By using one specific phrase during his press conference today, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan confirmed that the Republican Party intends to dump Donald Trump.
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Earlier in the day, Ryan said in an interview on WISN radio in Milwaukee that there was no scenario under which he would seek the Republican nomination. Therefore, I should not be considered, period, end of story.
Ryan, speaking to the party’s delegates, said that if someone wants to be the nominee of the party, one should “actually run for it”. Still, Ryan went as far as suggesting that convention delegates should change the rule so that only the GOP Nomination only goes to someone who has actually been in the running to be the party’s nominee. “As Speaker of the House, I believe I have not just an opportunity but an obligation to advance that debate”.
Establishment Republicans have been scrambling to counter the rise of Donald Trump, who now leads the delegate count, out of fears that he will cost the party a chance at the White House.
“I believe that we can once again be an optimistic party that is defined by our belief in the limitless possibility of our people”, he said.
Ryan initially also said no to becoming speaker of the House and only agreed to take the position after certain stipulations were met. Since taking up the post he’s worked to unify the GOP House caucus.
And more importantly, it’s unlikely Ryan wants to be nominated by seemingly circumventing the will of millions of caucus and primary participants who have cast their votes for the current selection of 2016 GOP nominees.
“He’s going to rule himself out and put this to rest once and for all”, a Ryan aide told CNN.
Ryan insisted Tuesday that such moves have been aimed at communicating on behalf of House Republicans, though he has yet to unveil the policy proposals he’s been promising.
Ryan said that whoever the candidate is should replace Obamacare, reform the tax code, address poverty and boost job creation. Republicans aren’t going to limit themselves to choosing between Trump, Cruz, and Kasich. “I can’t speak for anyone other than myself… but I’m not interested in supporting the kind of a process that would allow someone to swoop in and take the nomination from candidates who have been competing for it”, he said.
Ryan said his hands were full trying to create a budget that would be accepted by both the tea party extremists in his party and Democrats. Ryan orchestrated four budget efforts as chairman of the Budget Committee over 2011-2014 but now can’t produce as speaker.
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But the House speaker stoked the flames after he gave a late-March speech about the state of American politics in which he spoke out about the language being used in the presidential race.
