The Republican senators leading the quixotic charge to defund Obamacare and risk a government shutdown are slated to headline an event next month to rally support for their cause.
Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) will headline the “Exempt America from Obamacare Rally” on Sept. 10 on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Other conervative lawmakers like Reps. Steve King (R-IA) and Paul Broun (R-GA) will also participate in the event.
The rally, scheduled to be held the day after Congress resumes following its August recess, is being organized by a number of conservative outfits such as ForAmerica and Tea Party Patriots. The Brent Bozell-run ForAmerica recently likened Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to a chicken for resisting the efforts to defund Obamacare, underscoring the divide in the GOP on the issue.
While Republican leaders on Capitol Hill like McConnell and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) have spoken out against the defunders, conservative activists are digging in their heels. Cruz and Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint have embarked on a nationwide tour to promote the defunding efforts.
At the first stop of the tour last week in Fayetteville, Ark., DeMint suggested that President Barack Obama might actually sign a bill that effectively guts his signature legislative achievement.
h/t Politico
This post has been updated.
