The civil War inside of the Republican Party has just tumbled out into the open for all to see with Senate Minority Leader Mich McConnell throwing down the gauntlet for the coming battle against the Tea Party and its Astroturf funders.
Leading Republicans Move to Stamp Out Challenges From Right
By CARL HULSE
“I think we are going to crush them everywhere,” Mr. McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, said in an interview, referring to the network of activist organizations working against him and two Republican incumbents in Kansas and Mississippi while engaging in a handful of other contests. “I don’t think they are going to have a single nominee anywhere in the country.”
MaConnell's language wasn't the least bit conciliatory, he was rallying his forces for the coming intra-party battle. With Ted Cruz fundraising for his Senate colleagues' challengers the GOP's customary comity has broken down.
Tea Party pushes back against McConnell
CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser
Tea party groups, as expected, were blistering with their responses.
"It is shameful that the Senate minority leader would make such comments. He is talking about the base of the party, so he must not want the tea party vote in the general election and that is why he should be removed. The GOP needs a uniter, not someone that is there because they have seniority," Amy Kremer, the Tea Party Express chair, told CNN.
"The days of the good ole boy club are coming to an end. This seat doesn't belong to Mitch McConnell or to the Republican Party. This seat belongs to ‘We the People’ and we will have our voices heard," Kremer added.
"Grassroots voters will not be bullied by self-anointed senators for life," said Matt Kibbe, president and CEO of FreedomWorks. "Mitch McConnell and his cronies still serve the people back home, and his hostile comments only provide more motivation to send new leadership to Washington."
"Does Senator McConnell have a political death wish? There was some division within tea party groups about whether to support him or support Matt Bevin and I think he just settled the issue," chimed in Judson Phillips, founder of the Tea Party Nation, told CNN.
This is a signal for Republicans that the gloves are off and a bare knuckle brawl is getting underway, and they better be ready for a no holds barred knock down drag out primary contest.