Boehner Digs in Against Unnamed Grassroots Conservative Groups: 'They've Lost All Credibility

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday accused unnamed grassroots conservative groups opposed to the Ryan-Murray budget deal of "misleading their followers."

"They're pushing our members in places where they don't want to be, and frankly I think they've lost all credibility," Boehner told reporters.

Almost immediately after -- and in some cases even before -- House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) unveiled their budget agreement Tuesday, conservative groups including Heritage Action, Club for Growth and FreedomWorks came out against it.

"It just comes to a point where some people step over the line," Boehner said Thursday. "When you criticize something and you have no idea what you're criticizing, it undermines your credibility"

He said the deal is a good step toward more deficit reduction.

Asked whether these groups should “stand down,” Boehner replied, “I don’t care what they do.”

There has been little love lost recently between Boehner and such groups, which have attacked his leadership skills and challenged his conservative credentials.

In an uncharacteristically fiery press conference Wednesday, Boehner said some of the groups opposed to the budget deal were being “ridiculous."

"They're using our members and they're using the American people for their own goals," he said. "This is ridiculous."

(H/T: National Journal)

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