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‘Real News’: Rep. Huelskamp Blasts ‘GOP Establishment’ For Purging Fiscal Conservatives (Including Himself) From Key Committees

Dec. 4, 2012 8:47pm Christopher Santarelli

Worried conservatives speculating that GOP leadership will fold to the White House in the ongoing Fiscal Cliff negotiations did not get any reassurance Tuesday when several hardline fiscal conservatives and Tea Party members were purged from key committees. Reps. David Schweikert of Arizona and Walter Jones of North Carolina were booted from the Financial Services Committee, while Reps. Justin Amash of Michigan and Tim Huelskamp of Kansas were removed from the Budget Committee.

In a statement released Monday, Rep. Huelskamp said,“The GOP leadership might think they have silenced conservatives, but removing me and others from key committees only confirms our conservative convictions. This is clearly a vindictive move, and a sure sign that the GOP Establishment cannot handle disagreement.”

The “Real News” panel Tuesday discussed what this says about the GOP leadership if the committee reassignments were really a purge. Is the Tea Party and Libertarians being scapegoated for November losses? Is this an effort to move the party to the center? Do hardline fiscal conservatives have a future in the Republican party? Watch a clip from Tuesday’s discussion below, including an interview with Rep. Huelskamp:

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Comments (45)

nilo
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:52am
I think all of these “conservatives” like Huelskamp, if truly conservative, should declare themselves as independant Tea Partiers — no party affiliation, no loyalty tp anyone except to the Constitution and to The People.

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lorrydriver
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:25pm
The GOP is not dead. It does however need new leadership. The good news for America is that talent is among the ranks. The current leadership is bartering with our ideologue president to save themselves. No wonder Obama is cocky. But I can remember when the GOP had I think it was only 17 members in the senate, now those were dark days. The fact is Romney simply did not inspire many of the most principled conservatives and libertarians to get out and vote. I don’t get it how they could abandon the country to the likes of Obama but done is done. Of course the Democrats cheat on a massive scale every election this being no exception. Last I heard a shift of 300,000 votes in key states would have put Romney in the White House. This election was tight. But narrow margins in key states with lots of electoral delegates skewed the electoral count. Hope somehow Obama is denied more Supreme Court selections and we can replace at least the house leader.

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SadButTrue
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:43pm
NEWS FLASH: The GOP is dead. The calcified regime just doesn’t know it yet. I find it amusing that they just can’t seem to come to grips with it. Anybody with an IQ would know after the 2010 elections, that constitutional conservatism will out pace them, but in their arrogance, they continue to hallucinate. It was apparent that many libertarians and constitutionalists went with the republicans (held their noses) in order to get rid of Obama. Now, they don’t have any ‘target market’ at all. Gives new meaning to socially imperceptive,

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- MetalPatriot
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:20pm
  Rep. Huelskamp is a real man for saying what he said publicly. Boehner? Progressive political lifer. GO AWAY John!
  
  Report this comment
- antrancher
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:37am
  I don’t think the Libertarians did go with the GOP. They stuck to their convictions even with the knowledge that Obama would win. As if their vote was so important to them that even if no one knew but them who they voted for. It was like a personal conviction. Well…now we have Obama. It is very confusing to me because what I believe is that we have a one party dictatorship. I still believe we would have more morality with Conservative leadership. Obama has the morals of a Muslim which is very scary. We all know that even when we are troubled in youth, usually were revert to our early teachings. We could have skated awhile with Romney while we got our new found understanding of what is really going on in politics, the New World Order etc, to turn this mess around. It is up to us and it may be too late now.
  
  Report this comment
- smv803
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 12:11pm
  We need more people like Rep. Huelskamp. If enough of them stand up, Whether Republican or Democrat…yes Democrat, come out and fight the establishment and clean house…both of them!
  
  Report this comment
toledofan
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:05pm
The problem is Boehner and he by himself will be the demise of the Republican Party. I’m not there but it’s just hard to understand the loyality for someone who is causing the ship to sink. Rather than navigate around the barriers or just trying to keep away from them, Boehner continues on the current path of capitulation. Everyone should be asking why and it’s not about being the adult in the room. If Boehner was a leader he’d just walk away and let he Democrats fix the mess, at the e4nd of the day they will do what they want anyways so why give them any more excuses to use.

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Arshloch
Posted on December 5, 2012 at 3:28pm
The people that should be ‘booted’ are the ‘leaders?’ Boehner has proven, more than once, to be a wishy washy, give in guy to any obnoxious dumb-o-crap scheme. To the crows with he and the rest of his flunkies.

