Zinke considers run for speaker of the House

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., said he is mulling a possible run for speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Zinke, a freshman congressman from Whitefish. known for his unceasing criticisms of President Barack Obama's foreign policy, recently expressed his interest in possibly entering the race for the top leadership position. He spoke on the matter during a three-day bus tour that has so far taken him from Browning to Bainvile. He is expected to wrap up his tour today with scheduled stops in Baker, Glendive, Miles City and Colestrip.

Breitbart News, a conservative news site, reports that Zinke said on the Sirius XM show "The Wilkow Majority" that he is mulling a possible bid for the position.

"We're looking at it," said Zinke in a statement released by congressional aide Heather Swift,

"Our phones are ringing off the hook because I think Americans want something different. I haven't decided, but what I have decided is that Congress better do our duty and defend the values of this country."

Zinke went on to say the position of speaker is about leading the entire House not just a political party.

The statement stands in contrast to the answer Zinke gave during an interview Sunday with the Havre Daily News Editorial Board.

"I hope Paul Ryan understands the gravity, which I think he does, and steps forward," said Zinke.

He later went on to say during that same discussion that he was "not interested in going anywhere other than to serve Montana."

Ryan has been hesitant to enter the field, despite media speculation and encouragement by some in the House Republican, who believe he can bring together the party's fractured House conference. In recent days, though, conservative pundits have expressed opposition to a Ryan speakership, due to his past embrace of immigration reform and his backing of the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The Republican House conference has been in disarray since House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced Sept. 25 he will resign both his speakership and his House seat amid grumblings from more conservative factions who believe he has not effectively stood up to Obama.

Last week Boehner's number two in the House, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., backed out of his short-lived campaign to succeed Boehner and elections for the party's top leadership positions were delayed. This came after comments he made hinting that the House Committee investigating the 2012 attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, was established to lower the popularity of former Secretary of State and leading Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

An article Sunday posted on Breitbart News listed Zinke among a slew of other possible contenders, citing his 23 years of experience as a Navy Seal commander and his strong conservative voting record during his eight months in office.

Montana Democrats reacted immediately with a press release lampooning the notion of a Zinke speakership, asking if he would be willing to shutdown the government "just to appease the Tea Party extremists you've stood with in Washington" and "as speaker, how far down do Montanans fall on your priority list among your new responsibilities."

Zinke's press corps had not responded to a request from the Havre Daily News for a response to those comments by printing deadline.