Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) is challenging House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) for Speaker because many Republicans and conservative voters feel betrayed by Boehner.
Though Boehner vowed to fight the Obama administration’s lawlessness “tooth and nail,” Boehner’s actions immediately after the midterm elections suggested that he would not, according to Gohmert, who said that that “all the things that were promised” by the leadership “haven’t happened” after the midterms gave Republicans control of Congress.
Appearing on Breitbart News Sunday, Gohmert told host and Breitbart News Executive Chairman Stephen K. Bannon that voters in the midterm elections “made a really bold statement” and gave Republicans “a chance to stop the executive amnesty and all of the lawlessness of the administration.”
“And they expect us to do that,” Gohmert said.
Gohmert believes that if a leadership change is not made, enough conservatives may stay at home in 2016 like they did in 2012 to cost Republicans the White House. According to polling from Pat Caddell’s Caddell Associates, 60% of those who voted for Republicans in the midterms “definitely” or “probably” want a new Speaker
He added that America is in “deep trouble,” but Obama got a second term because not enough conservatives were galvanized to vote in 2012 because “they didn’t feel like they had a choice.” He said “it’s going to be even worse in 2016 if we don’t we don’t show voters that we got the message and we are standing for them… [by not letting] this lawless, unconstitutional activity go on.”
Gohmert said that he ultimately decided to challenge Boehner because so many House Republicans are “looking for excuses to avoid keeping their commitment to stand up for what their constituents want.” He said a lot of House Members were saying they had to support Boehner because he was the only one who has asked for their vote.
“Would you say, ‘I got to vote for an outright communist in the next election because he is the one that has personally asked me for my vote?'” Gohmert quipped.
Gohmert noted that 29 or more House Republicans must “stand firm until we get a new Speaker” and emphasized that House Members cannot vote “present” because it reduces the number that Boehner needs to retain his Speakership.
On immigration, Gohmert said “it makes no sense to be passing anything else until the border is secure.” He said “it’s amazing how many people feel like they got sold out by the Speaker and his Republican leaders” to corporate interests like the Chamber of Commerce “when the interests of the country took a back seat.”
“We’ve got to change that by standing up for what we promised to do,” he said.
Regarding the so-called “abysmal” CRomnibus bill that did not defund Obama’s executive amnesty, Gohmert noted that Boehner thought Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) were more important than conservatives. Gohmert said that Boehner did not meet with conservatives before the vote on the spending bill because he “didn’t feel he was going to get our votes so he preferred to get Obama and Pelosi to get the votes for him. That tells you right there how bad this bill was. That tells you basically all you need to know.”
“It just seemed to be a slap in the face to all of those great voters who gave us more seats in the House and the majority in the Senate,” Gohmert said, noting that so many Republicans have been telling him that “they feel betrayed.”
If he becomes the next Speaker, Gohmert said there would be regular order, an energy policy and jobs bill, and more oversight over the lawlessness in the executive branch. He said Congress would also “start using the power of the purse to curtail the outlandish and unconstitutional activities that are going on” and combat the National Security Agency’s spying on Americans.
Gohmert and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) are challenging Boehner. And at least nine House Republicans have publicly indicated that they will vote against Boehner this week.