Paul Ryan's appeal for united support from his fellow Republicans before he runs for the House of Representatives Speakership has met a cool reaction from hardliners.
The House Freedom Caucus, which drove outgoing Speaker John Boehner into retirement, is not saying whether it will back the Wisconsin congressman's bid to replace him.
The party has until 28 October to swing behind Mr Ryan for a vote to nominate the next Speaker - a role second in line to the US presidency - a day before it's put to a full House vote.
Mr Ryan, the Republican 2012 vice presidential nominee, told colleagues on Tuesday he would accept the job "with reluctance" on certain conditions.
The 45-year-old said he wanted an end to the antics of the party's "bomb throwers", according to members in the room at the US Capitol.
The father of three also said he wanted to spend more time with his family in Wisconsin, rather than on the road doing political fundraising.
Mr Ryan, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he would give colleagues until Friday to endorse him.
Most Republicans welcomed Mr Ryan's move after Mr Boehner's stunning decision to quit last month plunged the party into turmoil.
Moderate New York Representative Peter King told the Washington Post it would be "total madness" if the party didn't back Mr Ryan.
But members of the Freedom Caucus do not seem ready to fall in line.
The mutinous rump of lawmakers has embraced fellow ultraconservative Daniel Webster for the job.
Tim Huelskamp of Kansas said he was still backing Mr Webster.
Iowa congressman Steve King said many conservatives did not trust Mr Ryan because of his past support for amnesty for undocumented immigrants.
Freedom Caucus chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio did not rule out backing Mr Ryan, telling Fox News his colleagues would meet to discuss the matter.
No comments:
Post a Comment