Boehner Resigning Amid GOP Leadership Fight
WASHINGTON -- A political bombshell in Washington today: House Speaker John Boehner shocked the country with the news that he is resigning from his position will be leaving congress at the end of October.
Speaker Boehner's always described himself as conservative, but a reputation for compromising and many moderate decisions put him on a collision course with many fellow Republicans. And now he's out, effective Oct. 30.
Boehner is apparently the victim of a feud with House conservatives. They want Planned Parenthood defunded even if that leads to a government shutdown. Boehner and those like him felt that was a no-win proposition, that the public would end up blaming the Republicans for it.
But apparently House conservatives wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
"It has become clear to me that this prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable harm to the institution," Boehner said Friday. "This morning, I informed my colleagues that I would resign speakership and at the end of October."
**Read House Speaker John Boehner's press release here.
Sen. John McCain talks to CBN's David Brody on Boehner's resignation.
Cheering erupted at the Values Voters Summit at the announcement that Speaker Boehner will resign.
Conservatives, like those gathered at the Values Voter Summit, cheered and each conference-goer CBN News spoke to welcomed the news.
"I was in the front row when they announced it. I lost my voice from screaming and jumping up and down," one participant said. "The best thing, no matter who they replace him with will be better than who he is."
"We need someone who's going to stand up for Christian principles," another said.
"He doesn't represent us. He represents what Obama wants," another said. "We need a true conservative representing true consrvatives."
Sen. Ted Cruz even joked about his fellow conservatives and Boehner's demise.
"You want to know how much each of you men and women terrify Washington? Yesterday John Boehner was Speaker of the House. Y'all come to town and somehow that changes," Cruz said. "My only request is that you come more often."
The host of the event, Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, agreed Boehner had to go.
"Conservative voters, Republican-leaning voters, that put the GOP in the majority are sick and tired of them running into these battles with the president waving a white flag," Perkins said. "They are looking for someone to fight."
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., wasn't happy with what Boehner's resignation indicates.
"The lesson from this to all of us is that we have to sit down together as Republicans, recognize who the adversary is. It's not each other; it's the Democrats," McCain told CBN News.
Boehner is a faithful Catholic who'd campaigned long for the Pope to come visit and speak to Congress. Having attained that goal Thursday, Boehner said he felt it was just the right moment to resign.
"Last night I started to think about this. And then this morning I woke up and I said my prayers as I always do and I decided today's the day I'm going to do this. As simple as that," he said.
Boehner considers himself a pro-life conservative, so it's ironic that it's pro-life Republicans and his fellow conservatives that did Boehner in.
