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CULL

Boehner Purges Conservatives From Committees

Conservative grassroots now calling to 'purge Boehner'

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: AP

On Monday afternoon John Boehner quietly ejected some of the most conservative members from their posts on influential congressional committees.

David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Walter Jones (R-NC) were expelled from the Financial Services Committee, and Justin Amash (R-MI) and Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) were jettisoned from the Budget Committee. They were given the boot in part because their "votes were not in lockstep with leadership," as Rep. Schweikert was told.

Rep. Huelskamp, elected in the 2010 Tea Party surge, responded with a passionate screed against his party's leaders: "The GOP leadership might think they have silenced conservatives, but removing me and others from key committees only confirms our conservative convictions. This is...a sure sign that the GOP Establishment cannot handle disagreement."

Boehner's stealthy coup has been met with dismay on the right. For some groups it's signalled the start of outright warfare. Heritage Action, FreedomWorks, and Club for Growth all condemned Boehner and promised to redouble their support for the booted congressmen.

And last night conservative activists on Twitter were baying for the Speaker's blood via the hashtag #PurgeBoehner:

@BernardKingIII: Boehner is teaching the principled tea partiers that the small gov't & cutting spending is all a lie for election season. #PurgeBoehner.

@niceninja: As a Conservative...THIS makes me TOTALLY SICK...and makes me wonder what EXACTLY the new GOP is up to!! #PurgeBoehner.

Via Politico, Rollcall, and Twitter.
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Is this a sign that Boehner is planning compromise on the fiscal cliff?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • DerivePI
    !
    Boehner has already signalled a willingness to compromise by recognizing that additional revenue (ie taxes) must be on the table. However, Obama, recognizing an opportunity to paint the GOP as bad for the country, is requiring congress to pass higher taxes, more spending and an end to congressional control over the debt ceiling. Effectively, Obama is manuevering congress into a stalemate for political gains.
  • PoliticalSpice
    !
    Well yes, but also this: Boehner has the notion he can get something close to the same deal they rejected. They humiliated Obama when he was willing to deal. Now, Obama has been re-elected, and with that comes the fact that the political proce for the deal has gone up. If that is not done what deters them from doing this again. The price went up because they didn't take thr original offer. Anyone who watches politicd would expect this to happen, to parphrase W, by being re-elected obama has earned political capital, and now he's gonna spend it...
  • DerivePI
    !
    @PoliticalSpice - the only problem with your statement is that the names are interchangable, which invalidates your argument.
  • PoliticalSpice
    !
    @DerivePI
    What determines whose argument is invalis is not what you or Ithink, but which person gets a deal closer to what they seek in Washinton. Time will tell, but if I were Sheldon Adler I wouldn't bet $150,000.00 on Boehner.
  • DerivePI
    !
    @PoliticalSpice - I'll try to remove some of the emotions that are clouding your thinking:
    ---
    Statement 1 = "A" got re-elected, therefore (because he got re-elected) "A" can dictate to "B" the terms of a renegotiation.
    ---
    Statement 2 = "B" got re-elected, therefore (because he got re-elected) "B" can dictate to "A" the terms of a renegotiation.
    ---
    Statement 1 and Statement 2 can't both be true at the same time.
  • PoliticalSpice
    !
    @DerivePI
    Like I said, it doesn't matter what you think or what I think. The determining factor that decides this is who wins this in Washington. I'm betting it will be Obama, but frankly, I'm rooting for the tea party to derail the deal, cause I want the 50 percent defense cuts and higher tax rate for millionaires to go into effect. I think then it will streanthen the left dems to force Obama to do better then is his inclination.
  • View all 9 replies >
  • DARSB
    !
    His immediate goal is to avoid the fiscal cliff and the damage it would wreak on his party. In the longer term, though, he must impose discipline on his entire caucus.

    During the debt ceiling crisis last summer, which lead directly to today's crisis, Speaker Boehner was unable to close a deal with the President when the Teapartistas elected in the midterms of 2010 threw tantrums, held their breath, and generally behaved like the naive ideologues they were. Our credit rating downgrade was a direct result.

