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Readers React: Cantor’s loss is the GOP’s too

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With all the postmortems on Virginia GOP Rep. Eric Cantor’s primary defeat, one thing must be made clear: The tea party shot itself in the foot. (“The Cantor defeat: A voters’ revolt against, but against what?,” Opinion, June 13)

The outgoing House majority leader has a lifetime rating of 95 from the American Conservative Union, making him more conservative than Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.). Had Cantor been reelected, he would have had a shot at unseating House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), making him arguably the most conservative speaker in history.

Cantor lost owing to ignorance in his campaign and among his constituents in Virginia, who are said to have voted him out on the issue of immigration. Had it not been for Cantor’s stalling, the reform bill would have already been passed by establishment Republicans and Democrats.

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Now conservatives have lost one of their greatest advocates in the House.

I hope Cantor mounts a write-in campaign for November and that his constituents realize their error.

Brian J. Goldenfeld

Woodland Hills

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