http://www.theblaze.com/stories/%E2%80%98unbelievable-moment%E2%80%99-gop-lawmakers-chant-%E2%80%98fire-him%E2%80%99-over-top-staffer%E2%80%99s-secret-e-mails/
Quote:
House Republicans were up in arms this morning, as they came together to call for the firing of Paul Teller, the executive director of the Republican Study Committee (RSC). The offense? Teller was caught sending e-mails to outside conservative groups, urging them to put pressure on the GOP to vote against House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) debt proposal.
…Teller and other RSC aides sent a Tuesday e-mail to outside conservatives seeking to “kill the Boehner deal.†The RSC emails were sent to a listserv with conservative activists.
“We need statements coming up to the Hill every hour of the day in mounting opposition to the plan,†RSC staffer Wesley Goodman wrote to a Google email group called “CutCapBalance.†That group included Teller.
One Republican insider said that the entire spectacle was “an unbelievable moment†and explained that it was something that had never been seen before. The chairman of the RSC, Rep. Jim Jordan, opposes Boehner’s plan, though he apologized for what occurred. Jordan, too, was a target of his fellow Republicans’ anger.
Jordan, among other conservatives, doesn‘t believe that Boehner’s plan goes far enough in curbing government spending. Thus, the e-mails that were sent showcased Republicans asking outside political activists to help them defeat their fellow GOP counterparts (i.e. those who support Boehner’s plan).
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) was one of the individuals attacked in the e-mails. At the meeting, he stood up and read the e-mail message out loud. Then, he demanded that Teller explain his actions. Additionally, Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), also an RSC member who was targeted, indicated she may leave the caucus and said the following:
“Yet when it comes time for a little bit of compromise on the RSC’s part, they’re not willing to compromise. And that’s just not the way to go about this.â€
…Teller and other RSC aides sent a Tuesday e-mail to outside conservatives seeking to “kill the Boehner deal.†The RSC emails were sent to a listserv with conservative activists.
“We need statements coming up to the Hill every hour of the day in mounting opposition to the plan,†RSC staffer Wesley Goodman wrote to a Google email group called “CutCapBalance.†That group included Teller.
One Republican insider said that the entire spectacle was “an unbelievable moment†and explained that it was something that had never been seen before. The chairman of the RSC, Rep. Jim Jordan, opposes Boehner’s plan, though he apologized for what occurred. Jordan, too, was a target of his fellow Republicans’ anger.
Jordan, among other conservatives, doesn‘t believe that Boehner’s plan goes far enough in curbing government spending. Thus, the e-mails that were sent showcased Republicans asking outside political activists to help them defeat their fellow GOP counterparts (i.e. those who support Boehner’s plan).
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) was one of the individuals attacked in the e-mails. At the meeting, he stood up and read the e-mail message out loud. Then, he demanded that Teller explain his actions. Additionally, Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), also an RSC member who was targeted, indicated she may leave the caucus and said the following:
“Yet when it comes time for a little bit of compromise on the RSC’s part, they’re not willing to compromise. And that’s just not the way to go about this.â€
Bolding my own.
We've seen some other splits in the Republican party along social lines (especially with the Tea Party trying to maintain it is a fiscally conservative group, not a socially conservative one), but here's a pretty good look at how some members are working to keep anything from getting done. Compromise it out; not even with Democrats, but within their own party. Two of the Representatives mentioned in the article (Jordan, Ellmers) are Tea Party-backed candidates. Walden was called as such, but has lost Tea Party support, hence why he was probably one of the ones "attacked" in these e-mails.
It seems some of the party indeed wants to be the party of NO. No compromise, just let the economy get worse and the country default. I'm starting to feel that these folks are working to make things worse, so they can blame Obama and reap the political benefits. Fun stuff.
Edit: Reactions I've seen online are mixed and fall into three categories:
1. This guy is a traitor. We can't fight ourselves with the Democrats still a threat
2. Boehner is better than being boned.
3. This guy is a hero. No compromise ever, on anything!
Edited, Jul 27th 2011 2:48pm by LockeColeMA