If the "biggest accusation" is that he's pro-amnesty instead of just being part of the establishment, why weren't we hearing calls for Cantor's head on a platter back in 2007? George W. Bush was pushing for amnesty back then, and Cantor's record was nothing to write home about (voted in favor of rewarding illegal aliens from Mexico with Social Security benefits in 2004, voted against denying driver's licenses to illegal aliens in 2005, voted against the Tancredo amendment to end amnesty for illegals from central america in 2006, etc.)
I pointed out Cantor's record was meh at the time, but that didn't stop oodles of freepers from fawning over him because he's a "leader" and fantasizing about having him on a Presidential ticket.
Cantor did have a challenger in 2010 and 2008. There has been a simmering discontent with him for a LONG time. I have been vocal about it. But the low-info voters believed that Cantor was ok and didn’t want to risk losing the seat to a dem.
The GOP machine in the 7th is strong and Cantor controlled it until this year. Cantor and his minions tried to slate in his home county and we stopped him dead in the water. I was there and it was EPIC. And two weeks later, Cantor’s handpicked minion to chair the 7th district republican committee got handed his ass. I cannot emphasize how important these two events are. It’s a bit inside baseball but it shows just how vulnerable Cantor is. The cracks are starting to show and the dam is about to burst.
IMHO, the stars are aligned to term limit Cantor this year. A strong articulate candidate and an irate grassroots with no dem candidate. Cantor is worried. I know that in my core. He will pull out all the stops from now until June 10th but momentum is on Brat’s side.
Sadly, “meh at the time” was probably better than most of the leadership. Cantor used to sorta kinda stand up to the GOPe, right up until he became part of it. Now he’s no different than Lindsey or Thad or countless other two-faced squishes.