Word is that it was a humbling morning for the RSC, for what was considered a breach of etiquette. Politico has details:
… there was a serious internal blowup over the Republican Study Committee, a bloc of conservative lawmakers chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio). Jordan, who is opposed to the Boehner plan, was forced to apologize on Wednesday after an RSC staffer sent out e-mails to outside conservative groups asking them to target GOP lawmakers to oppose the leadership proposal. A number of House Republicans were infuriated by the RSC tactic, with some threatening to quit the group…
The RSC dispute dominated much of Wednesday’s morning GOP conference. The RSC missive angered some rank-and-file Republicans who came under fire from outside groups, including Rep. Renee Ellmer (N.C.), Todd Young (Ind.) and Bill Flores (Texas). Elmers stood up at the GOP Conference meeting and blasted the RSC for the move, saying she was ashamed to be part of the group, according to sources in the room. Afterwards, Elmers said she may quit the RSC.
“I am not sure I’m going to stay part of the RSC as it is now,” Ellmers told POLITICO.
Seeking to limit fallout from the controversy, Jordan apologized to his fellow House Republicans for the e-mail.
But Rep. Tom Reed, a New York Republican who belongs to the RSC, said the organization’s staffers “are not going to have a good day.”
“As an organization, we’re best served to take care of our issues in the room, among ourselves,” Reed said. “So I’m hopeful the RSC will take care of it.”
File under "Check yourself before you wreck yourself."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNasty infighting is not the way to convince the American people that Republicans are the grown-ups in the room. The GOP just isn't good at this stuff and no matter how right they are, they'll end up looking like losers if they let this go on much longer.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs much as I like the Tea Party, and their principles and movement... when the logical and calm thought should be to defeat in 2012...well, they look like the Democrat branch of Code Pink. Republicans are better than than throwing tantrums (remember Weiner's?).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJordan might be correct on the merits but he is dead wrong on the 2012 implications. The Dems, White House and MSM are setting up Boehner and the GOP to be split into smithereens.
If Boehner cannot get a bill out of the House, Reid will garner 60 votes from his caucus + nervous Republicans. They will then ship the Reid bill to the House, and guess what. Not a single Dem House member, under instructions from the White House, will support the Reid bill. This will leave Boehner holding the bag, knowing that his caucus could never pass the Reid bill. A default ensues, Geitner withholds SS checks and worse, and Obama/MSM blame the GOP House with zero Democratic culpability whatsoever.
2011, meet a repeat of 1995.
This is the time to be politically shrewd, not ideologically pure. Not one voter in 200 next year will remember anything about this week. What they will vote on is the level of debt, deficit, unemployment, inflation, and the Democrats' record on the economy. Don't throw them a lifeline to make the GOP culpable.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe captcha thingee is "oh, lord."
It sounds like today's conference meeting was a winner for the leadership - great job if true. If this bill gets through both Houses and hits the President's desk, the GOP will be riding high going into 2012.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWow, that was utterly foolish.
We all appreciate the drive for strong conservatism, but sometimes it feels as if this push ends up blocking some minds from thinking clearly.
A huge mistake. A team must be strong, united, etc. No problems with constructive efforts to make something better, and encourage all in a critical manner to strive.
But this is utter folly. Reminds one of the debacle in Delaware.
Completely irresponsible, terribly misguided, undermining their own interests - and Our best interests in Washington.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy captcha: "face the music"
Which is exactly what the RSC staffer that sent that email should be doing.
This is more than a breach of etiquette, it's a breach of trust. Sending an email to outside groups targeting your bosses for pressure? Unbelievably dumb. They should be fired.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDoes anyone know the name of the RSC staffer? Surely there's rumors on the Hill...
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