in office are really too much! Wow! Boehner no
Cary Grant or Frank Sinatra. WTH, this is why they will not win in 2012 simply because they really think they are the better people. There are nothing more than a bunch of crooks. Soemone should tell him to see a dermatogolist.
Why is this news? One of the reporters needs to make fun of his fake tan! This man never has anything to say that is worth listening to.
Someone should ask Boehner how many hours a week he spends in a tanning booth and why he is so vain.
The guy with the Rent-A-Tan is making fun of other folks looks?
The new GOP- Clueless and oblivious to irony!
Boner is so funny. I thnk it is time for him to cry again ... he is good at that now.
I wonder what Boehner would say if he met Blagoivich.
Gads, imagine what the screams would be like if a Democrat said anything like that! Boehner needs to get some Polident to glue his mouth shut, and maybe he'd save some stitches from the bite marks on his feet.
Earth to Boehner: the media can bite back, you know.
He and other Republicans don't have any answers for the crisis they put us all in....This is how he diverts speaking about real issues. He's very much like Bush! He's just an idiot.. I know you won't print this, but it's just the truth.
Not to be personal, but his own hair really irks me. It looks like that brown pile of plastic dog doo pranksters buy at joke shops.
This from the guy with the spray-on tan!!!
I guess if you don't have a budget or anything else to discuss ...make stupid hair insults?? Is that how it works?
Better take it easy on little Johnny...He is liable to start crying again........
All in good fun... but I still don't like Boehner.
Talk about a complete waste of time. Did the people actually elect his idiot? Is this the best he has to offer? What a loser.
Maybe the good Congressman should try looking in a mirror.
These repubs are always good for a few laffs...Like that time they release a budget with no numbers.
I laughed so hard, I cried...And then this week they release the budget with the the numbers
My goodness, they need to take this show on the road
Are we talking about he guy with the fake tan
can anyone say MELANOMA..which is what this perpetually tan man is headed for...
Mirrors are wonderful tools for those self righteous types don'tcha know.
Butt head has such nerve talking about anyone else. Has he looked in the mirror? He needs to consider hair club for men and he also needs to get another spray on product. The one he uses makes him look like an orange.
anything is better then that fake orange tan your sporting Boner