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JEANNIEMAC
Posted on December 5, 2012 at 11:17am
The situation America faces is a serious one, but when I look at Governor Palin’s history in office, it doesn’t seem a hopelessly difficult situation. It boils down, again, to a common sense approach. The Governor has always said that public servants should do for their constituents what they do for their own families during tough times: cut all superfluous spending, shop more wisely, save for a rainy day, and make sacrifices. During her time serving Alaskans, she endeavored to function within that framework of fiscal restraint and sanity. I’m not talking about times of bankruptcy. She did the right thing even during a surplus. That’s wisdom. That’s discipline. That’s stewardship.

In her capacity as mayor, she cut personal property tax, the business inventory tax, and the property tax mil levy every year. As governor, she yearly utilized her line-item veto power to cut spending by millions of dollars, invested $5 billion in state savings, forward-funded education, provided Alaskans a resource rebate to offset energy costs, and opted to reject much of the proffered “stimulus” funds. The upshot of the Governor’s wise fiscal management included a business boom, decreased unemployment, and an improved credit rating.

Putting her money where her mouth was, Governor Palin also denied herself raises during her career. How often do we see this from our politicians? Rather, they’re too often getting fat off of insider trading, legal graft, and crony capitalism

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godflesh
Posted on December 5, 2012 at 8:24am
Conservatives are going to have to abandon the republican party all together. It can’t be fixed.

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- sbenard
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 9:06am
  I just pulled up the voter registration website of my state. I put in my house # and driver’s license number and changed my registration from GOP to Independent American Party. I had been a member of the IAP for most of the past 20 years. I switched to Republican in June. Now, I’m returning to the IAP, where constitutional conservatives are WELCOMED, rather than purged!
  
  Suck eggs, Buckling Boehner!
  
  Report this comment
- homestead1800baker
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:36pm
  You can’t abandon the Republican Party. There is not enough support for a third party. That would put the Democrats in power indefinately.
  The progressives, communists or whatever you want to call them never gave up trying to corrupt one or both of the political parties.
  
  Communist Goals (1963):
  #15 Capture one or both of the pollitical parties in the United States.
  
  Rather than abandon the Republican Party, we need to take it back. If we can’t take back the Republican Party and get it back on track then what possible hope do you see for getting the country back?
  
  We need sixteen more house members to support fireing Bohner. The republican establishment needs to be reminded that they work for us. So let’s fire Bohner and the new guy wil no that we are not messing around.
  
  Report this comment
nilo
Posted on December 5, 2012 at 7:49am
The Republican Party is conservative in name only. Boehner’s tactics clearly show that the RINO element is going to eliminate any conservatives that speak out against the RINO agenda. And I wonder just what that is. I hope the voters of Ohio wake up by 2014, and I hope the conservatives of all the states wake up by then. If you are a Tea Partier, it is time to migrate toward those who do not follow the present Repubican RINO party line. That is just my opinion. PRAY FOR CONSTITUTIONALLY MINDED LEADERS TO COME OUR WAY.

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marybethelizabeth
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:25pm
Outward displays of paranoia from political representatives ensure a swift end to their political careers.

Lunacy not principles.

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- December5
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 5:47am
  The Republican establishment thinks Conservatives lost the electon for them, but had it nr been for Conservatives Mitt Romney would have lost in a landslide. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 11:36am
  Right Mary, because gosh a 16 trillion dollar debt is just fine, dandy and can be solved by spending even MORE money. Silly paranoid fiscal conservatives!
  
  Report this comment
BasketFullOfPuppies
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:21pm
If they thought this past election was bad, wait until the next one… if there is one. By alienating the Tea Party, they are signing their own death warrant, as a party. JMHO

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- KevINtampa
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 2:07am
  That’s almost laughable. In 4 years the Republican party base will do what they always do, nominate whatever “compassionate conservative” the media makes it GOP darling. Anyone who truly does their homework and leans conservative that says the projected nominee is a progressive will be marginalized by the blind GOP mainstays the same way the left demagogues. Just look at the disdain for Libertarians on the Blaze last election. At this point it’s a joke that mainstay Republicans still buy into the Republican Progressive lie. There will never be a third party as long as so many Dems and Reps believe that there’s any difference at all between Dems and Reps. They are one party that placates arguments just as real as backstage WWF drama. I got news for you, Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage never really fought with each other; and the so called feud between Democrats and Republicans is the same. When will the people wake up and rise up? I’m afraid the answer to that is “in a generation long after any of our spawn”.
  