    A weakened GOP must have solidarity if it wants to have any say over the next two years' legislation.
  • u
    Hireman
    !
    Ironically, the Teapartistas claimed raising the debt ceiling was irresponsible and voted against it... the same thing the president did while Bush was in office. Odd how the Tea Party is now blamed for much of the same ideology (raising the debt ceiling is destructive) that the president and the Dems had only 4 years prior.
  • DARSB
    !
    @Hireman There's "blame" and there's being "held responsible," which is what Standard and Poor did in its downgrade announcement.
  • u
    Hireman
    !
    @DARSB Their announcement was not based on two years, but 10. So there's no difference. It's just currently convenient to blame the TP as many have forgotten that they have the same stance the Dems had in 2006.
  • View all 40 replies >
  • Jean
    !
    He is starting what will likely be the end of the Republican Party....or you might call it the formation of the 2nd Democratic Party. Conservatism has been the platform OF the Republican party. It is the reason i left the Democratic party and went to the Republican party. now the decision makers of the Republican party want to "cash in" on the liberal domains that have been historically going to the Democrats as they feel this is their way to "win" elections. After all, winning to them and keeping their power and control is all both parties are after...not true concern for any of the electorate. I think the new slogan for both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party should be "Electorate be damned".

    Leaving their Conservative base behind (as they did in this last election) will eventually lead to a third, very active, and strong party. Bash the Tea Party all you want as it is your right to speak out according to our Constitution, but also don't go crying when a third party forms and the Republican party is left out in the cold.

    The liberal people within the Republican Party have run "moderate" candidates the last several elections....how is that workin' for you?

    The Republican Party can continue to ignore their Conservative base to their own demise.
  • o
    woodtick57
    !
    I would disagree, it is that the far right wing evangelicals have left the true conservatives behind in their headlong rush to insanity....

    After a point, being further right doesn't make one 'more conservative' it makes them more radical...
  • Jean
    !
    @woodtick57
    you are entitled by our Constitution to think and to say that the far right are radical. I am an active member of our local Tea party and they are the least radical people I have ever known. Down to earth , fact backed people. These are the people who could have won the election for the Republicans and for Romney if they had turned out to vote. Many of them did not because they were merely voting for what they considered the lesser of two evils. Remember the 2010 elections and how many Tea Party candidates were elected?
    they are the Republican "base"! Running moderates is not working. it is simple.....if they continue to do so they will lose their base as they did in this last election.
  • o
    woodtick57
    !
    @Jean

    Yes, i remember. most of them ran on far right social stances.

    regardless of any constitution, the far right would be radical by the definition.

    In my state, the republicans took both houses in 2010 for the first time in decades. they rode on the tea party stance of smaller gov't and jobs. jobs , jobs, but once in office, they spent all their time pushing amendments for bigger gov't like anti-SSM and IDs for voting. they were voted out this last november....

    radical right...
  • Jean
    !
    @woodtick57

    if the Republican party stays on that pipe dream...the Tea Party will just have to work harder and form their own party. Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum, Allen West etc.etc. would make a great start.

    it can happen....and it is not going to hold water anymore to say that they will only split the vote and put the Democrats back in as the Republican party cannot win an election with the both of the Democrats hands tied behind their back.....

    people get tired of being placated in order to try and obtain their vote.
  • o
    woodtick57
    !
    @Jean

    Well, Palin is done in politics outside of a mouthpiece no-one takes seriously. Santorum is not electable as we don't want a theocracy in the US, and West just lost. Great leaders....

