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John Boehner Brings Down Conservatives' Wrath in Wake of Committee Firings
The New American ^ | 05 December 2012 | Joe Wolverton, II, J.D.

Posted on 12/05/2012 5:21:47 PM PST by VitacoreVision



Conservative groups are attacking Speaker of the House John Boehner for his decision to boot constitutionalist representatives off the Budget Committee.

John Boehner Brings Down Conservatives' Wrath in Wake of Committee Firings


The New American
05 December 2012


When he kicked Representatives Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) off the Budget Committee, Speaker of the House John Boehner (shown), a Republican from Ohio, also kicked up a firestorm of controversy, riling up the libertarian wing of the GOP.

On Tuesday, for example, liberty-minded activists from FreedomWorks and Young Americans for Liberty visited Speaker Boehner‘s office “to register their dissapointment over the removal of Representatives Justin Amash, David Schweikert & Tim Huelskamp from their committee assignments.”

Young Americans for Liberty is the “largest, most active, and fastest-growing pro-liberty organization on America's college campuses. With more than 300 chapters and 26,000 student activists nationwide, YAL seeks to recruit, train, educate, and mobilize students on the ideals of liberty and the Constitution.”

Upon arriving at the speaker’s office, a Boehner spokesman refused to answer the protestors’ complaints, relying on the safety of the “armed guards” that surrounded the group.

Other, less libertarian conservative groups are also calling Boehner out for his decision to exile Amash, Huelskamp, and others. Politico reports:

Heritage Action accused Boehner of trying to find “creative ways to fund” President Barack Obama’s “big-government agenda.” The group also compared Boehner with someone who notoriously broke his no-tax pledge: the nation’s 41st president.

“In 1990, President George H.W. Bush broke his solemn pledge: ‘read my lips: no new taxes,’” Heritage Action wrote in the email to supporters. “It cost him the election. In more than 20 years since, congressional Republicans have avoided making the same mistake. And now, as our nation’s economy is struggling to produce growth, our leaders in Congress are about to make precisely the wrong decision.”

Club for Growth also bashed Boehner, but encouraged Amash and company, reminding them that their banishment from committee assignments left them “free of the last remnants of establishment leverage against them.”

The hits just keep on coming. FreedomWorks, one of the core of the so-called Tea Party groups, described the move by Boehner and the GOP Steering Committee a “remarkably hostile act by leadership.”

In a letter to Speaker Boehner, FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe writes: "We applaud these three constitutional guardians for taking principled stands against bloated bills that would cripple our economy and add to our national debt. These men are voting the way that they promised their constituents they would — on principle. I strongly urge you to restore Congressmen Amash, Huelskamp, and Schweikert to their respective committees."

And there was this from Erick Erickson, founder of the Red State blog, referencing not only Boehner’s booting of Amash, Huelskamp, and others from their committee assignments, but the speaker’s recent embrace of tax hikes as an acceptable option in finding a solution to the fall off the “fiscal cliff”:

Yesterday the three of them purged fiscal conservatives from committees as punishment for being authentically fiscal conservatives.

On the same day John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Kevin McCarthy punished fiscal conservatives for standing up for their convictions, they sold out their own convictions by agreeing to raise taxes by $800 billion. They intend to seem reasonable to the press in negotiations with the White House. They’re going through an elaborate kabuki dance, but they’ll get blamed nonetheless.

Pointing their fingers as fiscal conservatives now punished, casting them out as scape goats, will do nothing to woo the media or the White House, but we should be thankful. We should absolutely be thankful for these three men.

As the sun rises this morning we can look at John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Kevin McCarthy and know the opposition is not just across the aisle, but in charge of our own side in the House of Representatives. All the time and energy I would otherwise have to spend to convince conservatives that these gentlemen would be a problem for the GOP has been spared. They’ve proven it themselves.

“Conservatives must seek retribution or become the paper tiger John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Kevin McCarthy just declared them to be,” Erickson added.

Boehner has so far ignored the backlash from his heavy-handed purge of members of his party that refuse to demonstrate blind obedience to his every declaration.

