House conservatives: Rove’s criticism ‘wrong and misguided’

Four members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus on Tuesday blasted former Bush administration official Karl Rove for his recent criticism of the House group in The Wall Street Journal.

Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Dave Brat (R-Va.), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) blasted the Republican strategist in a Tuesday op-ed for the Washington Examiner, accusing him of exerting “swamp-like” influence in Washington.

“Karl Rove’s recent column blaming the House Freedom Caucus for Washington dysfunction was wrong and misguided,” the four lawmakers write. “It is unfortunate that he has chosen to exert this swamp-like influence.”

The conservative lawmakers argue that they are beholden not to each other or their party, but rather to their constituents. Rove, they write, has never been elected to public office and doesn’t understand this reasoning.

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“Contrary to Rove’s piece, the House Freedom Caucus does not exist to obstruct our leadership. Rather, we do our best to listen to our constituents and fight for what they believe in,” the article continues.

“This virtue was once celebrated, but somehow became the enemy in recent years. Having never been elected to public office, Rove may not understand this responsibility.”

Rove blasted the group in The Wall Street Journal last week, arguing that the group likely will make tax reform impossible until next year.

“The Freedom Caucus’s shenanigans may delay tax reform until 2018,” Rove wrote last week. “These lawmakers are demonstrating once again that the freedom they most prize is freedom from the responsibility of governing.”

“Instead of directing his frustrations at a group of members who are working hard for solutions, Rove should set his sights on the failing institution of Congress,” the group counters.

“If not for the Senate’s filibuster and failed reconciliation tactics, we might already have repealed ObamaCare and made tremendous progress on tax reform.”