Telling CNN’s Jake Tapper “he’s not yet ready to back” GOP presumptive nominee 69-year-old real estate mogul Donald Trump, newly minted House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) found himself in whole lot of hurt. Making a rookie mistake, Ryan wants to debate with Trump about the “role of the executive or limited government,” something so off-the-wall, so inappropriate, that it raised Ryan’s fitness as House Speaker. Ryan was pushed into the job reluctantly Oct. 28, 2015, when former House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) successor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), self-destructed Sept. 30, 2015 on Fox News “Sean Hannity Show” over stupid comments about the Benghazi Select Committee. Backed by the ultra-conservative, 41-member House Freedom Caucus, Ryan hasn’t figured out his job as House Speaker. Refusing to back the GOP’s presumptive nominee could end his brief career.
Ryan can’t figure out the difference between ideological battles in the conservative movement and running the 435-member House of Representatives. When Ryan meets Trump Thursday to hash-out their differences, he’s in for a rude awakening. Trump’s not going to engage in sophomoric debates about the role of the executive or limited government. He’s going to ask Ryan to back his nomination without pre-conditions or step down as House Speaker and chairman of the July Republican National Convention. Ryan’s got a few days to grow up or face the consequences of acting like a rebellious teenager. Ryan’s ideological idol, conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh, wholeheartedly backs Trump and believes he’ll win the general election in an historic landslide. If Rush believed Trump were a threat to the conservative movement, he wouldn’t hesitate to say so.
While 2012 GOP nominee former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) continue their temper tantrums boycotting Trump and the RNC convention, Ryan stands to sabotage his young career. Ryan’s so controlled by the Freedom Caucus, he can’t think for himself, so worried about betraying his conservative friends. Ryan needs to listen to Rush who sees no contradiction between Trump’s populism and the conservative movement. “I don’t think they [conservatives] understand al all the reasons people support Trump,” said Rush, referring to the GOP’s abysmal failures on Capitol Hill. Rank-and-file GOP voters overwhelmingly back Trump because they’re fed up with useless ideological battles and Washington’s partisan divide. Ryan can’t fathom the House’s disgraceful 10% approval ratings, prompting voters to seek change.
Before Ryan makes a big mistake Thursday raising extraneous issues like the role of the executive or limited government, he needs to grow up. Ryan talks about the Constitution but doesn’t get its most basic premise: One man/woman one vote. Voters have spoken loudly they want Trump to represent the GOP, not Ryan’s Freedom Caucus or any other fringe group. Ryan must come to grips with the vast majority of GOP voters—his constituents—that back Trump. Whether Trump was sabotaged by former GOP candidate Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin April 5, that’s not how the rest of country voted. Trump’s closest rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tezas), folded his tent after losing the May 3 Indiana primary in a landslide. Unlike Ryan, Indiana voters decided it’s time for the country to get behind Trump. Trump doesn’t threaten conservatives, he’s saving them.
Ryan should heed Rush’s words before meeting Trump next Thursday. “Against the message like Trump’s, if your counter message is, ‘I’m the most conservative guy running,’ that’s not going to work,” said Rush. Ryan’s concerns about the role of the president, limited government or anything else should take a backseat to marshalling the House to beat Hillary in the Fall. No other single event can help the conservative movement and Republican Party more than beating Hillary. “None of this is about ideology right now,” said Rush, reassuring conservatives that Trump’s populism doesn’t hurt the conservative movement or GOP. Ryan’s meeting with Trump needs to focus on how the GOP-controlled House can help Trump take back the White House. However many of Trump’s rivals have sour grapes, it’s not going to have much impact on the general election.
Ryan’s got some growing up to do between now and when he meets with Trump on Thursday. Ryan’s allegiance to Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-Ohio) Freedom Caucus needs give way to backing his Party’s presumptive nominee. Trump beat 18 GOP presidential candidates, all vying for the same job. Voters overwhelmingly backed his new practical breed of GOP politics, looking ahead to taking on Hillary. Mitt’s 2012 VP pick, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, warned Ryan about opposing his Party’s presumptive nominee. With more GOP insiders backing Trump everyday, Ryan career is now on the line. Ryan’s Freedom Caucus represents one limited, 41-member faction of House Republicans. As House Speaker, Ryan’s obligated to represent 435 House members, certainly all 257 GOP members. Opposing Trump because of Jordan’s Freedom Caucus shows Ryan’s got some thinking to do.
