Conservative will be antagonized by this dumb (and malicious?) move. Count me among them. Be sure to scroll down to listen to Mark Levin's analysis of President Obama and Speaker Boehner. The more I think about Levin's analysis the more I think he is right. Though I hate to think ill of anyone, Levin may be right in calling Boehner self-protective, a climber, and out of his league vis-a-vis Obama.
John Jessup, CBN News Washington correspondent reports:
WASHINGTON -- Two years after Tea Party conservatives swept House Republicans into power, GOP leaders appear to be sweeping some of those same Tea Party lawmakers under the rug.
Some believe it's because they're too conservative.
Tea Party Purge
Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp is a Tea Party Republican who came to Washington on a mission to rein in an out-of-control government.
"I was critical of the debt deal, which created the fiscal cliff," he told CBN News. "I was critical of the spending increases. I was critical of a lack of progress taking down Obamacare."
As one of Congress's most conservative members, his principles sometimes puts him at odds with party leaders. He was among the first Republicans to criticize House Speaker John Boehner's plan to avert the fiscal cliff.
"When you talk about $800 billion in new revenue I don't see how you do that without some pretty large increases in taxes," Huelskamp said. "And I've been very clear, as have most Republicans, that I don't want to raise taxes."
Huelskamp suggested the strong conservative stances he and other Tea Party colleagues have taken on issues like abortion and marriage may be one reason for the tension with GOP leaders. Listen to his comments below:
On the same day Boehner unveiled his counterproposal to the White House plan, he broke some bad news to certain members in his conference: Huelskamp along with North Carolina Rep. Walter B. Jones, Arizona Rep. David Schweikert, and Michigan Rep. Justice Amash were getting booted from their prime committee posts.
"Really, it's a slap in the face of all young people who are out there thinking about being Republicans," Amash said.
Huelskamp and Amash, both freshman, were removed
from the Budget Committee where they voted against the Republican budget
created by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
Despite being
removed from the committee posts, Huelskamp vowed he and his Tea Party
colleagues would not be silenced. Watch his comments below:
"How much do you think this had to do with your votes against the Ryan budget?" CBN News's John Jessup asked Huelskamp.
"Again, that might be part of it. We don't know," the Kansas lawmaker replied.
They don't know because they weren't given an explanation.
CBN News contacted Boehner's office to get some answers, but was only given this response: "The (Republican) Steering Committee makes decisions based on a range of factors."
A Vindictive Move?
With nothing concrete, Huelskamp wonders if his pro-life, pro-traditional marriage policies may also be to blame.
"Perhaps that might be the reason that some folks do not like me to continue to speak up," Huelskamp speculated.
Whatever the reason, he's labeled the move
"vindictive," noting how party leaders also stripped him from the
Agriculture Committee.
Huelskamp shared more of his thoughts what he views as the GOP leadership's punitive actions below:
Huelskamp said his removal will mark the first time in 150 years that a Kansas lawmaker will not be on the roster.
Some have suggested that the House GOP leadership, much like that song about Santa, is making a list and checking to make sure rebellious Republicans pay a price.
As for Huelskamp, he vowed that -- above party -- he'll remain loyal to the people who are most important: his constituents.
In Addition:
Mark Levin analyzes the two major political figures now resident in Washington - President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner. The Right Scoop introduces Levin's monologue (audio] saying:
Mark Levin steps into the shoes of both Obama and Boehner, explaining the mindset of both men and why they operate as they do. This isn’t a comparison of the two men, but rather an attempt to give a deeper insight into what’s really going on in Washington by explaining the two men. It’s excellent
Listen here... Levin's commentary is definitely worth chewing on.