Posted on Aug 2, 2016
Trump isn't backing Paul Ryan, John McCain
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Washington (CNN) — Donald Trump is declining to endorse a pair of Republican heavyweights -- House Speaker Paul Ryan and former presidential nominee John McCain -- in their primary fights, another sign of the fractures within the party.
Ryan and McCain face long-shot challengers in their respective primary races in Wisconsin and Arizona. Yet their party's presidential nominee would not bless them in an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday.
"We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet," Trump said of Ryan.
Ryan faces Paul Nehlen in Wisconsin next week. Trump's phrasing -- "I'm not quite there yet" -- echoes comments Ryan made to CNN's Jake Tapper in May when he said he wasn't yet ready to back his party's standard-bearer.
McCain faces a challenge from his right at the end of the month from former state Sen. Kelli Ward.
"I've never been there with John McCain because I've always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets," Trump said of McCain, a former naval aviator who was shot down and tortured during the Vietnam War.
Messages left by CNN with Ryan and McCain's offices were not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.
Both Ryan and McCain in recent days have sharply criticized Trump over his latest controversy, his disparaging remarks about the Muslim parents of Humayun Khan, a US Army captain who died in the Iraq War.
Ryan reiterated Sunday that he rejects Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslim travel to the US after Trump took heat for criticizing Khan's parents.
McCain in particular was harsh, saying Trump did not have an "unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us."
Trump previewed some hostility toward Ryan in a tweet praising Nehlen on Monday after the businessman praised Trump and recently tweeted articles and comments supporting the GOP nominee.
"Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated," Trump tweeted.
Ryan and McCain face long-shot challengers in their respective primary races in Wisconsin and Arizona. Yet their party's presidential nominee would not bless them in an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday.
"We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet," Trump said of Ryan.
Ryan faces Paul Nehlen in Wisconsin next week. Trump's phrasing -- "I'm not quite there yet" -- echoes comments Ryan made to CNN's Jake Tapper in May when he said he wasn't yet ready to back his party's standard-bearer.
McCain faces a challenge from his right at the end of the month from former state Sen. Kelli Ward.
"I've never been there with John McCain because I've always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets," Trump said of McCain, a former naval aviator who was shot down and tortured during the Vietnam War.
Messages left by CNN with Ryan and McCain's offices were not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.
Both Ryan and McCain in recent days have sharply criticized Trump over his latest controversy, his disparaging remarks about the Muslim parents of Humayun Khan, a US Army captain who died in the Iraq War.
Ryan reiterated Sunday that he rejects Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslim travel to the US after Trump took heat for criticizing Khan's parents.
McCain in particular was harsh, saying Trump did not have an "unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us."
Trump previewed some hostility toward Ryan in a tweet praising Nehlen on Monday after the businessman praised Trump and recently tweeted articles and comments supporting the GOP nominee.
"Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated," Trump tweeted.
Trump isn't backing Paul Ryan, John McCain
Posted from cnn.comPosted in these groups: 
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Politics
Posted >1 y ago
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
I'm not surprised he won't endorse McCain. McCain is having a lot of trouble garnering veteran support here in Arizona. I for one have vowed not to support him either.
I'm not surprised he won't endorse McCain. McCain is having a lot of trouble garnering veteran support here in Arizona. I for one have vowed not to support him either.
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Not much surprise since John McCain is an overtimes maverick who faces a tea party challenger and has not come out in support of Donald Trump SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. I would not refer to John McCain as a heavyweight - maverick yes, independently minded yes - but heavyweight no.
Speaker Paul Ryan is another matter. Paul Ryan is an economic and budgetary policy heavyweight and he came to the Republican convention.
I have to laugh when I see news like "another sign of the fractures within the party." The national democrat party is lockstep in ways that would make Joseph Goebbels envious.
Republicans have never been unified which has been their strength and an albatross at times. There is a lot more freedom in the republican party than in the democrat party at the national level and local levels where I live in northern Virginia.
Speaker Paul Ryan is another matter. Paul Ryan is an economic and budgetary policy heavyweight and he came to the Republican convention.
I have to laugh when I see news like "another sign of the fractures within the party." The national democrat party is lockstep in ways that would make Joseph Goebbels envious.
Republicans have never been unified which has been their strength and an albatross at times. There is a lot more freedom in the republican party than in the democrat party at the national level and local levels where I live in northern Virginia.
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SGT (Join to see)
Colonel, while I agree with most of your points, I always feel uneasy about the Nazi comparisons.
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LTC Stephen F.
SGT (Join to see) - I understand your reticence my friend. The DNC lockstep is similar to what the German Nazi's, Stalin's Soviets, and Al Baghdadi's ISIS aspire to. Using ISIS is off-limits as a comparison for many reasons. Stalin's thugs killed far more than Hitler's thugs did but few remember his minister of propaganda.
Joseph Goebbels is frequently quoted when people want to emphasize the point of repeating something so often that it becomes true in the mind of the listeners.
Based on your respectful comment I will edit out Nazis and leave Goebbels.
Joseph Goebbels is frequently quoted when people want to emphasize the point of repeating something so often that it becomes true in the mind of the listeners.
Based on your respectful comment I will edit out Nazis and leave Goebbels.
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