Conservative outside groups are wasting no time in using Speaker John Boehner's retirement to raise cash from tea party supporters, boasting of their victory "in pushing Boehner aside" and bashing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the likely future speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy as "Boehner cronies."
In fundraising pitches emailed to supporters over the weekend and Monday morning, groups such as FreedomWorks, Madison Project, and Senate Conservatives Fund, credited their grassroots activists and House conservatives for Boehner's retirement. They also waded into the House Republicans' leadership scramble, encouraging their activists to take action so that the next speaker is from the conservative wing of the party.
The Madison Project told supporters: "However exciting this victory is, our work is not yet done. We cannot be content with allowing any current Members of the GOP Leadership to either stay and or fill Boehner's position."
Senate Conservatives Fund, which spent $2 million in the Kentucky primary to defeat McConnell last year, sent out an email titled, "Time for Mitch McConnell To Go."
FreedomWorks, another tea party group, warned activists against resting on their laurels, despite the win and asked supporters to make sure "one of Boehner's cronies" doesn't succeed him.
