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Tom McClintock Resigns from House Freedom Caucus
Rep. McClintock ^ | 9/16/15 | Rep. Tom McClintock

Posted on 09/28/2015 5:05:58 AM PDT by 1010RD

September 16, 2015

Congressman Jim Jordan Chairman, House Freedom Caucus 1524 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515

HAND DELIVERED

Dear Jim:

When the House Freedom Caucus formed in January, I fervently hoped that it would provide responsible and effective leadership to advance conservative principles in the House of Representatives.

I know that every member of the HFC sincerely supports these principles, but as I have expressed on many occasions during our meetings, I believe the tactics the HFC has employed have repeatedly undermined the House’s ability to advance them. Allow me to review a few examples.

On February 27th, we faced the imminent shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security over the funding of Obama’s unlawful amnesty orders for illegal immigrants. Although the American people overwhelmingly opposed these orders, they also overwhelmingly opposed shutting down DHS. House Republicans attempted to pass a three-week stop gap bill so we could avoid a catastrophic shutdown of our security agencies while continuing to bring public opinion to bear to de-fund the orders. At the behest of its board, most HFC members combined with House Democrats to defeat this effort, resulting in the full funding of these illegal orders for the fiscal year.

In May, the House had the opportunity to adopt the most important free trade bill in nearly two decades, restoring the long-standing and essential process that has made it possible for our nation to negotiate free trade agreements with other nations. At the behest of its board, most HFC members combined with the vast majority of House Democrats in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat this legislation.

Last week, the House was scheduled to adopt the Resolution of Disapproval of the disastrous Iran nuclear agreement – the only legally binding action available to Congress under the Corker Act. Once again, the House Freedom Caucus leadership threatened to combine with House Democrats to defeat the Resolution, forcing the House leadership to abandon it in favor of a symbolic and legally meaningless vote. Ironically, while Harry Reid and Senate Democrats blocked a vote on the Resolution of Disapproval in the Senate, the House Freedom Caucus leadership was instrumental in blocking its consideration in the House.

For several months, Harry Reid and Senate Democrats have threatened to shut down the government on October 1st unless Congress unleashes another unsustainable cycle of tax increases and borrowing. Last week, the House Freedom Caucus formally vowed to shut down the government over funding Planned Parenthood.

I have strongly opposed the public funding of abortions throughout my 29 years in public office, but this tactic promises only to shield Senate Democrats from their responsibility for a government shutdown and to alienate the public from the pro-life cause at precisely the time when undercover videos of Planned Parenthood’s barbaric practices are turning public opinion in our favor. I suspect this is why the leading pro-life organizations have been conspicuously unwilling to endorse the HFC position.

A common theme through each of these incidents is a willingness – indeed, an eagerness – to strip the House Republican majority of its ability to set the House agenda by combining with House Democrats on procedural motions. As a result, it has thwarted vital conservative policy objectives and unwittingly become Nancy Pelosi’s tactical ally.

I feel honored to know and work with every member of the House Freedom Caucus. I have never served with a group of patriots more devoted to our country and dedicated to restoring American founding principles. However, I feel that the HFC’s many missteps have made it counterproductive to its stated goals and I no longer wish to be associated with it.

Accordingly, I resign.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: California; US: Ohio; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2016election; abortion; california; carlyfiorina; deathpanels; election2016; hfc; johnboehner; kevinmccarthy; mcclintock; obamacare; ohio; plannedparenthood; speakerboehner; speakerjohnboehner; stemexpress; tedcruz; texas; tommcclintock; zerocare
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To: 1010RD

(Should have pointed out the date for people: before Boehner’s resignation.)

Most people should agree with some of his points. Perhaps the intent of some of those tactics was actually to appeal to specific Members to increase their numbers.


21 posted on 09/28/2015 5:33:48 AM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: Lakeshark

Look here:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/all-gop-controlled-states-outnumber-all-democratic-states-24-7/article/2557023

or here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-wisconsin-walkers-anti-union-law-has-crippled-labor-movement/2015/02/22/1eb3ef82-b6f1-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_story.html

or here:

http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm

What major city in the US isn’t A) Run by Democrats and B) on the verge of bankruptcy?

How’s that for a start?


22 posted on 09/28/2015 5:36:00 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: 9YearLurker
Thank you for exposing this poster as a DC Establishment poster.

McCarthy is a devious creature who hates cinservatjves and despises the GOP base. McCarthy and his K street - Silicon valley Owners have been planting phony stories about what a great conservative this DC slug is. I knew K street fired Bonehead because that Evil TPP is stalled in Congress along with Amnesty ! McCarthy is nasty piece of work who will destroy anyone in his way. Mccintock has outed himself as a Fat cat bought off hack by crying about TPP being blocked and cheerleading for McCarthy

23 posted on 09/28/2015 5:37:40 AM PDT by ncalburt ( Amnesty-media out in full force)
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To: 1010RD
We're moving the ball forward and with a real conservative as President it will roll forward faster. Too often the demand for immediacy leads to serious tactical and strategic errors.

Is this you, john boner? What a load of pap.

If this is winning, what is your version of defeat?

24 posted on 09/28/2015 5:40:20 AM PDT by USS Alaska (Exterminate the terrorist savages, everywhere.)
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To: ncalburt

Yep—certain GOPe operatives try to pedal up as down (and left as right) here.


25 posted on 09/28/2015 5:40:47 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: mrsmith

The dates right up there just below the title in the normal spot for every FR post.

Secondly, we have to hold the Chambers to run things during a GOP Presidency. That’s done by maintaining your current membership and expanding it where possible. A lot of voting decisions need to go to that alone.

