Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
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House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., delivers remarks on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2016.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images)
How many times does saying ‘no’ actually mean ‘no'?
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has said dozens of times that he won’t seek or accept the GOP presidential nomination, but Republicans unhappy with current front-runner Donald Trump don’t seem to want to give up on the idea that the speaker could emerge as a consensus pick at a contested convention.
An unnamed Republican — among the nation’s “best-wired,” according to Politico — gives 90% odds that the GOP will turn to Ryan in case of a deadlock at the convention.
Ryan denied once again Monday that he would accept the nomination.
“I do believe people put my name in this thing, and I say get my name out of that,” he told conservative talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt. "I think you need to run for president if you’re going to be president, and I’m not running for president. So period, end of story.”
But Ryan also didn’t want the speakership, repeatedly denying he would take the role before he relented and accepted it. So the questions likely will continue …
Here are just<span style="color: Red;">*</span>some of the many ways he and his team have said ‘no’ so far:
The Hill, Dec. 12:
"Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong offered a two-word reply when told about the Ryan for President chatter: 'That’s funny.' "CNBC,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>March 15:
Ryan: "I actually think you should run for president if you're going to be president, if you want to be president …<span style="color: Red;">*</span>I'm not running for president. I made that decision, consciously, not to."Reuters,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>March 16, after former speaker John Boehner said he would support Ryan:
Strong:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"The speaker is grateful for the support, but he is not interested. He will not accept a nomination and believes our nominee should be someone who ran this year."Politico,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>March 16:
Ryan: "I've been really clear about this ...<span style="color: Red;">*</span>If you want to be president, you should run for president. We should select our nominee from among the people who are running for president. Clear and simple. So no, I am not going to be the president. I am not going to be the nominee."<span style="color: Red;">*</span>April 1, 2016:
So he’d consider it, right?
USA TODAY
Rep. Paul Ryan on House speaker's job: Thanks, but no thanks
USA TODAY
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