WASHINGTON — House Republicans were the ones weeping yesterday when they re-elected a teary-eyed Speaker John Boehner to the chamber’s top post.

Boehner, who two years ago blubbered when House Republicans unanimously elected him speaker, this time suffered an embarrassing mini-revolt in which nine Republicans broke ranks to vote for someone else.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, the No. 2 House Republican who had been seen as Boehner’s chief rival, got three votes, but loudly backed Boehner (Ohio) in the roll call.

Boehner’s authority has suffered a series of setbacks, especially among conservatives who complain that he failed to force major spending cuts during the fiscal-cliff negotiations.

“We just can’t keep going the way we’re going,” said Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), who voted against him.

Boehner’s opponents failed to get 17 GOP votes needed to force a second ballot and knock him out of the contest, Jones admitted.

Boehner still got a little choked up during his acceptance speech.

“We are sent here not to be something, but to do something – to do the right thing,” he said, pulling out a handkerchief.

The speaker vowed to tackle federal spending and debt.