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House GOP leaders seek to mend rift |
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By Jackie Kucinich
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Posted: 09/26/07 08:24 PM [ET] |
Two House Republican leaders sought to bury the hatchet on Tuesday in front of the Republican Conference after a bitter disagreement over staffing at the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC).
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.) downplayed reports that they had quarreled over the staff and direction of the NRCC, according to sources present at the meeting.
Boehner assured his colleagues that the GOP leadership was working well together and that he had confidence in Cole.
“John Boehner has helped me more than anyone,” Cole said in the meeting. “He is the right leader at the right time for our conference.”
Boehner largely escaped blame for the GOP’s poor showing in the 2006 election, partly because he replaced Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) as majority leader more than halfway through the last Congress.
But Boehner’s political future will be greatly affected by NRCC’s track record in 2008.
If Democrats pick up many seats, Boehner’s leadership status could be in jeopardy.
After the Tuesday conference meeting, GOP lawmakers could be heard mumbling as they departed from the meeting that it was a “lovefest” and that “everything was just fine.”
“Tom Cole and I have candid conversations every day,” Boehner told reporters after the meeting. “The idea that yelling was involved is laughable.”
Missing from their assurances was a resolution to the dispute, which involved two of Cole’s senior staff members whom Boehner wants replaced.
Several sources who are familiar with the workings of NRCC said the removal of Pete Kirkham, NRCC’s executive director, and Terry Carmack, its political director, would help facilitate sweeping internal changes in management and organization.
Boehner’s concern with Cole’s aides indicates uneasiness with NRCC’s performance this year, most notably on recruiting and fundraising. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is well ahead of NRCC on fundraising, having over $22 million cash-on-hand with $3.1 million in debt at the end of August.
NRCC, meanwhile, had only $1.6 million and debts totaling nearly $4 million.
In a January interview with The Hill, Cole said he hoped to retire NRCC’s $15 million debt by late spring or early summer.
GOP sources critical of NRCC say that the lack of clear successors for House Republicans who have recently announced their retirements has fueled more doubts as to whether the GOP can recapture the majority of the House in 2008 and deepened concerns that more seats will be lost.
Cole and Boehner are scheduled to meet this week to discuss the matter further, sources say.
“Message sent, message received,” said a House GOP leadership aide. “The next steps won’t be debated or discussed in the press.”
Rep. Tom Davis (Va.), a former NRCC chairman who serves as NRCC’s executive committee chairman said the criticism of Cole and the NRCC is typical.
“It’s leadership driven … on a staff level,” Davis said. “It’s all about power.”
He explained that since the position is elected, the chairman has a larger burden to bear in comparison to their Democratic counterpart, who is appointed by the Speaker.
Former NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds (N.Y.) said Cole has the unique challenge of being the first chairman in the minority in 12 years.
NRCC Communications Director Jessica Boulanger said, “Chairman Cole appreciates the dedication and support of Leader Boehner and all of our members to regaining the majority. This Republican team is united in our commitment to a single goal — winning in 2008.” |
