Appearing exclusively on Sunday’s Meet the Press, Chuck Todd repeatedly pressed Speaker Paul Ryan to denounce conservative radio talk show hosts Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin over their criticism of the recently-passed omnibus bill and Todd demanded to know how he’ll work with President Obama to “lay the groundwork” to end political polarization.
Prior to the interview, Todd ruled that “[i]t would be an understatement to say there is conservative anger over the budget deal agreed to by the new Speaker, Paul Ryan” because “Planned Parenthood and the Affordable Care Act are funded, that there are no restrictions on Syrian and Iraqi refugees and that there are no measures blocking President Obama's efforts to fight climate change.”
Todd brought up criticism from Levin and Ingraham (plus praise from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid) just over a minute into the taped interview:
What does it say though — so, Mark Levin says: “They betrayed you,” referring to you. “They betrayed your children and grandchildren.” Laura Ingraham: “Omni-BUST:, Marco Rubio is to Jeb Bush as Paul Ryan is to John Boehner.” That is not meant as a compliment, as you might know, but Harry Reid said this: “It's a good product for the American people.” So here you have Harry Reid praising you and all these conservative opinion leaders calling it betrayal.
When Ryan tried to brush that off, Todd shot back by demanding to know whether their “rhetoric is inappropriate” or “[o]ut of line” along with the idea that there were some moderate Republicans upset with such criticism.
The pair discussed the tax provisions of the deal, but Todd then turned to a line of questioning concerning how Ryan would work with President Obama. The NBC/MSNBC host started off with a broad question: “Let me move to your relationship with President Obama. You've been in seven weeks. What is something you think you guys can get done?”
Moments later, however, the tone grew more confrontational as Todd lamented that whoever wins the 2016 presidential race will “become immediately polarizing” and pivoted to asking how he and the current President “could lay the groundwork to just lessen it a little bit?”
The Speaker responded that while he’s “discussed that with him,” he also pointed out his firm belief that “he's one of the most polarizing presidents we've ever had.” Todd continued pressing and argued that, to many, opposition to ObamaCare is polarizing in of itself
TODD: But isn't it going to be anybody at this point? Isn’t it part of this environment.
RYAN: You know, I think leadership matters. Leaders can unify and leaders can polarize. This President decided to polarize.
TODD: But you guys are going to try to defund his signature health care law. For many progressives, that's a polarizing move.
RYAN: It's a law that is working. It’s a law that’s depriving people's choices. It’s a law that’s making families pay double digit premium increases. It’s a law that’s leading Medicare into a rationing scheme that’s not going to work for seniors —
TODD: I understand the argument, but do you understand to some that that is, to some, just as polarizing as what you're saying President Obama is doing? My point is, how do we get out of this cycle?
The relevant portions of the transcript from NBC’s Meet the Press on December 20 can be found below.
NBC’s Meet the Press
December 20, 2015
11:04 a.m. Eastern
CHUCK TODD: It would be an understatement to say there is conservative anger over the budget deal agreed to by the new Speaker, Paul Ryan. Just take a look at this headline from The Washington Times: “White House declares total victory over GOP in budget battle.” Needless to say, conservatives are unhappy that Planned Parenthood and the Affordable Care Act are funded, that there are no restrictions on Syrian and Iraqi refugees and that there are no measures blocking President Obama's efforts to fight climate change. Speaker Ryan has heard the criticism. I sat down with him on Friday and he said he'd deal with Planned Parenthood in the new year and conservatives need to accept he had to make compromises to get a deal done.
(....)
TODD: What does it say though — so, Mark Levin says: “They betrayed you,” referring to you. “They betrayed your children and grandchildren.” Laura Ingraham: “Omni-BUST:, Marco Rubio is to Jeb Bush as Paul Ryan is to John Boehner.” That is not meant as a compliment, as you might know, but Harry Reid said this: “It's a good product for the American people.” So here you have Harry Reid praising you and all these conservative opinion leaders calling it betrayal.
HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN: Look, none of this stuff gets to me. It's results that matters. We made good on our promises. We advanced good legislation and more importantly —
TODD: Do you think this rhetoric is inappropriate? Out of line?
RYAN: I really don't pay attention to it. Look, people know who I am.
TODD: Some of your members do.
RYAN: The members know I am a movement conservative. They know that I am a doer not a beer. I want to make sure we have an agenda that we take the American people that gives the country a clear choice and that's what we're excited to look forward to in 2016.
(....)
TODD: Let me move to your relationship with President Obama. You've been in seven weeks. What is something you think you guys can get done?
(....)
TODD: Most likely, whoever is elected president is going to become immediately polarizing. We're living in a time where it feels that this is — is there anything you and President Obama can do together that could lay the groundwork to just lessen it a little bit? Have you guys thought about that? Have you thought about that?
RYAN: I discussed that with him. I think he's one of the most polarizing presidents we've ever had.
TODD: But isn't it going to be anybody at this point? Isn’t it part of this environment.
RYAN: You know, I think leadership matters. Leaders can unify and leaders can polarize. This President decided to polarize.
TODD: But you guys are going to try to defund his signature health care law. For many progressives, that's a polarizing move.
RYAN: It's a law that is working. It’s a law that’s depriving people's choices. It’s a law that’s making families pay double digit premium increases. It’s a law that’s leading Medicare into a rationing scheme that’s not going to work for seniors —
TODD: I understand the argument, but do you understand to some that that is, to some, just as polarizing as what you're saying President Obama is doing? My point is, how do we get out of this cycle?
