House Speaker Paul Ryan expressed concern about the direction of politics on both sides of the aisle in an interview with “CBS This Morning” co-host John Dickerson. When asked to address President Trump’s rallies, which have become a signature of his presidency, and whether they “sow division” in the country, Ryan said “sometimes.”
“Well not always, but sometimes….I worry about tribal identity politics becoming the new norm of how politics is waged. As conservatives, we always thought this was sort of a left-wing…thing. Unfortunately, the right practices identity politics now as well,” Ryan said.
Ryan did not offer a broader criticism of Mr. Trump’s style of politics but when asked by Dickerson whether the president practices “inclusive politics,” Ryan said, “sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn’t.”
“Look on economic growth, on tax reform, on getting the military and helping veterans. Those are things that he has led us to that have really brought people together,” Ryan said.
Ryan is not running for re-election, but he is campaigning for fellow Republicans like New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who also spoke to Dickerson, and is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
“I think this election is going to be focused on results versus resistance….What I know does not resonate with voters is this resistance effort where regardless of whether you agree with some of the focus of this administration, you’re unwilling to work with them. So I think both parties need to address the tribalism that’s happening,” Stefanik said.
Americans will vote in the midterm elections in less than three weeks. The latest CBS News polling predicts if the elections were held today, Democrats would win 226 seats in the House of Representatives – eight more than the 218 needed to take control. Still, Ryan said he feels “pretty good” about Republicans maintaining control of the House.
“I think our voter enthusiasm is where it needs to be and more importantly we have a great record to run on,” Ryan said. “The agenda that we ran on in 2016 is the agenda that we executed in 2017 and 2018 and it’s working. The…
