Shutting down the government would be the best way to "make sure no Republican is going to win the presidency in 2016," Rep. Tom Cole said Monday morning.
"Most folks know what we did in October 2013 was a failure," the Oklahoma Republican told
MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program. "It was a mistake; it was overreach."
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The failed Obamacare roll out saved Republicans last time there was a shutdown, Cole said, as "one disaster was followed by a bigger disaster," but he said he would not count on being "that lucky twice...shutting down the government is a proved failing strategy. Why in the world would you repeat that?"
Meanwhile, there are many conservatives on the hill saying that if House Speaker John Boehner backs down in the growing fight against funding Planned Parenthood, he will be replaced in office. However, Cole defended him.
"These really aren't fights over who is most conservative," Cole said. "John Boehner had the eighth most conservative votes [before he became speaker], so he's plenty conservative enough. This is a debate over tactics and you got people who want to pursue tactics."
Besides, Cole said that in a bill he has proposed, Planned Parenthood is defunded, with money going to help other women's health providers.
Also, he said that even if the government shuts down, it still remains difficult for Congress to eliminate the Department of Health and Human Services' grant making abilities, and without a president that will appoint a pro-life secretary of Health and Human Services director who is pro-life, the problem won't end.
Meanwhile, Cole said he's not worried about who the eventual presidential nominee will be, as he has confidence in the party's voters, and "at the end of the day, they'll make a good choice; they always do."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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