Rep. Huelskamp fundraising off vote against Boehner

Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) is fundraising off the attempted coup to oust Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), warning his supporters that Boehner and his backers are seeking retribution.

"The moderate wing of the Republican Party is outraged — and they are swiftly retaliating against conservatives like me. But I will not be intimidated," he said in a fundraising email sent out Monday.

Huelskamp led the right-wing push to oust Boehner, and before that had been removed from some of his House committees by GOP leadership. He'd also been a vocal critic of the bipartisan deal to avoid the "fiscal cliff" reached last week, just days before the vote for Speaker. Now, he's using his new-found fame to rake in some campaign money.

In the email, also sent out by the conservative TheTeaParty.net accompanied by a picture of Boehner shaking President Obama's hand, Huelskamp said he was "proud" of his move to buck Boehner.

"But voting against a sitting Speaker of the House was a great risk. They will punish me. They will attack my family. But America is too important to be lost to overspending, high taxes, and big government. I refuse to stand by and allow our country to be destroyed," he continued. "For my principled vote, Washington insiders are coming after me. I need your help and the help of 100 fellow conservatives immediately. If you are tired of Republicans who campaign as conservatives — but vote like Democrats — stand with me and make your contribution of $35 here."

In a closed-door GOP meeting following the vote, Boehner promised there would be no retribution for the members who opposed him. Huelskamp was one of four Republicans who had already lost committee slots because they'd bucked leadership.

Huelskamp hails from a safely Republican seat. With some Tea Party heroes like Reps. Allan West (R-Fla.) and Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) losing reelection in 2012, there's an opening for others to step into that role — and he seems to be relishing that position.

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