If you @SpeakerBoehner don't think we're paying attention to the purge of conservatives, you've not learned a thing from 2010. #FireBoehner
— ~Deanna~ (@DeTheBrat) December 5, 2012
A growing number of conservatives, frustrated by the apparent purge of fiscal conservatives from House committees, are through with hoping that John Boehner will advocate on their behalf. Today, American Majority Action launched a #FireBoehner campaign. AMA’s president Ned Ryun writes:
If Speaker Boehner wants to purge independent, bold conservatives—I think it’s time he gets fired as Speaker. Not only for the purge. He has failed to effectively win negotiations with President Obama and appointed moderate committee chairs. To the public, Boehner may appear radical but in reality he proposes milquetoast policies, like the tax-hikes he proposed this week.
…
Republicans and conservatives deserve a more articulate, more conservative leader. In fact, we need one if we want to keep the House majority and take the Senate. Boehner has been Obama’s punching bag and has lost every public battle with the President. Now, he’s waging an internal war on conservatives.
Remember, we lost seats in the House under his leadership. He has failed as spokesman for the movement. Boehner has been in Congress for 22 years, and he looks like and embodies the typical DC politician. Can’t we find someone fresher to lead the party forward?
The House will be voting on a Speaker in January. As Ryun points out, a candidate must receive at least 218 votes to be elected speaker, and if 16 Republicans abstain from voting, Boehner would only receive 217 votes.
The movement to depose Boehner is gathering steam on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TNDan/status/276326894989877248
https://twitter.com/Tomfreeusa/status/276397865218232320
https://twitter.com/RonMeyerJr/status/276424897360707586
Republican Party @GOP is a complete disaster. No courage, spineless, weak, what a joke! Lead by a watery-eyed marshmallow > #FireBoehner
— Clint Goodrich (@Clint_Goodrich) December 5, 2012
16 votes are needed to #FireBoehner and replace him with an effective GOP leader. http://t.co/DV1uufgL DO IT!
— Gabriella Hoffman (@Gabby_Hoffman) December 5, 2012
@Leahherron @SpeakerBoehner @NBCNews The Speaker has overstayed his welcome. #FireBoehner
— Derek (@cappicard) December 5, 2012
Get rid of him #FireBoehner
— lori Borgmann (@LorizzleB) December 5, 2012
It's time. Boehner, you don't represent my conservative values. http://t.co/MwomcmBG #FireBoehner
— Aubrey Lindberg (@aubreynb) December 5, 2012
@JimDeMint Boehner has been betraying the people who helped him get his job ever since he took that gavel. #FireBoehner #PurgeBoehner #tcot
— ZillaStevenson (@ZillaStevenson) December 5, 2012
My feelings exactly. RT @Brumbarger: #FireBoehner
— JT Bennett (@jt_b92) December 5, 2012
Either Boehner stands up to Obama and shows him what leadership is, or 2014 will be ugly for him. #FireBoehner
— Richard Brod (@rgbrod1) December 5, 2012
https://twitter.com/TheHenry/status/276447393732505600
https://twitter.com/LadyConservativ/status/276388873729343488
https://twitter.com/brianpaukert/status/276442585139126273
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/276440991404273664
#FireBoehner #FireBoehner #FireBoehner #FireBoehner #FireBoehner #FireBoehner #FireBoehner #FireBoehner #FireBoehner
— Walmart Hillbilly (@NoKoolAide) December 5, 2012
But not all conservatives are on board:
https://twitter.com/ali/status/276444505358614528
Heh. RT @politicalmath: We need to expand the GOP tent. But first we need to flay John Boehner alive. #Ummmm
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) December 5, 2012
I think @johnboehner gets a real bad rap from some of my fellow Republicans. I think he's doing the best he can. this #FireBoehner is silly.
— Sam LeDoux ?? (@LeDouxUSA) December 5, 2012
If I recall correctly, Boehner received a unanimous vote of confidence from the GOP Conference. Yep, replacing him is a high priority.
— big tuna (@keder) December 5, 2012
Don't get me wrong. Boehner BLOWS at negotiating. But calling for his head gets us exactly NOWHERE right now.
— RBe (@RBPundit) December 5, 2012
Whether AMA’s campaign will prove effective remains to be seen, but at the very least, hopefully they’ve gotten speaker Boehner’s attention.