Appearing on “Morning Joe” Monday morning, GOP Rep. Tom Cole called possible challenges to John Boehner’s speakership “unprofessional” and “very disappointing” in the wake of a few congressmen offering themselves up as replacements over the weekend.
“I don’t think they’re very serious and, frankly, their pretty disappointing in this sense: any of these people that wanted to run could have run in the conference elections, and none of them did,” Cole told hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.
“So by going out and not voting for the conference, you’re not attacking John Boehner, you’re really attacking the Republican conference that you say you’re part of,” Cole said. (RELATED: Louie Gohmert Wants To Replace John Boehner As Speaker Of The House)
“I find it, frankly, pretty unprofessional and very disappointing,” the Oklahoma Republican added.
Though Cole did not mention them by name, those offering themselves as conservative alternatives to Speaker Boehner are Reps. Ted Yoho and Louie Gohmert. Both cited Boehner’s support of the CRomnibus as a major reason for their decision not to back Boehner. (RELATED: More Republicans Say They Won’t Support Boehner For Speaker)
Thus far, eight Republicans have publicly said they will not back Speaker Boehner to lead the 114th Congress.