  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Hey Glenn, how did that work out for you? A month removed from the election and Beck touts a book admonishing Agenda 21, yet he threw his support behind a giant flip flopper and arguably an Agenda 21 advocate.
  
  http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/williams/120114
  http://www.slantright.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3338
  
  Truth matters.
  
  Report this comment
- NukeHaze
  Posted on December 5, 2012 at 4:34am
  Kevin, Hulk and Randy did not always get along. You show your bias for Ron Paul by saying that there is not difference between democrats and republicans and not including libertarians. Ron Paul was a joke. Not because of his ideas on foreing policy but because he was never someone anyuone could picture as being a President. On the other hand, Obama is not someone anyone could really have seriously pictured as President. You who think that salvation lies in the arms of Alex Jones and Ron Paul are wrong if you think that being a registered conservative means that you fully agree with everything the person you are voting for believes in. There was only one perfect soul to walk this planet and we have never had one as President. To say what you do about Romney says that you do not know fundamental beliefs of Mormons. The very basic beliefs are completely opposed to one world government control and secret combinations the likes of which you and you hero Alex Jones love to claim certain people are all eating gold foil wrapped babys in for appetizers in their meetings.
  
  Report this comment
Robert999
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:11pm
I see this as the beginning of the end for the GOP. Boehner purges the conservatives just as the Menshiviks purged the Bolsheviks. The result, a Bolshevik revolution, just as there will be a Conservative revolt against the Republican establishment.

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- mudguy
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:19am
  Bone Head Boehner is doing just what the Democrats want him to do. Divide then they can conquer everything. Time for the sheep in the GOP to find a new leader before the wolves in GOP let the democrats eat them all.
  
  Report this comment
Caniac Steve
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:06pm
Agreed !!And considering that congresses favorability rate is in the toilet still..the gop is nothing more than the old Whig party…-what we,the people need is people of charactor,and a statesman heart & mind,but i’ll not hold my breath

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macpappy
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:03pm
Old Auntie is an online ******, huh?

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cliKKer
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:47pm
3 Million Republicans sat out this last election. Does the Wig I mean Republican party realize why? Because all they to is try to be liberal light. NOPE done with that. We are always told that we need swallow and suck it up… vote in the Rhino. REPUBLICAN EStABLISHMENT… YOU SUCK.

YOU LOST LAST 2 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS BECAUSE YOU PUT UP RHINOS> YOU LOSE! Done…. Done Done… just like GM we are done with you. Good by Wig Party Good by

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- BlackCrow
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:11pm
  Just 2 elections? The last conservative Republican was Regan and he had to fight the RINOS.
  
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- troubleinparadise
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 3:07pm
  ok, point taken, but am i off base- how can we have the last 4 years of Obama’s demagogging & indebtedness & have 3 million fewer voters? that doesn’t make sense to me.
  
  Report this comment
Rock_Paper_Bullets
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:40pm
Ok, that’s it…I’m changing my party to Independent…not that I wouldn’t vote Dem OR Repub IF they DESERVED it…and don’t give me any cr@p about Ron Paul, because I didn’t vote for him either, so bugger off…

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- The-Monk
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:31pm
  @Rock_Paper_Bullets,
  
  I really like your moniker !
  
  I get a good laugh every time I see it.
  
  Thanks : )
  
  Report this comment
- rickc34
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 11:33pm
  I went Independent after 2008 elections.
  
  Report this comment
Chromo200
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:28pm
GOP is now finally relegated to a minority party for ever.

I hope Boehner and the RNC read these posts .. because they are loosing their base and will not get any money from the regular people. Let the RINO rich keep pouring their money into people like Boehner and McCain but each Rich Guy is one vote and we are many and they will need us.

Not a penny to the RNC and RINOs

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- bobginnyl
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 5:50pm
  I wholeheartly agree whenever I received one of their surveys I filled it out and in the donation section in bold red Sharpie wrote ” I donate to conservative candidates only not to the RINO party.” And I did
  donate directly to several conservative candidates.
  
