All three networks on Wednesday spun Paul Ryan as dealing with the “far-right” “hardliners" in Congress. Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos lectured, “Paul Ryan steps forward toward the top job in Congress with a challenge to fellow Republicans.” In a news brief, Tom Llamas derided conservatives: “Ryan wants Republicans to unite behind him by Friday, including the far-right members of the party.”
In a news brief, Tom Llamas opined, “Ryan wants Republicans to unite behind him by Friday, including the far-right members of the party.” In another segment, reporter Jon Karl scolded, “With his party and Congress now in disarray, Paul Ryan now says he's willing to run for Speaker of the House.”
Over on CBS This Morning, Nancy Cordes stressed that Ryan will run for Speaker only if he is supported by the whole House conference, a move that “turns the tables on hardline conservatives who were hoping to extract concessions from their next speaker in exchange for their support.”
She then underlined this attack, repeating that Ryan “is seen as one the only people who can unite his fractured party after hardliners threatened to force out the current Speaker John Boehner and doomed his replacement Kevin McCarthy.”
On Today, Former John McCain aide/The View co-host Nicolle Wallace used the “hardliner” phrase, telling Matt Lauer:
NICOLLE WALLACE [Ryan] has taken all the right lessons from the raucous Republican primary playing out in the country and understands that conservatives, especially the 40 or so hardliners in that Freedom Caucus, may respond to strength. Now, they might not, but they have not responded to efforts to pacify them from Speaker Boehner and Kevin McCarthy, so I think it was a moment. Everyone knows that Paul Ryan is of superior intellect, I think he showed some superior political skills.
Partial ABC transcripts can be found below:
GMA
10/21/15
7am teaseGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Paul Ryan steps forward toward the top job in Congress with a challenge to fellow Republicans. Vice president Biden faces questions about his new account of the bin Laden raid.
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7:02STEPHANOPOULOS: But we begin with those breaking political headlines. Paul Ryan makes a big decision with conditions. No decision yet from Joe Biden but he's raising eyebrows with those comments about the bin Laden raid. And our brand new poll has more good news for Donald Trump. He joins us live after Jon Karl starts us off. Good morning, Jon.
JON KARL: Good morning, George. With all eyes on Vice President Biden's possible presidential run, last night it was a former candidate for VP who took center stage, Paul Ryan has insisted for weeks that he does not want to be Speaker of the House, but he now says he will run if his Republican colleagues agree to some conditions. With his party and Congress now in disarray, Paul Ryan now says he's willing to run for Speaker of the House.
PAUL RYAN: This is a very dire moment. Not just for Congress, not just for the Republican party but for our country. And if I can truly be a unifying figure, then I will gladly serve.
KARL: But Ryan has conditions. He says he'll only take the top job if he can keep weekends off with his family and if his entire party unites behind him by the end of the week.
RYAN: But we need to do this as a team and it needs to include fixes that ensure that we do not experience constant leadership challenges and crises.
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8:02
TOM LLAMAS: Congressman and former vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan now says he's willing to run for speaker of the House but with conditions. Ryan wants Republicans to unite behind him by Friday, including the far-right members of the party. Ryan also warns if he's chosen as speaker, he will delegate much of the required travel and fund-raising to others so he can still spend the weekends with his family.
