Paul Ryan now holds GOP hostage?
Paul Ryan gave a press conference after meeting with the Republican caucus. He explained that he gave a few demands that had to be met before he would run for Speaker of the House of Representative.
The Huffington Post reports the following.
WASHINGTON — Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) told the House Republican conference Tuesday that he will enter the race for speaker of the House, but only if he wins support from all wings of the party.
Despite his previous insistence that he wouldn’t run, Ryan, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman, told members in a rare evening meeting that he would jump in if Republicans agree to his conditions.
“If I can truly be a unifying figure, then I will gladly serve,” Ryan told reporters after the meeting. “And if I am not unifying, that will be fine as well. I’ll be happy to stay where I am.”
Ryan said he insisted on several conditions he expects his colleagues to answer by the end of the week. The stipulations included: Republicans will stop being “an opposition party;” Republicans need to “update House rules so everyone can be a more effective representative;” the conference needs to unify “now;” Ryan cannot and will not give up time with his family.
“We have become the problem,” Ryan said. “If my colleagues entrust me to be the speaker, I want us to be the solution.”
Id Paul Ryan doing to the Freedom Caucus what they have been doing to the GOP? Seems like he has their backs against the wall.