The Republican Party has experienced a calamity — the re-election of Barack Obama — and some parts of the party are behaving like an animal in a trap, chewing off a foot in an effort to cope with it.

Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Heritage Action, and a handful of talk-radio hosts are lashing out at anyone who questions the defund tactic on Obamacare as “the surrender caucus.” The only reason Republicans haven’t prevailed, they argue, is because Republican politicians — especially Republican leaders — are squishes. What’s needed are stalwart fighters who do not care about being invited to Georgetown cocktail parties.