House Speaker Paul Ryan’s statement that he was withholding his support for Donald Trump until he has had an opportunity to confer with him has the political world in a dither.
Fox’s Megyn Kelly, who seems to have sold her soul to Trump, tried to stir it into a major controversy last night during her interview with former speaker Newt Gingrich.
The liberal Los Angeles Times writes of a “deepening fracture” in the GOP as the media attempts to build this into a major GOP rift.
As I have previously written, Ryan has been meeting with Congressional Republicans for several months as they develop a 2016-style “contract with America” agenda to run on beginning this summer.
Ryan has said that his colleagues want to know if Trump shares their values and principles on limited government, the proper role of the executive and adherence to the Constitution. An understandable concern, given some of Trump’s off-the-wall campaign statements.
The suggestion that Trump would consider a Democrat to be his running mate by Ben Carson, who is putting together a list of vice presidential possibilities, didn’t help.
Not to be left out, Trump said, “I am not ready to support Speaker Ryan’s agenda. Perhaps in the future we can work together and come to an agreement about what is best for the American people.”
Look for the media to hype this duel for all it’s worth.
With his experience on Ways and Means, Ryan has been working on the GOP answer to replacing ObamaCare and much-needed tax reform legislation. And, while Trump doesn’t want to touch Social Security, it is in fiscal trouble and he would be wise to listen to Ryan’ solution.
The pair are expected to meet next week. Recalling how Ryan stood up to President Obama in 2010 (Click here to see), it is revealing that Ryan knows his stuff, and Trump would be wise to take advantage of his counsel.
I expect they will leave the meeting with an agreement on the importance of unifying the party. While Trump will want to give the impression that he’s in the driver’s seat, he will compliment Ryan on his efforts to make America great again. Ryan will assure us that the House stands ready to work with Trump.
The real test of their relationship will come in January 2017, presuming Trump survives the general election.
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