GOP Rep. Ryan swipes at Gingrich: 'With allies like that, who needs the left?'

The Hill ^ | 05/16/2011 | Michael O'Brien

[SeekAndFind]

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) took a swipe Monday at Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich after the former House Speaker criticized hiss proposed Medicare reforms.

"With allies like that, who needs the left?" Ryan told guest host Raymond Arroyo on conservative talker Laura Ingraham's radio show.

Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, defended his 2012 budget proposal that includes significant reforms to Medicare.

Gingrich on Sunday distanced himself from Ryan's plan, which would transform the program into a voucher-based system for Americans under the age of 55.

"I don't think right-wing social engineering is any more desirable than left-wing social engineering," Gingrich said of Ryan's plan on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "I don't think imposing radical change from the right or the left is a very good way for a free society to operate."

Ryan strongly disputed Gingrich's description of his plan, which House Republicans approved last month.

"Hardly is that social engineering and radical," he said. "What's radical is kicking the can down the road."

Ryan, who's considering running for the Senate in Wisconsin, refused to say that Gingrich's criticism should disqualify him for the GOP presidential nomination.

"I'm not going to get into any of that," he said.

[Enterprise]

RYAN deserves a huge gold plated ATTABOY!!!!!!

[rawhide]

I am with you, except now, Newt has lost any support from me. I will not support him, period. He is worse than a Rino!

[onevoter]

Let’s face it -Newt did our party a favor by, in essence, dropping out of the race before it even started. Before he opened his big mouth, he might have managed to split the Republican ballot, thus sticking us off with another “John McCain” style candidate. Now that he has revealed himself for the liberal that he is, he wouldn’t get the job of dog-catcher on the Republican ballot. Hopefully, the backlash from this entire thing will make him realize his day in the sun is over and we are taking our party back.

You were useful in the 90’s Newt, but its another era. Step back and get out of the way.

[Truth29]

"Let’s face it -Newt did our party a favor by, in essence, dropping out of the race before it even started. Before he opened his big mouth, he might have managed to split the Republican ballot, thus sticking us off with another “John McCain” style candidate. Now that he has revealed himself for the liberal that he is, he wouldn’t get the job of dog-catcher on the Republican ballot. Hopefully, the backlash from this entire thing will make him realize his day in the sun is over and we are taking our party back."

Watch out for the talking heads though. Hannity and Rove are spreading oil on the water and saying this was no big deal and that threatening seniors would be the death knell of any GOP candidate. Brit Hume was far more harsh and labeled it a serious misstep.