Speaker of the House John Boehner defended his conservative bona fides Thursday, arguing during a press conference that it pains him to be described as a squish by members of his own party.

His comments, directed at the conservative wing of the GOP, come days after 25 members of his own party, many of whom argue he is not sufficiently conservative, voted against him for speaker. Boehner still won re-election.

"During my years here when I voted, I had the eighth most conservative voting record in the Congress," Boehner said Thursday, rebutting the conservative criticism. "And it does pain me to be described as spineless or a squish."