Looks like Meadows has definitely made a statement with his motion to oust Boehner from leadership, right before the August recess where members will have to go back and talk to their constituents.
Boehner loyalists aren’t happy about it one iota:
FOX NEWS – In a single stroke, the rebellious congressman has not only infuriated the GOP leadership but scrambled their plans of using the August recess to focus on the Iran deal and a web of other issues. Now, the House goes into recess with this debate churning, even if the push stands little chance of succeeding.
“We will be getting bogged down on who is speaker over the August recess,” seethed Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y. “We could end up like a European parliament. We should be talking about Iran. It’s terrible.”
Boehner loyalists could barely contain their anger as they stormed off the House floor Tuesday night, having just learned of Meadows’ gambit.
“It’s something that will disrupt our plans to talk about policy for the August recess,” fumed Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La. “It’s really damaging. We were trying to leave on a high note. It’s divisive.”
“People are stunned. People are angry that somebody would pull this stunt,” said Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and a top Boehner lieutenant. “I thought we had gotten past all of this. It seems odd and bizarre.”
Republicans had plotted an August agenda to hammer Democrats on the Iran nuclear deal, funding Planned Parenthood, sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants, targeting by the IRS, Hillary Clinton’s emails and ObamaCare.
And now …
“The August recess is going to be about a lot of things,” Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., said.
Meadows says he doesn’t intend to call up his resolution on Wednesday, the last day the House is scheduled to meet before the August respite. In fact, it’s possible Meadows may never compel the House to consider his plan.
“This is not as much about the ‘who’ as the ‘what,'” said Meadows. “It’s really more about trying to have a conversation about making this place work.”
A bloc of 30 to 60 House Republicans consistently exercise their muscle against Boehner. It’s unclear how many of these members could support Meadows’ strategy. The August recess is the great political incubator. They’ll test the temperature in a month.
This episode surfaces at a period already fraught with intense, internal Republican strife, revealing GOP fissures. Just a few days ago, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, took the extraordinary step of accusing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., of lying to him about the Export-Import Bank.
“I don’t like being in the limelight. It is fearful when you have to do this. You have to work up courage to do this,” said Meadows.
I’m sure it took a lot of courage to do what Meadows did. It will take even more courage to follow through with it. He needs the support of his members and his constituents to help him weather the shots in the back he’ll be taking.