Boehner Land': DNC Launches Campaign to Vilify House Minority Leader

Here's the lead on the main story on The New York Times:

Democrats are again stepping up their effort to elevate Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio into a symbol of the Republican Party virtually equivalent to the elephant. And in doing so, they are executing a strategy intended to do more than just provide President Obama and his party with a convenient punching bag.

Here's the ad:

Here's the the thinking behind the strategy:

The Democratic effort goes beyond introducing Mr. Boehner to a public mostly unfamiliar with a man who has been in and out of the House Republican leadership over the last 16 years. Democratic officials say the Boehner offensive is a calculated, multitiered plan put in place to achieve several objectives.

They said that with his long career in Washington and role in leading the party in the 1990s and again recently, Mr. Boehner could easily be painted as representing the old-style Republican rule that turned voters off in 2006 and 2008. Democrats say his long tenure could also diminish enthusiasm among Tea Party activists and others who want to clean house in the House.

Democrats also hope that by treating Mr. Boehner as the new head of the party, they can drive a wedge between him and other ambitious Republicans who see the coming election as their moment to shine as well, causing friction and disharmony on the issues.

And get ready for more!

With news organizations and other groups closely examining Mr. Boehner’s background and record because of his potential rise to power, Democrats say they have laid the groundwork for using any potentially damaging material that turns up by putting Mr. Boehner in the spotlight.