Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
Michele Bachmann, tea party dame, announced yesterday on her facebook page that she is running for a top leadership spot in the House:
I am pleased to announce that I am running for Chairman of the House Republican Conference! Constitutional Conservatives deserve a loud and clear voice in leadership!
Republicans will choose their leaders this month. So far, John Boehner is slated as the speaker-to-be, and Eric Cantor will in all likelihood take the number two position as the House majority leader.
But Bachmann will face some opposition in her bid. Patricia Murphy at Politics Daily notes that Bachmann's run may pit tea party conservatives against establishment Republicans:
Bachmann's announcement sets up the first leadership contest between a tea party favorite and a member of the more mainstream wing of the House Republicans, Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas. Although Hensarling is a well-known among his fellow GOP members, he lacks Bachmann's star-wattage and broad following from the newly powerful tea party movement.
So far, Cantor has endorsed Hensarling, as has Mike Pence, the outgoing conference chairman who stepped down, rumor goes, to pursue a gubernatorial bid in Indiana or a presidential bid. As for Boehner's stance on Bachmann's run: on election night he promised tea party activists, "I will never let you down." Will Boehner stay true to his word?
By endorsing Bachmann, the newly empowered GOP leaders now have a chance to send a strong signal of communion to tea partiers--what will Boehner do?
Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, speaking yesterday on CNBC, said that the tea partiers are "in the mainstream of where political thought is right now...[It’s to] Get the deficit under control, get the debt under control and pass on to our children a country that is prosperous and secure."
Endorsing Bachmann should be a no-brainer for Boehner.
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
Incendiary headlines?
Oct '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
This is an important conversation. I believe that if we watch how this process of power sharing within the party plays out, we will have an eary indication of the direction of the new congress in the next two years. Bachmann will be the canary in the coal mine for the Tea Party. Wherever she ends up will be a good indicator of how much the establishment is willing to move toward principle and away from pragmatism.
Jul '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
The "it's his turn" thinking gave us Juan McCain, the worst presidential candidate since Ol' Bob Dole.
Feb '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
Yes, but make the GOP Establishment sacrifice a real RINO, not a true conservative like Jeb Hensarling in the name of symbolism. Give people like Bachmann and Hensarling alike power in the party; marginalize the true RINOs. Don't pit the true conservatives against each other needlessly.
Feb '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
I dare you to compare John McCain and Jeb Hensarling on the issues and then make this same comparison. Come back to me when you've done it and tell me Jeb Hensarling is as bad as John McCain.
Finally, compare Jeb to Michelle Bachmann and tell me which one is more conservative.
Am I against Bachmann? No, but come on! Go a bit deeper than just "Tea Party vs. Establishment"! It seems we are squabbling over who is most active in a particular movement or who is a figurehead for the movement, rather than on real substance. If she gets the position, great.
But don't unnecessarily demonize one of our best representatives.
Edited on November 4, 2010 at 5:32pmFeb '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
Nov 4 at 7:29am
So is this implying she's behind all the buzz about this being a conflict between the Tea Party and the GOP Establishment? Because that would definitely be an insurgent tactic-- make it a proxy war rather than a contest on the merits.
Or, is the MSM trying to egg on our divisions and get us to be divided against ourselves? Do we want to play into their hands?
There's more to this than just "Tea Party vs. GOP Establishment."
Let's refocus on opposing Obama's agenda, not on pitting our own best people against each other.
Edited on November 4, 2010 at 5:43pmJul '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
From what I understand, this is the first time two House members were vying for the same leadership position within the same party. It is literally unheard of in the Democratic caucus, as they obey the strict hierarchy that their union member supporters also abide and support.
Again, the impotent MSM has diverted attention to a trifling matter to the fore because one of their favorite politicians is involved.
May '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
BSA - You're being too analytical. How many times have you heard the phrase that "In politics, perception is reality"? You can't stop playing the PR game when so many of the voters responsible for the win on Tuesday already look at the GOP leadership with apprehension. I'd be willing to wager that 90% (or more) of the electorate couldn't pick Hensarling out of a lineup.
May '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
This is a good test of Boehner and Cantor regarding creative compromise in the caucus, and of Bachmann's maturity in how she handles this.
I like Bachmann, her district starts walking distance from my own. Her political career started in the Mn state senate by defeating one of my best friends for the last 40 years for that position (Janey is a wacky green lefty, but we are still friends even though we agree about nothing). Bachmann has done a good job of shaking up the status quo.
