Freedom Caucus Chair blasts GOP colleagues for campaigning against him: 'RINOs'

21 March 2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been working hard to keep his job to escape the same fate as his predecessor, US Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), amid months of attempting to negotiate with Democrats on government spending despite constant criticism from far-right colleagues.

In addition to juggling threats of his ouster from certain members, the speaker is also challenged with the fact some members are actively campaigning against each other. According to CNN, Johnson told his GOP colleagues to "cool it" during the lawmakers' retreat earlier this month.

Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-VA) on Thursday took to X (formerly Twitter) to blast a few of "his House Republican colleagues who backed his primary challenger," according to Politico.

Per the news outlet, "The battle goes against Johnson’s entreaties for Republicans to refrain from campaigning against each other in primaries, as the party tries to keep its control of the lower chamber."

Good wrote, "The RINOs who hosted a DC fundraiser for my opponent last night are going to vote for the massive uniparty spending bill on the House floor without having time to read it. Shows how he would vote if he were in Congress with them."

The Virginia lawmaker also tagged the GOP members, including, US Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), US Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), US Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), US Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), US Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), and US Rep. Derrick Van Arden (R-WI).

Similarly, US Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) last week went against GOP leaders' "pleas" by campaigning against his fellow Republican House member, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) for a far-right "pro-gun social media influencer."

Last month, Politico reported as Johnson faces several obstacles that "include twin government funding deadlines, a twice-punted surveillance fight and growing concerns that Republicans are poised to lose House control in November," several GOP members, like Good, threaten "consequences" for the Louisiana lawmaker if he makes the wrong move.

As GOP House members, like McCarthy, US Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) — most recently, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), and others, announce their retirement, threatening an already razor-thin Republican majority, Good couldn't care less.

The Freedom Caucus chair told CNN last month, "Why don't you survey the country and see if there is any brain to drain in Congress. Congress has a 20 percent approval rating. Most of what we do to the country is bad. I think the retirements are a wonderful thing.… I have no concerns, zero concerns. We probably need a few more retirements."

In January, Good was one of the far-right members among about a dozen others who told reporters, according to the New York Times, that despite a potential government shutdown, the bipartisan spending deal Johnson and US Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reached was "unacceptable."

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