My comments on House Speaker Paul Ryan condemnation of Donald Trump’s reluctance to disavow support from extremist groups. But first, the video and story.
The Video:
The Story via Politico:
Speaker Paul Ryan offered a rebuke of Republican front-runner Donald Trump on Tuesday, saying that any candidate hoping to be the GOP’s presidential nominee needs to “reject” bigotry.
The comments came after Trump failed to disavow the Ku Klux Klan and an endorsement by former KKK leader David Duke during a CNN interview this week. After answering a question on CNN about the white supremacist by saying he doesn’t “know anything about David Duke, OK?,” Trump later blamed a faulty earpiece for his remark.
The flap has created a major firestorm for the GOP as voters in 11 states prepare to cast primary ballots in Super Tuesday races.
Ryan, who didn’t mention Trump by name, told reporters that “no evasions and no games” could be used by anyone seeking the Republican nomination when it comes to hateful comments and racism.
“If a person wants to be the nominee of the Republican Party, there can be no evasions and no games. They must reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry. This party does not prey on people’s prejudices,” the former vice presidential candidate said.
He added, “We appeal to their highest ideals. This is the party of Lincoln. We believe that all people are created equal in the eyes of God and the government. This is fundamental.”
The remarks of the Republican Speaker of the House are an example to those wishing to enter Republican politics and everyone, Republican and Democrat alike should follow it. I only wish that there were others in the in the Republican Party who felt the same way.
Paul Ryan is correct in his assessment. The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln. The Republican Party was the party that debated Stephen A. Douglas, a Democrat, over the issue of slavery. Unfortunately, since that time, many things have happened: The New Deal, The Great Society, and The Civil Rights Act — all of which begat, The Southern Strategy.
These political policies and outright exploitation of these issues, have led to the pitting of classes and races of people against each other. Both of the political parties are guilty, they have done it and now; we have a Presidential candidate that finds himself being attacked, by the same people who created this entire culture and they want him to give obeisance.
The political chess game has started; I just hope that Trump has a better game than the accusers do.