  Report this comment
PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:10pm
Well, now they can’t get blamed…keep your powder dry and keep true to the people that elected you. The Republican party has NO principles or values in any of it’s members save the few and brave. They have chosen the progress to communist way. Don’t go there! Now Dick Armey has quit at Freedom Works and all I can say is YEAH!!!! Another one bites the dust. Maybe a new party of Liberty, Restoring the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, Fiscal Conservative Values and Moral Principles. True Americans are Awake and when the right leader comes forth nothing will stop US. We have many, many freedom fighters in and out of the system…Jim DeMint, Sarah Palin, and on and on..It can be done. http://www.westernjournalism.com/finally-a-judge-who-can-save-america/

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- SimpleTruths
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:42pm
  Keyword in your rant – “few”. You are few and getting fewer. And to put a big fat seal on on it – you actually name Palin as if she has any relevance at all. Wow.
  
  Report this comment
- WardMD
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 12:14pm
  You’re WRONG (or naive) if you think that Obama and the Democrats (from elected officials to the [so-called] “Main Stream” Media) will NOT blame the GOP for the inevitable FAILURE of the Tax and OVERSPEND Obama Plan!
  
  IF you want the GOP to be “blameless” for the devistation that await us, the GOP should give Obama EVERYTHING he’s asking for (save the ability to raise the debt ceiling at will) – WITH A 1-year auto EXPIRATION [like the Bush Tax Cuts auto-expire 1/1/2013]).
  
  THEN, either Harry Reid’s Democrat Controlled Senate will REFUSE to pass it (as they’ve REFUSED to pass a budget for four years), OR it will simply FAIL on its own.
  
  Either way, it’s OBAMA’S PLAN, and the Liberals can’t say the Republicans were “obstructionists” or “didn’t give Obama the tools necessary to fix the problem”!
  
  THEY will OWN the fiscal sewer THEY are planning for the country!
  
  Sadly, ANYTHING LESS, and the Liberals WILL still have the “It’s the Republicans’ Fault” mantra (and, the mindless/un-informed lemmings who vote for Democrats, will BELIEVE it, and go right on voting for Democrats, Higher Taxes, More OverSpending, and MORE DEPENDENCY)!
  
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StandingOnMyHead
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:09pm
GOP: Grand Old Progressives

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macpappy
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:06pm
So, it’s time to move on Republicans. When the party stops espousing the virtues that you find dear to heart, then the party is over. Start nominating real constitutional and fiscal conservatives and vote your convictions, no matter what the outcome.
I suspect that the Dr. Paul supporters are finding some satisfaction in the fact that they were somewhat rigth in the assessment of the Republican leadership, and it does seem that the leadership has lost the faith.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:18pm
  not satisfied because nothing has changed – but yes, some consistency on behalf of everyone else would be a welcome sight. I remember how many conservatives said after 2008 McCain that they were done with the GOP and the progressivism…How far did that get us? Looks like Stelex is right, unfortunately it will take something very very bad for people to wake up.
  
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- Stopit
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:51pm
  @MACPAPPY – leadership haven’t lost their faith. It’s been clear that they never had any conservative, constitutional, liberty convictions to begin with for quite some time. For decades opposing true conservatives or tea party candidates, playing into the lefts ploys admirably at the debt ceilings, and this past primary was the final coup against conservative grass roots. The leadership are deceivers. They have handlers or something. It’s a crazy situation. It’s like they’re on the same team, just vying for who gets to dole out the dollars.
  
  Hey, Soy, good to see you still around. I’ve quit posting for the most part. Just watching the inevitable happen to our once blessed nation.
  
  Report this comment
- macpappy
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 10:10pm
  It is a disheartening situation, but we have to keep voting, and voting for the conservative candidate. We can not just give up. If we do that, then the death of our Republic is assured. It is frightening because “Progressiveness” comes wheather you want it or not, and “Conserving” is only done when something is wasting away. If we can’t conserve our Republic, then we damn well better try to have a hand in how fast the Progressive movement forges ahead.
  Historys timeline is against us however.
  
  Report this comment
Gary_K
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:04pm
Boehner the republicrate is an enenmy to freedon and These United States.

He has sold out to bathhouse barry flobama and the NWO.

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- PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:12pm
  GARY_K check out the stories at http://www.westernjournalism.com/finally-a-judge-who-can-save-america/
  
  Report this comment
ConservativeFirst
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:00pm
Let’s start a new “Conservative” Party! There is no enthusiasm toward the Republicans. Any enthusiasm is from Conservative individuals (Tea Party Members). The Republicans will not win without the support of the Conservatives and Tea Party Members that they so like to belittle and disrespect.

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- Gary_K
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:07pm
  I agree….
  
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- oldguy49
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:11pm
  hear hear……………….
  
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- krjones
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 9:41pm
  all in
  
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