Reaction to Ryan Speech: “Nervous Laughter”

At Speaker Ryan’s town hall with millennials at Georgetown University this afternoon, he posed a key question for the American people and pitched his “Confident America” agenda. From Morning Consult:

“House Speaker Paul Ryan received some nervous laughter at Georgetown University on Wednesday when he posed the following question to students: ‘Why support Republicans?’”

“Ryan’s answer to his own question was a reference to his ‘confident America’ campaign, telling students, ‘The America that you want is the America we want – open, diverse and dynamic.’”

We don’t blame anyone for the nervous laughter. How can House Republicans expect anything other than laughter when their record includes shutting down the government and failing to pass a budget?

We were also puzzled by his comments about what the GOP wants to see in America. He says “open,” but the GOP wants to tear families apart through anti-immigrant legislation. He says “diverse,” but the GOP hasn’t taken up the Equality Act to end LGBT discrimination. He says “dynamic,” but the GOP refuses to address the immediate crises our nation is facing.

So while there was plenty of rhetoric in today’s speech, it just doesn’t match reality.