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John Boehner's resignation leaves Republican party's fate in limbo John Boehner's resignation leaves Republican party's fate in limbo
(about 2 hours later)
When news broke of House speaker John Boehner’s resignation at a gathering of social conservatives on Friday, the room filled with hundreds of grassroots activists immediately erupted into cheers and a standing ovation.When news broke of House speaker John Boehner’s resignation at a gathering of social conservatives on Friday, the room filled with hundreds of grassroots activists immediately erupted into cheers and a standing ovation.
The moment was emblematic of a years-long struggle for the soul of the Republican party, a high-stakes battle that has publicly unfolded in often ugly and always dramatic fashion. As the highest-ranking Republican in Washington, Boehner has spent the greater part of the last four years as the face of that turmoil and, by his own admission, decided to step aside in part to restore a sense of calm.The moment was emblematic of a years-long struggle for the soul of the Republican party, a high-stakes battle that has publicly unfolded in often ugly and always dramatic fashion. As the highest-ranking Republican in Washington, Boehner has spent the greater part of the last four years as the face of that turmoil and, by his own admission, decided to step aside in part to restore a sense of calm.
But even as conservative hardliners sought to take credit for Boehner’s departure, the question of whether the shocking event truly marked a turning point for the direction of the Republican party remained unclear – and one that will likely be determined by the race for president.But even as conservative hardliners sought to take credit for Boehner’s departure, the question of whether the shocking event truly marked a turning point for the direction of the Republican party remained unclear – and one that will likely be determined by the race for president.
“The presidential election is ultimately going to be arbiter of how this all lands – either we win this national election or we don’t,” said Rory Cooper, who served as an aide to former House majority leader Eric Cantor until his ouster from Congress in 2014. “We can’t just be a midterm election party, we have to be a party that can win back the White House.”“The presidential election is ultimately going to be arbiter of how this all lands – either we win this national election or we don’t,” said Rory Cooper, who served as an aide to former House majority leader Eric Cantor until his ouster from Congress in 2014. “We can’t just be a midterm election party, we have to be a party that can win back the White House.”
Among Republicans, the race for the nation’s highest office has already been shaped by the rise of outsiders – led by Donald Trump – who have made a name for themselves by attacking party leaders in Washington. More mainstream Republican candidates have either struggled to gain traction early on, or looked to adopt a tone more suitable to the anti-establishment wave gripping the primary contest. Among Republicans, the race for the highest office in the United States has already been shaped by the rise of outsiders – led by Donald Trump – who have made a name for themselves by attacking party leaders in Washington. More mainstream Republican candidates have either struggled to gain traction early on, or looked to adopt a tone more suitable to the anti-establishment wave gripping the primary contest.
Related: John Boehner left because Republicans' true faith is incompatible with governing | Chris Lehmann
It was thus no surprise that several presidential contenders wasted no time in seizing on Boehner’s announcement at Friday’s conservative confab in Washington, an annual meeting known as the Values Voter Summit, as a sign that it was time to usher in new leadership at every level.It was thus no surprise that several presidential contenders wasted no time in seizing on Boehner’s announcement at Friday’s conservative confab in Washington, an annual meeting known as the Values Voter Summit, as a sign that it was time to usher in new leadership at every level.
“I’m not here to bash anyone, but the time has come to turn the page,” said Florida senator Marco Rubio, who was the one to inform the crowd of Boehner’s resignation. “It is time to turn the page and allow a new generation of leaders.”“I’m not here to bash anyone, but the time has come to turn the page,” said Florida senator Marco Rubio, who was the one to inform the crowd of Boehner’s resignation. “It is time to turn the page and allow a new generation of leaders.”
Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, suggested Republican leaders in Congress had it coming after failing to stop Barack Obama from implementing key pieces of his agenda.Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, suggested Republican leaders in Congress had it coming after failing to stop Barack Obama from implementing key pieces of his agenda.
“I just know when people sent them here, they didn’t send them to give the president more power on Obamacare, immigration and even trade and certainly not the Iranian deal,” he said. “Those things were very much above the surface – we saw them all and it frustrated the heck out of most of us who had gone out there and helped to get most of those guys elected.”“I just know when people sent them here, they didn’t send them to give the president more power on Obamacare, immigration and even trade and certainly not the Iranian deal,” he said. “Those things were very much above the surface – we saw them all and it frustrated the heck out of most of us who had gone out there and helped to get most of those guys elected.”
And Texas senator Ted Cruz, who has developed a reputation as a rabble rouser in Congress and frequently lobbied Boehner’s own members against him, openly gloated.And Texas senator Ted Cruz, who has developed a reputation as a rabble rouser in Congress and frequently lobbied Boehner’s own members against him, openly gloated.
“You want to know how much each of you terrify Washington?” Cruz asked the audience. “Yesterday, John Boehner was speaker of the House. Y’all come to town and somehow that changes.”“You want to know how much each of you terrify Washington?” Cruz asked the audience. “Yesterday, John Boehner was speaker of the House. Y’all come to town and somehow that changes.”
