A conservative group rushed in this week to defend U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., from a group with ties to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, over his vote on funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier this month.
Boehner was successful in his efforts to get the U.S. Senates plan to fund DHS without an attempt to push back against President Barack Obamas executive action on immigration -- letting around 5 million illegals stay in the U.S. without fear of being deported -- through Congress. That didnt set well with conservatives in the Republican caucus, including Yoho, a favorite of the tea party movement ever since he defeated longtime U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., in the Republican primary back in 2012. Yoho has been a thorn in Boehners side over the last two years, refusing to vote for him as speaker in 2013 and running against him earlier this year.
The American Action Network (AAN) launched a digital ad last week, urging Yoho to vote to fund DHS. The group defines itself as an 'action tank' that creates, encourages and promotes center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism, and strong national security.' AAN's primary goal is "to put our center-right ideas into action by engaging the hearts and minds of the American people and spurring them into action to advance our center-right policy agenda. Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., chairs AAN and the group is also linked to Boehner.
The Club for Growth and other conservative groups pushed back against this effort with Heritage Action, which has ties to the Heritage Institute, taking aim at AAN this week. Heritage Action launched a website this week in support of Yoho against AAN.
Last year the entire Republican Party campaigned on stopping Obamas amnesty, but when they felt pressure from Obama and the Democrats, they gave up and then launched attack ads on conservatives who stood firm, Heritage Action notes at the site. Ted Yoho stood on principle and kept his promise to constituents. Now a pro-amnesty group with close ties to House Republican leadership is attacking Ted Yoho for trying to stop Obamas unconstitutional amnesty!
Calling on supporters to defend the conservative by backing Yoho, Heritage Action insisted, This is a Republican on Republican attack.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