Amash, however, hasn’t gone gentle into that good night. Tuesday night, the social-media savvy congressman released the following statement on his Facebook page:

Rumor has it that I’ve been removed from the House Committee on the Budget. Remarkably, I still have not received a single call, e-mail, or text from Republican leadership confirming this story. In fact, I wouldn’t even have learned about it if not for the news reports. I look forward to hearing from my party’s leadership about why my principled, conservative voting record offends them. That’s sure to be a lively and entertaining conversation.

In the meantime, I can only speculate as to what specifically would make Republican leadership punish several of its party’s most principled members. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, who was kicked off of both Budget and the Committee on Agriculture, voted with me against the 2013 House budget resolution because it does not sufficiently address the federal government’s debt crisis. That was one of only three times during this Congress that I voted against the Chairman’s recommendations in committee. In fact, I voted with the Republican Chairman more than 95% of the time, and I have voted with my party’s leadership more than three-quarters of the time on the House floor.

What message does leadership’s heavy-handedness send? It says that independent thinking won’t be tolerated, not even 5% of the time. It says that voting your conscience won’t be respected. It says that fulfilling your commitment to your constituents to work with both Republicans and Democrats to reduce our debt takes a back seat to the desires of corporate special interests. And, most troubling for our party, it says to the growing number of young believers in liberty that their views are not welcome here.

I’ll miss working with my colleagues on Budget. I don’t relish this situation, but if one thing is clear based on the response from the grassroots, it’s that leadership’s actions will backfire. If they think kicking me off of a committee will lead me to abandon my principles or stifle my bipartisan work toward a balanced budget, I have a message for them: You’re dead wrong.

To his credit, Huelskamp is going down swinging, as well. He writes:

Kansans who sent me to Washington did so to change the way things are done — not to provide cover for Establishment Republicans who only give lip service to conservative principles. If the rest of America is anything like the 700,000 Kansans I represent, then they know that the fiscal and cultural crises facing our nation require drastic changes to the way things are done in Washington — not just symbolic gestures or more of the same.

Finally, Daniel Horowitz reckons that the Republican establishment’s reign of terror will continue until all who will not take the metaphorical loyalty oath are cut off from the GOP. “This is just the opening salvo in a long war,” Horowitz writes. “House leaders have made it clear that they will punish conservatives for standing by their election promises. All conservatives in the House need to band together on this because anyone could be next.”

By their fruits ye shall know them. Boehner now has shown unmistakably that he will not tolerate colleagues who place fidelity to their oath of office above toeing the party line.

SOURCE:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/13837-boehner-brings-down-conservatives-wrath-in-wake-of-committee-firings


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: conservativepurge; freedomworks; johnboehner; justinamash
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1 posted on 12/05/2012 5:21:57 PM PST by VitacoreVision
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To: VitacoreVision
I wonder how much time Boner spends in the tanning salon?

I bet he likes those interns.

2 posted on 12/05/2012 5:23:10 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state." - Cornelius Tacitus, Roman Senator)
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To: VitacoreVision

Time for him to go.

Change we can believe in.


3 posted on 12/05/2012 5:25:57 PM PST by Jeff Winston
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To: VitacoreVision

Hows does that sniveling Stump get to be the Speaker? Its become all so unbearable what goes on in DC. A bit like torture I dare say!


4 posted on 12/05/2012 5:28:35 PM PST by tflabo (Truth or Tyranny)
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To: VitacoreVision
“House leaders have made it clear that they will punish conservatives for standing by their election promises. All conservatives in the House need to band together on this because anyone could be next.”

If some among you fear taking a stand because you are afraid of reprisals from customers, clients, or even government, recognize that you are just feeding the crocodile hoping he’ll eat you last.

- Ronald Reagan

5 posted on 12/05/2012 5:33:09 PM PST by Kenny (<p)
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To: VitacoreVision
I'm being a little distant from all tis drama because I see no good end for pubs....

but what'll you all say about kicking Boner out in primary....???

6 posted on 12/05/2012 5:33:26 PM PST by cherry
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To: VitacoreVision

Some world-class pastry chef should create a festive holiday confection in honor of John Boehner called the orange bendover.


