Former Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said at a South Carolina political appearance that “a lot” of Republicans wanted to impeach President Donald Trump but that they “didn’t have the guts.”
The former Wisconsin congressman made the remarks at a gathering Wednesday in Florence, where he praised Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.), whom he has endorsed, for having the courage to vote for impeachment after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Rice and nine other Republicans joined with Democrats to vote for impeachment, making Trump the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, although the Senate did not convict him either time.
Rice is now locked in a heated battle for reelection for a sixth term against state Rep. Russell Fry, who is backed by Trump. The former president is determined to punish any Republican who failed to show loyalty to him.
“There were a lot of people who wanted to vote like Tom but who just didn’t have the guts to do it,” said Ryan, The Myrtle Beach Sun News reported.
“There are a lot of people who say they’re going to vote their conscious, they’re going to vote for the Constitution, they’re going to vote for their convictions, but when it gets hard to do that, they don’t do it,” he said.
“Tom Rice is a man of conviction,” Ryan added.
Rice has argued that Republicans ought to stick with Trump’s policy ideas but abandon the man. He called his House reelection bid a battle between “nerds” like himself and Ryan, who aim to enact conservative policy, and “flamethrowers” who put allegiance to Trump over all else, The Sun reported.
Ryan last week on CNBC criticized “entertainer” lawmakers — from both parties — who strive to develop a noticeable “brand” rather than work with colleagues to pass legislation.
“If you are going to entertain, if you are going to try to show that you’re better than everyone else within your own ecosystem,” it makes it more difficult to compromise and forge policy, Ryan said. It “divides us,” he added.
Ryan, who was speaker of the House from 2015 to 2019, removed himself from the political scrum after 20 years in office and opted not to run for reelection in 2018, following uncomfortable confrontations with then-President Trump.
Ryan initially endorsed Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign but then withdrew his support a month before the election after the “Access Hollywood” tape emerged in which Trump was heard boasting about how he could “grab” women “by the pussy.” Trump then blasted Ryan as disloyal and accused him of deliberately undermining his campaign.
Ryan said in an interview last year that it was “really clear” Trump lost the 2020 election and that it had not been rigged, as Trump and many of his loyalists continue to claim.
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Little “Eddie Munster Lyin’ Ryan”, the little RINO SOB – who the hell cares what this NWO-stooge has to say! The bereft Left just can’t help themselves from spewing their anti-Trump agenda! They’ll think differently once the country is no longer! WTFU, losers!
Exactly. I agree 100%!!
Ryan, the Nasty was always anti Trump. Ask the Socialists who ran a better Country, Trump or Obiden.
Biden hasn’t done one good thing for this Country!!
heard he was having an affair with one of his staff members. I wonder if Ryan got her pregnant.
Paul Ryan was having an affair with one of his staff members. Wonder if he got her pregnant.
Little boy Ryan is a HABITUAL LIAR if U haven’t figured it out by Now. That’s how last his Job as SOTH. Ryan always told the Democratic Leaders about what the Republican Leaders were working on. Every Time the Republicans had anything to bring to the Floor the DemoRats know before hand that the Republicans were able to bring it up on the Floor. Ryan is nothing more than a Rino that should have been run out of the Republican Party and out of the Country.
ok
The only ones who wanted to impeach are not true conservatives and do not stick together but want to divide just like you. Trump is the only one who truly wanted the best for the citizens of our country, The United States of America. Many of you have your hand in the pockets of countries who hate the US and would rather throw the USA to the “wolves “ as long as you get money or gifts for yourselves. At the present time all we have are lies and corruption in every branch of our government! Evil is now rampant every where you look.
Little boy Ryan is a HABITUAL LIAR if U haven’t figured it out by Now. That’s how last his Job as SOTH. Ryan always told the Democratic Leaders about what the Republican Leaders were working on. Every Time the Republicans had anything to bring to the Floor the DemoRats know before hand that the Republicans were able to bring it up on the Floor. Ryan is nothing more than a Rino that should have been run out of the Republican Party and out of the Country.
Ryan is responsible for slowing Trumps agenda early on and has been instrumental in degrading Fox News to make it more like the fake news networks.
He and the other RINOs need to back off and let us execute the America First agenda!!