You have put your finger on it yet again, Thom. The incorrectly-named "freedom caucus" subscribes to the right-wing ideology of political libertarianism. Contrary to their rhetoric, libertarianism does not have as their fundamental principle "smaller government." Their fundamental principle is that power should be concentrated into the hands of the economic elites, with the role of government being to protect the interests of the elites. However big government needs to be to protect and serve the elites is how big the government should be. What the libertarians, and all other right-wingers, fear most is the circulation of power to a greater number of people. That fear and actions rooted in that fear, is what defines the right-wing. Those actions include fearing and hating anyone considered not right-wing enough, like McCarthy.