But. There are still decent and orderly ways to do things. BSA is correct- Hensarling is an outstanding, thoughtful, and solid conservative; both he and Bachmann are 100% ACU reps. Hensarling is a more studious and policy wonkish type, Bachmann is temperamentally a nice bomb-thrower. The Conference is an inside the Capitol position, more analytical, Bachmann is an outside person.
They should show that they are shaking up the system by changing the structure- put Hensarling in charge of the internal committee, and Bachmann in charge of the outside communications stuff, call it something like the House Republican Citizens Forum. Split the staff accordingly. Capitalism calls that "creative disruption".
Feb '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
You're right, I am very analytical.
But if perception is reality, then we are at the mercy of the MSM which still has a lot of power to create perceptions. I'm just trying to push back against the false perception that the MSM (or others) are trying to foist on us: namely, that this should be viewed as a Tea Party vs. Establishment GOP battle.
Yes, most voters, myself included, don't know about more than a handful of our 435 representatives, which is why I'm trying to give some background on Jeb Hensarling, who is from my great state of Texas and is well respected among conservatives here.
Edited on November 4, 2010 at 6:45pmMay '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
I think Duane pegs it. We're in good shape in the end regardless of how it turns out. The question is whether the leadership can navigate this through to an adult conclusion and find important roles for both of them - because both of them deserve important roles in keeping with their strengths.
Jul '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
Bachmann has carved out the third ranked leadership position as an appropriate place to recognize the importance of the Tea Party to the Republican House and put to bed the notion that there is a civil war among the House Republicans. Right now Rove and the opposition media would leave you with the impression that the only weak candidates in this election, and perhaps history, were Angle and O'Donnell. Names such as Jeffords and Spector don't come to these same lips. The narrative, despite the election results, is that the Tea Party picks weak candidates. Rand Paul was on that same list three months ago.
Failure to accept a Tea Party element into the leadership actually just assures closer scrutiny of that leadership when the time comes to pick Tea Party primary challenges. Boehner's record as House Majority Leader places him as a co-pilot in the final year of the spendthrift Bush Republican Congress.
Shutting the Tea Party out of leadership is a vote against reform. The GOP Leadership is grasping for the narrative that they have seen the light and now Tea Party = Republican, while diligently maintaining the statist quo.
Aug '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
Someone is going to need to talk to Treasury about the Secret Service's little problem with MASSIVE PARANOIA .
I say we extend the legs on the beds in the White House and let the Obama family hide under those beds until 2012. Should be cheaper.
Why don't we just move a division down there from Germany for the party. A Praetorian Guard perhaps, or call the Pope and borrow the Swiss Guard ?
Sheesh ! or Barack sheesh !!
Aug '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
I endorse Duane's position. I think Bachmann's great but I also think she might create some unneeded havoc in that role.
Jul '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
The choice is simple: which candidate will have the Left going apoplectic on a daily basis?
Michelle Bachmann is a real thumb-in-the eye.
Sep '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
I would tend to agree with Kenneth’s perspective, but don’t see it as terribly important. If the grassroots does not stay on the GOP we are in for more liberal light. Don’t forget in the House the GOP is being led by a man who less than a month ago was touting the fact that he helped write the Kennedy/Bush, No Child Left Behind. I wish I could be more optimistic, but the fact is all of the GOP leadership will have been in DC a long time. This means they no longer accept the concept of citizens-legislators, reject term limits, and have in all likelihood been corrupted. In our local TP, one of the few things there is almost complete agreement on is that the mess in DC is as much our fault for not keeping a close eye on these yahoo’s as it is theirs.
Oct '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
Busy System Admin
Yes, but make the GOP Establishment sacrifice a real RINO, not a true conservative like Jeb Hensarling in the name of symbolism. Give people like Bachmann and Hensarling alike power in the party; marginalize the true RINOs. Don't pit the true conservatives against each other needlessly. · Nov 4 at 9:21am
I'm with you on that. And I agree with Matthew:
Matthew Gilley
"... We're in good shape in the end regardless of how it turns out. The question is whether the leadership can navigate this through to an adult conclusion and find important roles for both of them - because both of them deserve important roles in keeping with their strengths."
Edited on November 4, 2010 at 9:12pmMay '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
I agree with Duane! And Kenneth! And Busy System Admin!
But honestly, as solid and dependable as Hensarling is, I can't get too worked up about somebody I like getting passed over for committee chair. Talk about inside beisbol...
Oct '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
Hensarling is one of the good guys.
Am I the only one who doesn't like Bachman?
Aug '10
Re: Michele Bachmann's Leadership Bid Pits Tea Partiers Against Establishment GOPers
For me the highlight of the week was Bachmann putting down Matthews, leaving him huffing about the difference between a thrill and a tingle.Pure magic!