    Good luck!
  • View all 6 replies >
  • u
    Realthinker
    !
    @PoliticalSpice Well yes, obviously. I miss being in Boehner's district by just a few miles and attend church in his district. I know the people and they are not happy about this.
  • u
    RobertJHarsh
    !
    Looks like Mr. Boehner has been reading my comments on Politix. What was the first thing I said to do? Oh yeah...flush the tea partiers/neocons and the ultra right xitians from the party. I still say let the "fiscal cliff" happen and do not raise taxes on the 1%'ers...not unless you want to them to leave the US in 10 years for a better life.
  • Dan_Tien
    !
    Ha ha ha... You remind of Twitter users who seem to think that world events balance on the change of their profile pics.
  • u
    RobertJHarsh
    !
    @Dan_Tien I am not that shallow....but what are the logical steps to fix the GOP...what I outlined a couple of weeks ago. Oh and the title "Boehner Purges Conservatives From Committees" is not accurate. I checked and the people Boehner is firing are neocon/tea partty scumbags....NOT conservatives.
  • u
    cpeter133
    !
    Teabaggers are not conservatives; they are neoconservatives and have nothing to do with true conservatism. Even Boehner understands that as long as these fanatics are involved, no progress can be made.
  • bsking
    !
    I don't think you know what you're talking about. boehner is one of those pink panty wearing , teary eyed metro sexuals that has been in Washington for way too long.
    that's why the left likes him, he is just like them and can cry like a baby at the drop of a hat. no , people like him need to go, his type is exactly the problem with the GOP.
  • u
    AceLuby
    !
    @bsking The 'left' doesn't like Boehner... why is it that whenever someone falls out of the far right of the party, you and people like you come out and start declaring that they were liberals the entire time and that liberals love them. If you truly want to look at what's wrong w/ the GOP as a whole, you should start there.
  • bsking
    !
    @AceLuby the left loves him because he's a crybaby and weak they appreciate that they respect weakness it's an admirable trait for the left. it doesn't really matter because its gonna make things a whole lot worse we're going over to cliff and Obamas driving .
  • u
    AceLuby
    !
    @bsking Again... and I'll go a bit slower this time.

    The 'left'
    doesn't
    love
    Boehner

    And last time Boehner cried the 'left' called him a crybaby while the right said he was 'sensitive'. Just another example of you and your ilk turning on someone at the drop of a hat.
  • View all 8 replies >
  • Kptpredsfan
    !
    @bsking I really don't think many on the left like Boehner. I can say for a fact that I do not. If he wanted to please the left, he would have been a democrat. :-)
  • DogLady_1
    !
    The "two-party" system IS the facade... our constitution does not support partisan politics... congress is bi-CAMERAL... NOT bi-partisan. Any elected member of congress has the freedom to vote his/her own conscience regardless of party affiliation. It is high time our press stopped its lopsided reporting and acknowledge the existence of other political philosophies... The press has been very instrumental in misinforming the People... and they are supposed to work for the People!
  • DogLady_1
    !
    Since when do congressmen have to be in "lock-step" with other congressmen??? Are their votes not equal? Are they not individuals who represent exclusive disricts of the people? Hegemony is antithetical to a republic... Shut up Boehner, and get out the way... you and your ilk are a hindrance to democracy...
  • o
    Big-R
    !
    This is all the more proof that Boehner is only looking out for his job as speaker. By removing someone who is not "In lock step with leadership" shows he does not have all of the public in mind. Only what will allow him to keep his job. Time for Boehner's constituents to get rid of him. Hopefully there is a solid Democrat or third party member to challenge him.
  • u
    IMAQT
    !
    "John Boehner quietly ejected some of the most conservative members from their posts on influential congressional committees." Good move John after all why would you want your most conservative to help lead your party? You need to continue to support the least conservative members of your party as evidenced here. As a supporter of limited government, this is just one more reason why I cannot support the so called party that says they support limited government. Perhaps one day, the GOP will embrace the libertarian wing of their party as much as they support the pro life folks.
  • Thegrif
    !
    It could mean that Boehner is thinking that for the betterment of the people of the United State, he needs to give a little since Obama and the Dems will not, funny part is that's exactly what Obama should have done. Obama however has behaved like a spoiled child, not a leader of the people, for the people.
    I'm not a huge fan of Boehner either, but in this case I may change my opinion.
  • PNWest
    !
    As a long time observer of GOP politics I can tell you this. This has really gotten a rise out of the Tea Partiers. They will definitely stand firm. Since it is unlikely that they will be screwed I expect them to pull Boehner.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    Boehner sees the handwriting on the wall. The Tea Party will not compromise and will take this govt down if they can. That's not in the best interests of Boehner.
  • harold
    !
    He's bowing to reality.
    Intransigent tea baggers, as it turns out, did not do well in congress.
    Governance requires reasonable compromise, and they never learned that lesson.
  • Keyjo
    !
    I think the Tea Party should simply organize itself as a third, inconsequential, political party. Boehner has finally applied Preperation H in an effort to reign in those who have become hemorrhoids to the G.O.P. and a stone around the neck of the Nation. I believe the Tea Party is much to blame for the stalemate in Congress.
    Glad Boehner has finally grown a pair.
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