By ,
Published May 08, 2017
We all know the line, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
I always thought that was a stupid line, myself. It would take more than a little heat to get me out of any kitchen.
But I digress.
Back to that kitchen, and an otherwise very thin and very fit Paul Ryan more than happy to take on the heat in that kitchen.
That doesn't mean you have to love the guy, but I think Republicans and Democrats should welcome a fix from any of these guys. At least those willing to sweat and try.
Say what you will of Paul Ryan trying to rein in entitlements and whether he goes too far, the fact of the matter is, he's really not going far enough. He's curbing, at best, the growth in entitlements, and yet his critics say that's too far.
So look at it this way -- if Ryan's throwing granny off the cliff for trying to prevent the stuff she depends on from going over a cliff, why should he even try?
If that's the thanks you get for trying to do the right thing, why not just continue rewarding politicians for doing the wrong thing.
It says volumes about the gutlessness in Washington.
It was a point I raised with Ryan himself recently when I was in Washington.
It's one thing for Democrats to rip you, but for few, if any Republicans, to stand by you?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, JUNE 2, 2011)
REP. PAUL RYAN, R-WIS.: He's chosen to do nothing on leading, and he's allowed his political leaders to demagogue Republicans on this, which makes it harder for us to get agreement on how to fix this problem. So what I see happening today is a leadership deficit.
CAVUTO: But it's more than just that, right? Even Republicans -- they kind of left you, no offense, at the edge of the cliff.
RYAN: Not at all. No, not at all.
CAVUTO: Well Donald Trump was on our air, this very air. He was trashing you, trashing this whole plan. Does that bother you?
RYAN: I heard that. No, it really doesn't bother me. Because, when you lead and when you step out and put reforms out there, you're going to get these kinds of comments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
It's way too early to say whether Ryan's going to be a liability just preaching the truth.
But I'll tell you what. It'd be a damn shame if we silence Republican or Democratic voices alike for just trying to show us the way.
https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/cavuto-at-least-paul-ryans-trying-to-do-the-right-thing