Posted on 06/13/2014 1:48:38 PM PDT by PoloSec
Second-term Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, plans to challenge Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., for the second most powerful House leadership position.
Labrador just released a statement announcing his bid for House majority leader, saying he believes Majority Leader Eric Cantor's primary loss on Tuesday shows, “Americans are looking for a change in the status quo.”
The leadership election is scheduled for June 19. Labrador made the announcement a half-day after it appeared McCarthy had the job locked up with no opponents. Sign Up for the Politics Today newsletter!
Now, a Labrador aide said, the contest is up in the air.
“The old math can be thrown out,” the aide said, without revealing how many lawmakers support Labrador. “It’s a whole new ballgame.”
Now serving as House majority whip, McCarthy has been cultivating close relationships with the rank and file for years and claimed by Thursday to have gathered the backing of more than half the conference.
His only opponent, House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Texas, dropped out Thursday night as his became clear he stood little chance of winning.
But the inevitability of McCarthy succeeding Cantor angered the most conservative faction of the House.
They had tried to recruit House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, but he declined to run.
Then they pursued Labrador.
“He got a lot of encouragement from other members,” a source close to the discussions told the Washington Examiner.
Many consider McCarthy to be a politically similar to Cantor, particularly when it comes to immigration reform.
Both Cantor and McCarthy, his protege, have expressed acceptance of legislation that would eventually legalize those who came here illegally, which some conservatives view as a form of amnesty.
Additionally, conservative talk show hosts who boosted Cantor's primary opponent Dave Brat to victory have been railing against McCarthy as another “pro-amnesty” leader.
Labrador, a former immigration lawyer, hardly fits the profile of what many conservatives want, which is someone to oppose any immigration reform that increases immigration, both legal and illegal, which they say will decrease employment and deflate wages.
He opposes immigration reform of any kind in 2014, but said he believes in eventually increasing legal immigration and creating a guest worker program after border security is increased.
But Labrador has said he opposes a pathway to citizenship. This could help him win favor with conservatives who might view him as an imperfect but far more attractive alternative to McCarthy.
I hear Obama loves Labrador.
Preferably slow roasted.
BTW, I usually prefer "Traditional Republican" to "Tea Party".
.
“Many consider McCarthy to be a politically similar to Cantor, particularly when it comes to immigration reform.”
According to Numbers, he is actually WORSE!!
How is he on gays/abortion and prosecuting this admin?
“Now serving as House majority whip, McCarthy has been cultivating close relationships with the rank and file for years and claimed by Thursday to have gathered the backing of more than half the conference.”
I would think whips would be like commissars - deferred to, humored and hated by most.
Go, Lab! Sic ‘em! (aim for the groin if possible)
Being lead by someone from Idaho makes a lot more sense than leadership from places like Ohio and California.
It’s time to put the leadership in the hands of people who represent conservative states and districts.
Another thread if anyone is interested in the comments thereon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3167444/posts
Rep. Raul Labrador Will Challenge Kevin McCarthy for GOP Leader
I want Louie Gohmert. Or similar (if one can be found.)
BTTT!
Labrador was one of those who was working with the Dems on putting together the amnesty plan early on. Until he figured out that it was a huge political liability in ID District 1. Then he backed out. If my memory serves he was an immigration lawyer by trade.
Couldn’t we just draft Representative Trey Gowdy?
This guy is an idiot if he wants to increase legal immigration. We bring in 1.1 million permanent legal immigrants a year now--more than the rest of the world combined. Since 1990 29 million legal permanent immigrants. In 1970, one in 21 was foreign-born in this country; today, it is one in 8, the highest in 90 years; and within a decade, it will be one in 7. We have 21 million Americans unemployed or underemployed.
This idiot Labrador wants to bring in more legal immigrants who vote more than two to one Democrat. Labrador was part of the House version of the Gang of 8. What a f'ing disaster.
Trey Gowdy favors a Dream Act for the “kids.”
Labrador only gets 80% in a primary against poorly funded challengers. He has more chance of losing. He got hit by a blue dog Democrat in 2010. He got 44% winning the 2010 primary and 50% winning the general.
For this year he is better than McCarthy.
Scratch him Gowdy then. Who do you suggest?
Labrador gets a C+ from NumbersUSA this session and a B lifetime. McCarthy gets an F- this session and A- career.
Steve King. Lamar Smith.
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