Sunday morning on CBS’s Face the Nation, Congressman Paul Ryan was asked why he didn’t speak out against last year’s reckless Republican government shutdown. His answer was shocking: that he felt it was more important to have a unified Republican party than to prevent a government shutdown.
“Congressman Paul Ryan’s misplaced priorities were on full display when he shockingly stated that Republican party unity is more important than preventing a government shutdown,” said Josh Schwerin of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “With no agreement to prevent another shutdown at the end of September and the threat of Ted Cruz and Steve King continuing their stranglehold on the Republican legislative agenda, we can only hope Congressman Ryan reverses his position and decides to put the country first, not his political party.”
BACKGROUND
Rep. Ryan: Party Unity More Important than Criticizing Republican Shutdown Strategy. Asked why he did not openly criticize the Republican strategy prior to the shutdown, Ryan said: “Because I want party unity. I don’t think it was constructive for conservatives to be carping at each other.” [Face the Nation, 8/24/14]