Then there are the conservative votes. Things that move the ball forward incrementally. We’re not a parliament and that’s a good thing. Slow and steady wins the race and we’ve been winning against all odds for a long time now.

“I can’t help but notice that under Boehner — and largely because of Boehner, because Boehner outsmarted President Obama in the 2013 budget negotiations — federal spending has declined over a five year period for the first time since the post World War II cutbacks. And because of this, as the economy has struggled to a sputtering recovery despite Democrat mismanagement, the deficit has been sharply reduced…

Also under Boehner — and also largely because of then-minority leader Boehner (and the likewise much-maligned-by-conservatives Mitch McConnell in the Senate) — the disaster of Obamacare is 100% attributable to the Democrats. It hasn’t got a single Republican fingerprint on it.”

http://pjmedia.com/andrewklavan/2014/12/31/happy-new-year-john-boehner/

Could Boehner fight better and harder. Sure, but keep in mind that we’re up against a billion dollars a day in free media for liberalism. I think we’re doing pretty well.

Obama’s been forced into a lot of concessions, but the Imperial Executive is extremely powerful.


26 posted on 09/28/2015 5:41:09 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD

I would love to ask these people who are ruling out a shutdown...

Do you think the framers intended for it to be impossible to pass a budget unless either one side completely abandons their core values or they control the entire Congress and the White House?

The shutdown should be the last resort but it should be a viable resort none the less. In any negotiation, from buying a house to funding the government, there is a point at which you are willing to walk away or let the other party walk away.

If the public funding of the slaughter of babies and the sale of their body parts is not that point, what would be?


27 posted on 09/28/2015 5:41:58 AM PDT by nitzy (I don't vote for Republican'ts)
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To: Timber Rattler

I know it.


28 posted on 09/28/2015 5:43:08 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: ziravan

McClintock is a solid conservative fighter and has done more for California liberty than anybody there.


29 posted on 09/28/2015 5:43:57 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: SunkenCiv

It’s all about winning tactics and strategy. That and a little thinking tossed in.


30 posted on 09/28/2015 5:44:34 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Tupelo

McClintock thinks. He doesn’t just emote and he’s a solid conservative fighter from deep in enemy territory.


31 posted on 09/28/2015 5:45:50 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD
I understand the total domination by party down the line. There are a few gains in a few places, but not what there should be.

So far that domination down the line has done nothing to stop the leftist agenda from destroying our country.

Name one thing the GOP dominant congress has done to stop the leftist agenda, and you might have a point.

Unfortunately, nobody can name a single one. That's worse than tragic considering the last mid term election results. It's quite honestly, disgusting.

32 posted on 09/28/2015 5:46:11 AM PDT by Lakeshark
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To: 1010RD
Obama’s been forced into a lot of concessions

Yes, but it was putin and the mullahs doing the forcing.

You should be over at DU you are not a conservative.

ZOT CAT


33 posted on 09/28/2015 5:47:26 AM PDT by USS Alaska (Exterminate the terrorist savages, everywhere.)
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To: 9YearLurker

I’ve backed the position of GOP Speaker of the House. It is a very difficult balancing act. America isn’t 100% FReeper, sadly.

Our GOP representatives in the House run the gamut. Their constituents are educated in government schools. The media is against them and will misquote or misreport anything they can get away with.

I always attack Leftists, so attacking Trump is to be expected.


34 posted on 09/28/2015 5:48:22 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD
It's quite honestly, disgusting.

That should have said: It's quite honestly, disgusting, a sign that we are losing, not winning.

35 posted on 09/28/2015 5:48:24 AM PDT by Lakeshark
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To: 1010RD

“McClintock is a solid conservative fighter and has done more for California liberty than anybody there.”

I’ll grant you that. That said,

There’s a storm coming.

The GOP had better figure out a way to put up a fight. Now. Or they are done as a party. They have over promised and under delivered for far too long.

The result isn’t mere discontent. That’s so 2009.

The GOP stands at the precipice of a full blown mutiny. The party will not survive.

Donald Trump isn’t just a candidate. For far too many of his supporters, he’s a murder weapon, and the GOP is the intended victim. I didn’t come up with that, it’s floating around the Internet, but there it is.


36 posted on 09/28/2015 5:50:42 AM PDT by ziravan (Buck the Establishment.)
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To: Lakeshark
There are a few gains in a few places, but not what there should be.

Controlling 24 states representing 147 million people isn't enough?

It took us a century to get where we are today. How fast should the turn around come? I mean we're talking a country of 300 million+ people, not just FR.

37 posted on 09/28/2015 5:51:28 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD

McClintock makes an assertion I have yet to see dis-proven or validated or even asked in any congressional questionaire. That being; Should constituents support a government “shutdown”. The reason I suggest it’s not being asked. Because if submitted as a pro/con proposal they might not like the result.


38 posted on 09/28/2015 5:51:42 AM PDT by mosesdapoet (My best insights get lost in FR's because of meaningless venting no one reads.)
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To: Lakeshark

Really? When was the last time Planned Parenthood was seriously threatened with defunding? Their funding has been growing. Under a conservative POTUS we will put PP out of the abortion business and cut off their gov milk.

This kind of negativity and fatalism is killing classical liberalism aka conservatism.


39 posted on 09/28/2015 5:53:26 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: sauropod

It’s utterly meaningless. It’s like a “censure” while the guy stays in office. The real vote was the “symbolic and legally meaningless vote.” Except it wasn’t either symbolic or meaningless if the GOP had actually tried to win. THERE ARE WAYS TO WIN. I outlined a couple yesterday. But they are very costly. Does the GOP ever want to pay a price to win?


40 posted on 09/28/2015 5:53:29 AM PDT by LS ("Castles Made of Sand, Fall in the Sea . . . Eventually" (Hendrix))
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