A pro-Trump Super PAC has had just about enough of a fiscally conservative group that has helped torpedo some of the White House's biggest initiatives, including Trumpcare. So the PAC, the 45Committee, took to the airwaves to publicly assail the Club for Growth during Georgia’s special election to fill Tom Price’s open House seat. Trump's backers were working to dim the chances of Club for Growth-backed candidate Bob Gray in an expansive GOP field, writes Maggie Haberman.
The spot, airing nationally on Fox News, describes the conservative Club for Growth — one of the best-funded groups on the right — as having “saved” President Barack Obama’s signature health care law by criticizing the initial deal the White House considered. The spot goes on to accuse the club of having “saved” Planned Parenthood as well, and it notes that it “attacked” Mr. Trump. [...]
“The Club for Growth has actually spent more money this year against conservatives than the D.N.C., D.S.C.C. and D.C.C.C. combined,” said Brian Baker, the 45Committee president, using the abbreviations for the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic senatorial and congressional campaign committees.
The 45Committee is largely financed by billionaire GOP donors and Trump boosters Sheldon Adelson and the Ricketts family (as in, Todd Rickets, who just pulled his name from consideration as deputy commerce secretary).
Though the ad was technically related to the GA-06 special election, it was squarely aimed at sending the powerful Club for Growth a signal: back off.
The GA-06 power struggle represents the larger wall Republicans have run up against while trying to pass legislation—finding some middle ground in the chasm between more moderate conservatives and House "Freedom" Caucus members, who will stop at nothing to get their way. Club for Growth began allying with Freedom Caucus wannabe candidates in the 2016 election cycle.
But it was Republicans who built that caucus when they gerrymandered a bunch of districts past the point of any reasonability. Now they have a bunch of intemperate representatives who have no incentive to moderate. About anything. Ever.
If no middle ground emerges over the next year—and how could it?—expect to see an escalation in this GOP brawl.