Boehner's Barnyard Mystery

So... John Boehner's office is now saying that the AP is wrong and the minority leader didn't -- technically -- call Barack Obama "Chicken s*** " for voting "present" in the Illinois state Senate.

It's a regular chicken s*** storm.

Here's the quote, which Ben posted yesterday, via a student journo:

"Now, listen, I've voted 'present' two or three times in my entire 25-year political career, where there might have been a conflict of interest and I didn't feel like I should vote," Boehner said. "In Congress, we have a red button, a green button and a yellow button, alright. Green means 'yes,' red means 'no,' and yellow means you're a chicken s***.

"And the last thing we need in the White House, in the oval office, behind that big desk, is some chicken who wants to push this yellow button."

The AP picked it up this morning under this lede:

House Republican leader John Boehner has used a vulgar expression to refer to Democrat Barack Obama and his voting record in the Illinois Legislature.

Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith, in e-mail to us after we posted the AP version, objects.

“Despite what some inaccurate reports may say, Boehner never used an expletive to refer to Sen. Obama. He did have some choice words for his penchant for voting ‘present’ in the Illinois state legislature in order to avoid tough decisions and difficult votes. You don’t have that option when you’re President of the United States.”

Boehner's reasoning had us back in freshman logic class, which we aced. With a "C."

Premise 1: Pushing the yellow button is "chicken s***."

Premise 2: Barack Obama pushed the yellow button a lot. .

Ergo: Barack Obama is not a "chicken s***."

Huh?