Candidates like Cruz helped intensify pressure on Boehner in recent weeks over the battle that ultimately led the speaker to sacrifice himself: funding for the women’s health organization Planned Parenthood.Candidates like Cruz helped intensify pressure on Boehner in recent weeks over the battle that ultimately led the speaker to sacrifice himself: funding for the women’s health organization Planned Parenthood.
Cruz has led conservative calls to defund the agency as part of a must-pass bill to fund the government, after controversy erupted over heavily edited videos, filmed in secret by anti-abortion activists, that showed Planned Parenthood employees discussing the use of fetal tissue in medical research.Cruz has led conservative calls to defund the agency as part of a must-pass bill to fund the government, after controversy erupted over heavily edited videos, filmed in secret by anti-abortion activists, that showed Planned Parenthood employees discussing the use of fetal tissue in medical research.
The tactic would all but guarantee a government shutdown, a path Boehner did not want to revisit after Republicans were blamed when the federal government closed in 2013 amid an impasse over funding for the president’s health care law.The tactic would all but guarantee a government shutdown, a path Boehner did not want to revisit after Republicans were blamed when the federal government closed in 2013 amid an impasse over funding for the president’s health care law.
The posturing among candidates was echoed by the views of attendees at the Values Voter summit, who wished Boehner good riddance.The posturing among candidates was echoed by the views of attendees at the Values Voter summit, who wished Boehner good riddance.
“I was glad to hear he was out of there. He’s been lazy at best and not trying for the conservative goals,” said Tristan Meisner of Hamilton, Virginia.“I was glad to hear he was out of there. He’s been lazy at best and not trying for the conservative goals,” said Tristan Meisner of Hamilton, Virginia.
“I think it’s a good thing. I don’t think he’s been forceful enough. He’s not a conservative,” said Sandra Gibb, of Kansas City, Missouri. “We have the House majority – and nothing is happening. They should have repealed Obamacare. This Iran deal is terrible. They haven’t done anything.”“I think it’s a good thing. I don’t think he’s been forceful enough. He’s not a conservative,” said Sandra Gibb, of Kansas City, Missouri. “We have the House majority – and nothing is happening. They should have repealed Obamacare. This Iran deal is terrible. They haven’t done anything.”
National party officials have remained confident that the anti-Washington sentiment will not be enough to propel the likes of Cruz, Trump or retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to the Republican nomination.National party officials have remained confident that the anti-Washington sentiment will not be enough to propel the likes of Cruz, Trump or retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to the Republican nomination.
But their impact on the dialogue has been both palpable and potentially damaging to the party’s general election chances, as candidates risk alienating minorities, women and young voters on issues like immigration and women’s health.But their impact on the dialogue has been both palpable and potentially damaging to the party’s general election chances, as candidates risk alienating minorities, women and young voters on issues like immigration and women’s health.
And aides suggested on Friday that the presidential race helped to elevate the Planned Parenthood fight in a way that distinguished it from previous showdowns in which Republican leadership ultimately prevailed, despite revolts from conservative hardliners that pushed them to the edge.And aides suggested on Friday that the presidential race helped to elevate the Planned Parenthood fight in a way that distinguished it from previous showdowns in which Republican leadership ultimately prevailed, despite revolts from conservative hardliners that pushed them to the edge.
Boehner’s resignation will also shake up Republican leadership in the House, leaving it to the next speaker to stabilize the tone in Washington and prevent further rebellions that could carry with them consequences for the party’s chances in 2016.Boehner’s resignation will also shake up Republican leadership in the House, leaving it to the next speaker to stabilize the tone in Washington and prevent further rebellions that could carry with them consequences for the party’s chances in 2016.
House majority leader Kevin McCarthy, another moderate voice within the party, is a strong favorite to succeed Boehner – although conservatives said Friday they will look to challenge him with a candidate of their own.House majority leader Kevin McCarthy, another moderate voice within the party, is a strong favorite to succeed Boehner – although conservatives said Friday they will look to challenge him with a candidate of their own.
What it would take to satisfy the right flank was anyone’s guess.What it would take to satisfy the right flank was anyone’s guess.
“The rank-and-file John Boehner from his pre-leadership days – he’d be the guy his current opponents would want to be speaker,” Cooper said. “He was 100% pro-life, 100% pro-NRA, a fiscal and budget hawk. He’d be their guy. He’s always been a true conservative.”“The rank-and-file John Boehner from his pre-leadership days – he’d be the guy his current opponents would want to be speaker,” Cooper said. “He was 100% pro-life, 100% pro-NRA, a fiscal and budget hawk. He’d be their guy. He’s always been a true conservative.”
New York representative Peter King sounded a similar alarm with respect to the far-right members of the caucus, whom he referred to as “crazies”.New York representative Peter King sounded a similar alarm with respect to the far-right members of the caucus, whom he referred to as “crazies”.
“I think whoever runs for speaker should make it clear that he’s not going to give in to these people. We’re not going to appease them,” King said on CNN. “The time for appeasement is over.”“I think whoever runs for speaker should make it clear that he’s not going to give in to these people. We’re not going to appease them,” King said on CNN. “The time for appeasement is over.”
With additional reporting by Nicky Woolf.