Paul Ryan appeals to GOP to reelect him as House speaker
As President-elect Donald Trump begins to announce his senior staff and cabinet members, House Speaker Paul Ryan urged his House GOP colleagues “go big” and support his reelection Tuesday afternoon, according to a letter obtained by CBS news.
“Serving as Speaker is a tremendous honor, and one I do not take for granted,” he wrote. “I am running for re-election so that we can continue what we have started and make 2017 a year of action. I ask for your vote, and I ask for your support at the start of this great undertaking.”
Ryan also used his letter as a means to nudge House Republicans who may be reluctant to embrace the Trump administration. Several establishment Republicans, particularly those in vulnerable congressional races, distanced themselves from the Trump campaign, condemning the business-mogul’s divisive rhetoric.
But, he added, that they now have a “historic opportunity” to listen to the American people by translating president-elect Trump’s “extraordinary victory” into action and progress.
“Think back for a moment to where we were one year ago, and to how divided we were as a conference,” he said in the letter. “Instead of continuing to drift, we united and went on offense. We initiated reforms....We developed a positive, specific policy agenda, and took it to the country.”
Ryan personalized his appeal, reminding them of his own initial reluctance to become speaker following the sudden resignation of former House Speaker John Boehner in September 2015.
“I accepted this duty reluctantly, but I have given it everything I have,” he wrote. “I do so out of love of country, and great affection for the men and women I serve with every day. Working closely with you, visiting your districts, getting to know your families better--these are among the true privileges of this job.”
Ryan’s feelings about the president-elect appear warmer now than they were during the campaign season. His endorsement of Trump finally came in June 2016, well after it was evident that Trump would secure the GOP nomination. During the Democratic convention, Ryan objected to Mr. Trump’s treatment of a Gold Star family featured at the Democratic National Committee. He reiterated that his support didn’t come with a “blank check.” Tension between the two peaked when Trump said he wasn’t “there yet” to endorse Ryan for his House re-election.
But, now that Trump is on the verge of being sworn in as the next commander-in-chief, Ryan alluded to Trump’s campaign slogan.
“If we go for it--if we go big and go bold--we can make American so great that it offers our children even more than it offers us,” he said.
