Representing the slim Tea Party and ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus in the House, newly minted House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) went out-of-line refusing to give his blessings to 69-year-old presumptive GOP nominee real estate tycoon Donald Trump. Speaking to CNN’s “The Lead” with Jake Tapper, Ryan confessed he wasn’t quite ready to support his Party’s nominee. Saying he “can’t support Trump yet,” Ryan acts like his narrow House caucus picks presidential candidates, confused over his role since taking over from former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) Oct. 29, 2015. Ryan reluctantly left his job as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, after House Majority Leader. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) self-destructed Sept. 30, 2015 on Fox News “Sean Hannnity Show,” insisting the House Benghazi Select Committee worked magic damaging Hillary’s presidential bid.
Pushed by necessity into House Speaker, Ryan doesn’t yet get his proper role, and limits, of House Speaker. “But I think what is required is that we unify the party. And I think the bulk of the burden on unifying the party will have to come from our presumptive nominee,” said Ryan, not cautioning his Tea Party and Freedom Caucus friends to know their place. “This is the party of Lincoln, of Reagan, of Jack Kemp, and we don’t always nominate a Lincoln and Reagan every four years,” said Ryan, alluding to Trump’s campaign rhetoric falling far short of those ideals. But Ryan’s real issue has to do with the egregious bulling by the House Tea Party and Freedom caucus fringe that shut down the government and nearly defaulted the Treasury Oct. 1, 2013. While House Budget Committee Chairman, Ryan was responsible for the Jan. 1, 2013 “sequester,” imposing budget cuts on the military and social safety net.
Ryan’s extremist Tea Party views were on full display Aug. 10, 2012 when 2012 GOP nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney picked him as his running mate. Ryan’s right wing views rankled voters when he began immediately attacking Social Security and Medicare. Ryan’s buzzword about “smaller” government directly relates to shrinking current entitlement programs, something he sees as his conservative duty. Ryan’s public remarks about Medicare and Social Security hurt Romney’s campaign. Romney, a moderate Republican, picked Ryan to placate the GOP’s right wing, only to find out it tanked his campaign. Romney should have known better since 2008 GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) did exactly the same thing picking Tea Party favorite former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Ryan now wants to dictate what’s best for Trump in 2016.
Ryan doesn’t call out former GOP candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for calling Trump a “jackass.” Or, for than matter, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for getting even more base. Ryan isn’t concerned about the GOP’s reputation, he’s concerned about the Tea Party and Freedom Caucus exerting influence on Trump’s agenda. Winning more delegates and popular votes than any candidate in GOP history, Ryan’s not in a position to advise Trump about a winning formula. If Trump follows Ryan’s suggestions, he’d turn the White House keys over to Hillary. GOP voters gravitated to Trump precisely because he doesn’t fit the typical GOP mold. Ryan’s views and policies are so far out of the mainstream, they guarantee failure in November. Instead of praising Trump for generating so much buzz among GOP voters, Ryan feels inclined to throw in his two cents.
Ryan’s in no position as House Speaker to dictate his agenda to his Party’s presumptive nominee. “Paul Ryan said that I inherited something very special, the Republican Party. Wrong, I didn’t inherit it, I won it with millions of voters!” Trump Tweeted. Ryan plays ultimate Party boss when he thinks he can impose his right wing agenda on his Party’s presumptive nominee. GOP’s Party establishment hasn’t figured out that voters picked Trump precisely because of his agenda and politics. With Trump’s disgruntled critics like Jeb, Graham, Romney and former President George W. Bush boycotting the RNC July convention, it’s time Ryan to wake up. Ryan’s House approval ratings are about 11%. GOP primary voters have resoundingly rejected his Tea Party and Freedom Caucus agenda in 2016. Voters want the partisan bickering and gridlock to end, not debating Party ideology.
Expected to meet with Ryan next week on the Hill, Trump needs to factor in Ryan’s age, inexperience and partisan zealotry. Telling Ryan he expects to run a professional campaign against Democratic presumptive nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Trump needs to show patience with House conservatives. “I don’t think anybody expected this [primaries] to come to an end on Tuesday,” said Ryan. “I think its going to take some time for some people to come to grips and to get to know Donald Trump,” showing his disbelief that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich threw in the towel. Ryan, like other GOP insiders, thought this was going to a contested convention. Getting up to speed, Ryan needs to recognize that Trump now sets the agenda for the Republican Party, not the unpopular House Tea Party or Freedom Caucus.
