House Speaker Paul Ryan has taken control of a Republican House majority under daily assault — from the biggest names in his own party.
Every day on the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidates beat up on congressional Republicans at least as much, if not more, than they attack President Obama and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party's presumptive 2016 nominee. The GOP Senate majority certainly gets its share criticism from the Republican presidential hopefuls, particularly from the senators in the race. But House Republicans have hardly been spared.
The downtalking House Republicans endure from their party's White House hopefuls, amplified by constant criticism from conservative talk radio and outside advocacy groups, tends to focus the ire of GOP voters on their party's congressional majorities, rather than on the Democratic opposition. The dynamic threatens to complicate Ryan's nascent speakership, particularly as he attempts to move critical legislation to fund highways, defense and the government.
Ryan didn't seem too concerned, when asked to comment on the matter on Tuesday during his first news conference on Capitol Hill since winning the speaker's gavel. The 45-year-old, who represents Wisconsin's 1st district, has seen the presidential race from both vantage points, having been nominated for vice president in 2012.
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