Posted on 10/11/2016 10:47:29 AM PDT by Kevin C
Top Donald Trump adviser Ben Carson came to House Speaker Paul Ryan’s defense on Tuesday and criticized the GOP nominee for exacerbating an intra-party feud less than a month before the election.
“Paul Ryan is being very pragmatic,” Carson said in an interview with The Hill. “He recognizes that if Donald Trump loses, Hillary Clinton needs a firewall so she can’t do whatever she wants. He wants to make sure to keep the firewall there, so he’s devoting his energy to doing that.” Trump laid into Ryan in a series of tweets on Tuesday morning, calling the Speaker “weak and ineffective” and vowing to run the rest of his campaign against GOP leaders and the Republicans who have abandoned him.
Ryan held a call with the GOP conference Monday saying he would no longer defend Trump and that Republicans up for election should do what they need to do to win – even if that means cutting Trump loose.
Trump is furious over the slight, and he and his campaign signaled they would not let the matter go.
Republicans abandoned Trump in droves over the weekend after an explosive video surfaced of the nominee making obscene remarks. Some are panicking that the chaos at the top of the ticket will cost majorities in the Senate and potentially the House.
Carson said that Trump should focus on winning his own race rather than feuding with GOP leaders.
"The way forward is for them to both pursue their respective goals,” Carson said. “Trump should concentrate on the issues and stop allowing himself to be dragged off into the hinterlands … Let Paul Ryan concentrate on the House. It’s critical, you need that fail-safe mechanism.
“He’ll realize soon enough that he shouldn’t be attacking Ryan and that his energy needs to be on the issues, because that’s how he wins,” Carson continued. “If he would concentrate on those things he would win in a walk. It’s hard for him."
Carson acknowledged that the GOP appears to be in the throes of a divisive civil war, and warned that it could doom the party on Election Day.
“Basically what’s happening is our country is a train about to go off a cliff and there’s a fight going on in one of the cars,” Carson said.
“Traditionally Republicans always find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory,” he added. “This might be the most graphic example of it, although there’s still hope. It’s a matter of whether folks will be willing to look at the big picture and not just at their own feelings.”
Pragmatic = fair weather friend.
When the going gets tough, those afraid of the bullying media go wobbly.
You`re a sap, Carson. Firewall against Clinton? Would that be like the firewall he provided against Obama?
I thought Mike Lee was in Trump’s corner? I’ll admit, I’ve only been loosely paying attention as I have a baby on the way and things have been hectic. I just know I’m committed to Trump and likely to not vote for many down-ballots unless they get in line!
Pragmatic? So make no attempt to help Trump win? I wonder if there is one democrat who would be pragmatic in Hillary’s case.
At this point, whether they like it or not, Trump is the nominee. He is the one the party members should be backing in the election. So it is those who refuse to back him who are exacerbating the feud rather than Trump himself.
I don’t get it. And Christie put down the sausage hero long enough to say Trump’s remarks were horrible. He’s all alone, Mr. Trump.
Ryan will not be a firewall against Hillary!
Ryan hasn't done anything against Obama and won't do anything against Hillary.
It is Trump or destruction!
These Republicans had better realize it!
Abandoned in droves? Talk about bias.
Mike Lee was one of the first to denounce Trump.
The country dodged well when it dumped Carson.
Post of the day. “Firewall against hrc”??? Absolutely right: Ryan has given O everything he wants; why would hrc be any different.
Trump and Ryan need to just ignore each other at this point.
They are both helping Hillary now.
There is a begged question in Dr. Carson’s argument. He assumes as his premise that Ryan is interested in a firewall against Clinton. All evidence of the last 6 years is that this is a false premise.
Trump would be better served by offering to trump Ryan by offering help to down-ballot candidates. Even if they refuse, Trump shows himself to be the candidate of all the people, not just the elite.
They are bringing on much greater destruction.
Trump places LOYALTY very high on his ladder you can kiss Surgeon General and your ass goodbye Doc...
Freegards
LEX
Could not agree more.
The “R” Party is against rebellion and want to get back to business as usual. Paul-boy is leading the way.
We really need to get organized locally and begin also to pick off these “R’s”, one at a time, where we live.
Nope, Mike Lee is part of the outrage where the words Trump has said make him more immoral and evil than everyone else.
If Ryan were half as conservative as he pretends to be, Trump would not have even run.
Ryan attacking helps Trump.
Congress has a 10% approval rate.
Helps Trump wins
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