WASHINGTON (AP) – The news of House Speaker John Boehner’s resignation brought hundreds of religious conservatives to their feet to cheer – and one after another, much of the Republican Party’s presidential class joined in their rejoicing.
“I’m not here to bash anyone, but the time has come to turn the page,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who shared the stunning development with the crowd at the annual Value Voters forum in Washington, where the rowdy cheers spanned 30 seconds.
Emboldened tea party leaders across the nation celebrated, too, on a remarkable day for a GOP starkly divided between its ardent ideologues and its pragmatic establishment. With less than five months before Iowa’s presidential caucuses, Boehner’s downfall served as a victory for its conservative wing and a rallying cry for those who seek to ride its frustrations to the White House.
“If we are splintered, a moderate establishment candidate runs up the middle with 23 percent of the vote, steals the nomination and then loses to Hillary Clinton in the general election,” said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. “We have a simple task before us. If conservatives unite, we win.”
The Republican establishment repeatedly beat back conservative challenges in the 2014 midterm elections, helping to give their party control of both chambers of Congress. Conservatives have been deeply frustrated ever since, particularly as President Barack Obama enjoyed victories over congressional Republicans on health care, the Iran nuclear agreement and efforts to block federal funding to Planned Parenthood.