7 posted on 12/05/2012 5:39:25 PM PST by SpaceBar
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To: VitacoreVision

With slugs like Boehner representing us we don’t need enemies like Obama....but....we’ve got both. What a pathetic shame.


8 posted on 12/05/2012 5:39:52 PM PST by Ed Story
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To: VitacoreVision

Supposedly, Retraeus’ and Allen’s e-mails came from the place in Utah. Leaked to put Benghazi out of the picture.

Which means the dirt on whoever is hip deep and rising. There at the NSA. And 0ba/Jarrett’s office.


9 posted on 12/05/2012 5:43:45 PM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
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To: VitacoreVision
Johnny, Take a vacation...

You NEED IT!

10 posted on 12/05/2012 5:44:19 PM PST by jaz.357 (Welcome to hell. Here's your accordion.)
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To: VitacoreVision

If the GOP won’t vote him out of leadership, scandal his sorry a$$ out.


11 posted on 12/05/2012 5:51:31 PM PST by tennmountainman
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To: tflabo



Michelle Malkin, Twitter:

Can we get #FireBoehner trending? It's time to take back the GOP.

12 posted on 12/05/2012 6:03:45 PM PST by VitacoreVision
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To: VitacoreVision
John Boehner Brings Down Conservatives' Wrath in Wake of Committee Firings

The headline writer clearly displays a gift for understatement.

.

13 posted on 12/05/2012 6:05:38 PM PST by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: Kenny

Absolutely - Time for Boehner to go.

Conservatives in the house should make a stand. Pick a conservative for Speaker (I say Alan West) and inform him the X votes will be cast for that conservative for speaker.

Boehner can either get on board, or the Dems will elect Speaker Pelosi.

Hardball - Conservatives in the House need to play it now. Boehner tried to play hardball against conservatives first. He needs to be sent to the dugout.


14 posted on 12/05/2012 6:08:35 PM PST by Triple (Socialism denies people the right to the fruits of their labor, and is as abhorrent as slavery)
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To: VitacoreVision

It appears that Boehner listened to too many reports of the demise of the Tea party.

We aint quite dead yet John.


15 posted on 12/05/2012 6:11:11 PM PST by Venturer
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To: VitacoreVision

I’ll tell you what, the GOP had better not be calling me begging for a donation any time soon...this bunch of back-stabbing sob’s aren’t getting a red cent from me...


16 posted on 12/05/2012 6:14:51 PM PST by little-e (I'm not a racist, I hate Biden too..)
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To: tflabo
Hows does that sniveling Stump get to be the Speaker? Its become all so unbearable what goes on in DC. A bit like torture I dare say!

It was his turn. That's how the GOPe operates. You pick the fleas off the butts from the ones ahead of the pecking order, until you're on top and others are picking them off YOUR butt.

17 posted on 12/05/2012 6:18:19 PM PST by COBOL2Java (GOPe: Already prepping for their 2016 loss - Jeb Bush!)
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To: VitacoreVision

It is past time to dump that miserable coward, drunk, and crybaby. We need Newt Gingrich for the next speaker of the house.


18 posted on 12/05/2012 7:00:07 PM PST by matthew fuller (Newt for the next Speaker of the House!)
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To: VitacoreVision

Hey wait a minute, does this mean that there are Democrats, Republicans...and yet conservatives? How can that be? I thought and have always heard that Republicans WERE conservative. I thought that the Democrats say all the ills of the universe are because of Republican conservative ideals? How is it possible that Republicans are blaming conservatives for the problems if they are one in the same?

And now no one is deceived anymore and must choose sides, follow the ungodly crowd or actively fight against this coalition that wants to destroy every vestige of Godliness from the land.


19 posted on 12/05/2012 7:07:28 PM PST by ResponseAbility (The truth of liberalism is the stupid can feel smart, the lazy entitled, and the immoral unashamed)
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To: Triple

Alan West ?


20 posted on 12/05/2012 7:11:12 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (In the game of life, there are no betting limits)
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