Posted on 01/14/2016 1:07:10 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
BALTIMORE — House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday that Republican lawmakers plan to support whoever wins the Republican nomination for president, even if it's Donald Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz.
Ryan, R-Wis., briefed reporters alongside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., at the GOP annual retreat, where lawmakers plotted their 2016 legislative agenda.
"Yes, we are going to support whoever our nominee is," Ryan said. "Know why? Because it's the Republican primary voter that makes that decision. And that's what we respect."
Ryan called questions about a brokered Republican National Convention "ridiculous," adding, "How do I know? Nobody knows the answer to that."
"As a general rule, what I've tried to ask the Senate to do is let the presidential candidates run their race and let's try to do the people's business," McConnell said.
But McConnell and Ryan said they "had a hand" in choosing South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to give the GOP response to Obama's final State of the Union Address on Tuesday. Haley used the address to lob criticism at Trump, the national front-runner.
"We think she gave a great speech," Ryan said. "What she is ultimately trying to do is talk about how we need to have a message that is inspiring, that is inclusive, hopeful, optimistic and that unites the country. We don't want to have another president like this one, that divides the country. We want to unite. That means listening to all voices, those that are frustrated, those who are inspiring, all of the above."
Ryan said the GOP will produce an agenda for 2016 to present to the public and whoever wins the nomination. "We think can help carry that forward," he said.
Ryan could get everything he wants if Trump wins.
We can get everything if Cruz wins.
Ryan SAYS . . . . You can trust him just as far as you can kick him.
Establishment sees they can attach themselves like a lamprey if it’s a huge success.
That’s what has driven the GOP ever since 1988.
Who wrote/approvedt he speech? Made it different when delivered in Spanish?
So Ryan says something right, hopefully he stays the course.
I love this line:
“Know why? Because it’s the Republican primary voter that makes that decision. And that’s what we respect.”
Good thing I didn’t have anything in my mouth. It would have come out my nose.
Paul Ryan?
No one believes a word this guys says.
That makes him the most powerful opponent Trump or Cruz has.
And he'll do whatever he can get away with to stop them.
These clowns talk about uniting the country, and they can’t even unite their own party. Idiots.
Mr. Ryan has sold himself to Baphomet, and bathed himself clean of all TeaParty affiliations.
I don’t trust him.
The pols would give lip service to Trump or Cruz while their aides would be undermining them the whole time as “unnamed sources”.
Wow thats yyyuuuggggeee of him
BINGO!
If the GOPe does not support Trump or Cruz, if either is the nominee, it will result in the greatest REPUBLICAN Election losses of all time.
Ryan “smells” it in the air.
How else will he hold the line for the Uniparty?
Alright, Speaker Ryan, you earned a kudo. But don’t let it go to your head.
That’s mighty white of Ryan
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