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Meadows: Move to oust speaker is about 'broken Washington'

By Bill Moss, Published: July 29, 2015

One day after his move to oust House Speaker John Boehner thrust him into the center of national politics, U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows described the bold action as a response to Americans' frustration with a "broken Washington."

The Republican who was elected to Congress in 2012 after a career in business made a procedural move on his 56th birthday that stunned Washington and vaulted him into the national political headlines for the second time in a month. And although Meadows told Capitol Hill reporters that “I don’t like being in the limelight,” his move to unseat House Speaker John Boehner put him at center stage in a growing debate over the shape and direction of the Republican Party.

"I think it's really more about the American people who believe that Washington, D.C., is broken and it's certainly about having inclusive debate and not just debate decided by a few people," Meadows said in an interview Wednesday morning. The House was expected to convene later in the day and Meadows said it was possible his "motion to vacate the chair" could come up.

"There is some thought that the speaker will bring it up and try to make sure it's defeated today just to get it out of the way," he said. Whether the effort gains any traction "is really up to the American people to decide with their representative. From my standpoint, it's an action that is predicated on the fact that people are frustrated with how business is being done up here and (feel that ) their voice is being drowned out."

Meadows said he's prepared to suffer the consequences at the hands of the House leadership. He has not spoken with Boehner since he filed the motion Wednesday afternoon, on his 56th birthday.

"I don't know that it was a birthday present," he said with a laugh when asked about the timing. "I would prefer this didn't have to happen and didn't need to happen."

So far, he said, the reaction has positive.

"I think from the district it's been very supportive and around the country it's been supportive," he said.

His office had fielded many requests for interviews from print, online and television reporters. "We've obviously had a number of request, some from national TV as early as 7:30 this morning," he said. "But we're really trying not to make this personal as much as it really is about process."

The Meadows story was covered by dozens of newspapers, websites and blogs. It was the second most read story on Politico, which broke the story Wednesday night, and was covered by the Washington Post, the National Journal, Rollcall, CNN, Fox News and others.

"Meadows has shown a rebellious streak before, voting at times against his leadership on key votes," Politico reported. "He’s among the cadre of conservatives who earlier this year launched the House Freedom Caucus, which has been a hotbed for scheming against leadership. He voted against Boehner for speaker on the House floor in January — one of 25 Republicans to do so. He also cast one of just 34 Republican votes against a pivotal procedural move on trade."

Meadows told radio talk show host Mark Levin on Tuesday night he's ready to accept the consequences for his rebellion. "These will be very difficult days," he said, according to an online account in New York magazine. "It will not come without retribution and that’s to be understood."

Here are some reactions:

“My first reaction is I’m getting spoofed,” Rep. David Schweikert, (R-Ariz.) a fellow Freedom Caucus co-founder and close friend of Meadows, told The Hill.

“Every time defenders of freedom need a leader, John Boehner has failed us. It’s time to remove Boehner from the speakership before it’s too late to pass bold reforms,” FreedomWorks CEO Adam Brandon said in a statement. “It’s time to end the Boehner Blunder.”

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said in a UPI report: "When you don't raise any money, and you need a way to raise money, you do gimmicks like this."