RNC chief: Boehner resignation a ‘selfless act’

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus says Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) decision to step down was “selfless” and prevented a major fight within the House GOP.

“Taking care of this leadership issue was a pretty selfless act that Speaker Boehner decided to make a little bit easier for everyone,” Priebus said told host John Catsimatidis on AM 970 New York on Sunday. “I might imagine he would have been able to hang on, but the truth is he’s just not the type of guy to put up with it, so he just said, ‘Forget it, I’ll move on.’”

Boehner announced on Friday that he would retire from Congress at the end of October, forestalling a challenge to his speakership from hardline conservatives in the House.

{mosads}Priebus said he was shocked by the move.

“Yeah, it was a surprise, I have to say that, for sure,” he said.

“You know, here’s the interesting thing about Speaker Boehner, which however you feel about the Speaker, one thing’s for sure, he doesn’t clown around when it comes to shooting straight.”

The RNC chair said bringing in new leadership is a step in the right direction for the party.

“I think hitting the reset button for the party is a good thing, it’s not a bad thing,” Priebus said. “I think when you look at our party, and you look at the diversity of our party, and as you point out, many new faces, whether freshmen or sophomore members of the House, that’s all positive.”

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is the favorite to replace Boehner as Speaker, although he has not announced his bid for the post.

Boehner announced his retirement the day after Pope Francis addressed a joint session of Congress, a move the speaker had been orchestrating for over 20 years. Many considered it one of the high points in the Catholic congressman’s long tenure.