WASHINGTON — Rep. Paul Ryan said Saturday that Republicans need to stick together and pick their fights during President Barack Obama's second term, rejecting some White House proposals outright and trying to infuse others with conservative principles.
In a speech to conservatives, the GOP's 2012 vice presidential nominee said Obama would attempt to divide Republicans but that the party must avoid internal squabbles as it seeks to rebound from a second straight presidential loss.
"We can't get rattled. We won't play the villain in his morality plays. We have to stay united," Ryan said at the National Review Institute event. "We have to show that if given the chance, we can govern. We have better ideas."
The Wisconsin congressman outlined a pragmatic approach for a party dealing with last November's election defeats and trying to determine whether to oppose Obama's agenda at every turn or shape his proposals with conservative principles.
With a surging minority population altering the electorate, Republican leaders have discussed the need to attract more women and Hispanics while at the same time standing firm to the values that unite conservatives.
The party's future was a major theme during the three-day meeting of conservatives activists, who expected to hear from Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Bob McDonnell of Virginia, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.
Ryan rejected the notion that Republicans were "in the wilderness," noting that the party controls the House and most statehouses. But he said Obama's victory over Mitt Romney meant that Republicans would need to recalibrate their approach to deal with the new political realities.
"If we want to promote conservatism, we'll need to use every tool at our disposal," Ryan said. "Sometimes, we will have to reject the president's proposals — that time may come more than once. And sometimes we'll have to make them better." He said Republicans should have two main goals for the next four years, namely "to mitigate bad policies" and "to advance good policy wherever we can."
Ryan acknowledged that "we all didn't see eye to eye" on the recent "fiscal cliff" vote to deal with a combination of spending cuts and higher taxes that were set to take effect at the start of the year. He defended his support for the bill, saying it was the only way to avoid sweeping tax increases and prevent the economy from going into a free-fall.
As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan said Republicans needed to guard against a debt crisis for the country that would undermine the economy. He said he would promote changes to Medicare and Medicaid and would propose a budget "that will balance and pay down the debt."
But November's election results still linger. Ryan said he was "disappointed" by the outcome, saying he was "looking forward to taking on the big challenges" while living at the vice president's residence. "My kids were looking forward to having a pool," he joked.
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Comments » 35
citizenH writes:
Republicans are already divided thanks to the Tea Party.
But, it would be more like them to want to cast the blame for their division and losses on the Dems or Obama....
fritobandito writes:
Who?
babbas writes:
Look at them - they are already planning to pick battles with the President as a party strategy.
The GOP has basic fundamental morality issues and the American public is finally aware.
staghorn writes:
America has wised up to the whining republican 'party of no' whiners.
Hurry November 2014 so we can eliminate more whining republican politicians.
F397 writes:
What does he know, he's a loser and so is the GOP. BIG TIME.
Patton writes:
Ryan pragmatic? Don't be fooled, he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Underneath the facade is an ideologue.
Patton writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
just_sayin writes:
And of course the democrats NEVER do this... NO... Good as gold... Pure as the driven snow... Innocent as a newborn baby...
Patton writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Klaatu writes:
Paul Ryan lost his hometown of Janesville twice: by 10 points for Congress and by 25 points for vice president. Couldn't deliver republican controlled Wisconsin for the Romney/Ryan Ticket !
And he's giving advice ????
The voters still blame the GOP and GWB for the mess the is Country in!
The GOP will be getting another shellacking in 2014 and they already know it !
2016 Hillary will be unbeatable !!
GOP = TOAST
staghorn writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Francophile2 writes:
The GOP is so lost ... yawn!
MrsCalcium writes:
Ryan is insignificant...
Magic81 writes:
The score to date of "Comment reviewed by staff"
Republican Conservatives 6
Democrat Liberals 4
The less informed and intelligent people are, the more they resort to vulgarity and obscenity to try and win an argument that they cannot win with reason and facts.
This truism is proved here over and over.Stay tuned.
anicou writes:
Biden is more than insignificant...He is non-existent.
Exposer writes:
+1
Exposer writes:
You mean in France, right?
Exposer writes:
Especially the marathon runners and milers.
anicou writes:
Whatever it is France, Belgium, England, Germany, Russia... and other countries in Europe and the U.S poor little Joe is a lost soul like many of these brainless politicians.
Exposer writes:
Of course, you have that on "good" authority, right?
Beachglow writes:
OVERSPENDING OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: 3 trillion in debt as of last week...just saying....Fat Lady will sing eventually and that's what really matters.
Bramble writes:
If the Republicans plan to double down on their anti-abortion, anti-gay policies they will lose more national elections.
You can't call yourself the party of less government and then insist the government get involved in these issues.
Exposer writes:
Thank goodness there is a Republican majority in the House of Representatives to control spending and protect the tax code and subsidies to business. If it weren't for them, America wouldn't be able to pay the bills they voted for and incurred. They did vote for them, right?
Exposer writes:
You sound like you don't know a "legitimate rape" when you see one.
bluffguy writes:
Of course both sides do it, but the republicans have made it their ONLY purpose since Obama was elected. The American people are sick of it and they showed it at the polls. Both sides are partisan, however the republicans insist on putting party ahead of the Country at all times and the Country is disgusted with that approach.
SeaJD writes:
Eddie Munster is a Teapublican who lost a national election and exacerbates the division within the Republican Party. He should be relegated to obscurity along with Sarah Palin.
Exposer writes:
Ryan says on "Meet The Press" that the best thing he got out of running with Romney is that he got to travel all around the country meeting people. Well, at least he and his family got a long vacation trip out of his experience. He owes a lot to his benefactors who paid for that trip. How can he ever pay them back?
anicou writes:
I just despise any corrupted politicians without exceptions.
I am for integrity, honesty which rarely exist in this world of corruption.
big_peach_e writes:
Sounds like Ryan is throwing the Tea Party under the bus. Are you TP loonies going to stand for that??? Fight,Fight,Fight...turn those Republicans hard,hard right.
pmz writes:
Ryan missed a major point. Conservatism is a problem, not a solution to anything. It's a dysfunctional philosophy as clearly demonstrated in actual practise in business, religion, and government.
He claims to be smart but misses the totally obvious.
Why?
Exposer writes:
Ayn Rand.
anicou writes:
And...a contagious one.
pmz writes:
Socialism is an economic system, just like capitalism is, and both are employed in virtually every country in the world. Including here.
The fact that you follow Rush and Rupert's instructions to deny that reality is clear demonstration that the cult of conservatism has denied you the ability to think for yourselves.
Why do you make that choice?
drolds writes:
Did you educate yourself by watching Meet the Press this morning?
pmz writes:
If you think that the truth is "senseless garbage" that's your problem, not mine. Solve it.
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