NSFW: House Republicans finally draw a line against the 'a--hole factor'

Republicans aren't against all assholes. See above. Just some. See below. Three House Republicans who were booted from their committee assignments earlier this month weren't knocked off as part of an ideological vendetta against conservatives, GOP officials tell Politico:

Back-bench freshmen Justin Amash, Tim Huelskamp and David Schweikert are gaining martyr status among conservative activists after they were 'purged' from House committees for what they say is a matter of sticking to their principles on tough votes.

But some of their colleagues say the trio got yanked by the leadership-driven Republican Steering Committee because they're jerks ' or worse.

Specifically (my emphasis):

In a closed-door meeting of the House Republican Study Committee on Wednesday, Amash and Huelskamp argued that they had been unfairly targeted for their conservative voting records, complaining that the leadership used a 'secret scorecard' to rate their loyalty.

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a conservative who is close to party leaders, told them that the 'asshole factor' came into play in the Steering decision.

Westmoreland's spokeswoman tried to walk that back, saying her boss should have said "obstinate" instead of "asshole," but I'm inclined to believe the congressman. After all, who in their right mind believes that Republicans are actually trying to punish members of their party for being too conservative? And given how they are being such total a-holes themselves when it comes to the looming tax hikes and spending cuts of the fiscal cliff, it makes total sense that the only place House Republicans would draw the line when it comes to assholish behavior ... is when they are the target of that assholish behavior.