Are the Club for Growth and Heritage Action for America out to depose Speaker John A. Boehner? Leaders of both conservative advocacy groups stop short of saying so, but they are clearly clamoring for a House Republican leader more closely aligned with their principles. And they are doing everything they can to steer the House GOP membership in their direction. Heritage Action CEO Mike Needham told CQ Roll Call there is “a disconnect” between the GOP leadership “and the conservative voters they allegedly represent.” He said his group is “dying to go into battle alongside leadership” but won’t cede ground on issues that matter to it. “Leadership’s job is to get to 218,” Needham said. “Our job is to make it impossible for them to get to 218 unless they are doing the right thing.” Chris Chocola, head of the Club for Growth, said if his group does its job, it will get enough of its endorsed candidates into Congress that “they’ll elect one of their own for leadership.” Chocola said this while also noting that his group doesn’t “do leadership races.” (more…)
