Roskam bows out, Kinzinger lashes out
Thursday, Oct 1, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Despite his recent rhetoric, this would’ve been a positive for Illinois if he had run…
Rep. Peter Roskam, a Republican from Wheaton, will not seek a leadership post in the House after Speaker John Boehner’s resignation, he said in a letter Wednesday to his 246 GOP colleagues.
Roskam, 54, entered Congress in 2007 and was chief deputy whip of the House from 2011 to 2014, when he lost a bid to be elected whip, the No. 3 post after speaker and majority leader. The whip corrals votes and helps shape the party’s message. […]
In his letter, Roskam urged the GOP-led Congress to “aggressively” assert its constitutional authority against President Barack Obama’s administration and “be more provocative in our challenges so as to command more of the narrative of these debates.”
He also said the GOP should reflect on what is expected of House leaders. “Right now, we ask of our leaders the impossible task of being on the road, in our districts, and in the press — all while fulfilling other vital policy and communications responsibilities,” he said.
I’ve known Roskam a long time and he’s a lot more thoughtful than his letter might make him look. He has some strong principles which I may sometimes disagree with, but I’ve always respected his abilities.
* Meanwhile, from Illinois Review…
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) - who’s not been a favorite of Illinois’ old right wing since he ousted veteran Congressman Don Manzullo in 2012 - has riled the angst of longtime Illinois conservative activist Paul Caprio.
Caprio, who heads up the Family PAC Federal, sent out a press release Thursday “blasting” Kinzinger’s quotes in Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet’s column criticizing conservative U.S. House Republicans the congressman says pushed House Speaker John Boehner to retire.
“Stop attacking the integrity of the Republican Party base, Congressman. It’s insulting and divisive to grassroots conservatives. This is why so many conservatives are angry with Washington,” Caprio said in a press release.
Kinzinger made it clear to Sweet he rejects idealism and grasps a more pragmatic approach to politics that he believes should soothe conservatives’ frustration with GOP leadership.
The Lynn Sweet story is here. The full Caprio release is here.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
Congressman Adam Kinzinger,
Keep doin’ and sayin’ and bein’ the Congressman you are. I’m with ya on this Speaker thing.
You are “right”.
OW
- Tournaround Agenda - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
I think many are tired of the constant gridlock in Washington, Mr. Caprio. Looking at the list of people you support, I’d say you’re part of the problem.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:31 pm:
Was there something cotroversial about what Kinzinger said?
I thought it was common knowledge that talk-radio and many special interest groups have no interest in governing, and just do rhe outrage thing for ratings or to raise money.
- Southwest Cook - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:33 pm:
“Pro-family” Ha!
- walker - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:56 pm:
Read that a freedom caucus member said that Roskam could not take a leadership role because he is a “Liberal.” Wish I could relocate the source.
That is quite a strange idea. Roskam’s a lot of things, but that ain’t one of them — unless, like “Conservative,” the term no longer have any meaning.
- Anon - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:08 pm:
Shorter Roskam: “I’m still a nobody around here.”
- Not Alan Keyes - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:11 pm:
Well said. These outside groups hold the process hostage. Someone has the gahones to say it
- Adam Smith - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:20 pm:
Caprio had faded into a marginalized, bitter non-entity. The only thing keeping him from total irrelevance is that GOPers still fear his bombastic diatribes can precipitate primary challenges.
Kinzinger, meanwhile, continues to mature into a very sensible congresscritter.
- DuPage Don - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:26 pm:
Kinzinger and Roskam have roughly the same conservative rating, 76% to 80% respectively, according to the most recent American Conservative Union ratings…..nothing to see here, class. Move along. Move it along!
- illini - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
“Family Feud” I’ll keep watching!
- CommonMan - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 7:06 am:
Kinzinger is a voice of reason to a group he actually admires. He is a conservative, trying to help us gain power and a platform for our cause. Unilateral actions and angry tones make enemies of the very people we need to gain votes for real change. Seems to me he’s a courageous voice in a foggy world right now.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:02 am:
Roskam is all bark and no bite. It should surprise no one that he lost out on leadership last time around and would likely never enter into higher echelon leadership this or any future time.