OpinionTrending Commentary

The Trump-Ryan Feud and Intraparty Loyalty

The fast-eroding relationship between Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Donald Trump is about as friendly as the one which existed between Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany.

Many have been quick to descry Ryan, who has seemingly gone through more positions on Trump than a ballerina, and other party members for disavowing the nominee so close to an election that Republicans need to win lest their long-term durability as a national party be challenged.

But those who point out that Ryan and other GOP party leaders up for re-election who are jumping on and off the electoral carousel in time with opinion polling are doing so precisely because the right cannot afford to be out of the White House for 12 years also have a point.

There is a central conflict here. Trump, as the candidate hoping to be the elected head of the party, has the right to expect support from the party which vetted him through an arduous, scrutinizing primary process. On the other hand, Ryan and others who already have political power, have the right to expect the candidate maintain a standard of conduct in keeping with the principles of the party. They also have a right to expect that their candidate is spending the crucial weeks before the election focused on attacking political opponents, not members of the party who exert their independence of conscience.

It is possible for both Ryan’s waffling and Trump’s behavior to be unacceptable. To coin a phrase: political loyalty is a two-way street.

The devolving spat, however, does raise a question which is crucial to the function of electoral politics: what are the reasonable parameters of intraparty loyalty? Does running for office under the auspices of a political party mean ceding the right to free expression. To some degrees, yes. For example, the GOP’s platform is specifically for the lowering of taxes wherever possible. No one who represents the party has any right to expect to be allowed to advocate for tax hikes and continue receiving party support.

Party sponsorship is effectively a contract between a candidate and the party. Each recognizes a need which can be fulfilled by the other and each expects to receive some benefit. For the candidate, it is use of the organization, resources and credibility and recognition which national political parties command. For the party, it is the attainment of greater power and control through leaders who provide a desirable face to constituents and who lobby effectively for policy which supports the ideology around which it is founded.

America, after all, is not a closed political system. True, there are ballot access laws, but these exist more as a check upon non-serious actors who might do damage to the system than more as a way of keeping non-party actors from power. But effective communicators with strong vision can run outside of the party framework. Frequently, they choose not to because of the logistical challenges.

This must be remembered when spats between personalities erupt. Ego is important to electoral politics; it is what gives politicians the boldness to stand before the polity and proclaim their ideas in the best interest of the nation. Strong personalities can be in aid of this as they create an identifiable brand for a party. However, individual will must be subjugated to the party as the good of the former is dependent on the good of the latter. This is true for those who have political power and those who are hoping to attain it.

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Katherine Revello

A recent graduate of the University of Maine, where she majored in journalism and political science, Katherine Revello is an aspiring political commentator. Her focuses include theory, the philosophy of money and populism. Currently, she is a graduate student at Villanova University. She is the founder of The Politics of Discretion, a blog dedicated to advancing her philosophy of discretionism. Follow her on Twitter: @MrsWynandPapers

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One Comment

  1. While I agree with your take, I would expand a little more. When Paul Ryan balked at taking the Speakers job, it was apparent (to me) he had higher aspirations….As Speaker there wouldn’t be time to ‘court support’…During his tenure very little has been done accomplish meaningful action. He has not been publicly verbal on most issues. The Democrats, on the other hand, have been in front of mics & cameras touting their ideas and blaming the Republican Congress without challenge ….

    During the primaries, few ‘liked’ Trump and many never dreamed he’d be the choice of the majority ( I for one) Ryan was not required to publicly air his opinion, but choose to do so even over the importance of a united front. The Democrats loved it! And others felt empowered to openly ‘disqualify’ him in presumably for what is their own interest…..He ‘sort of’ tried to put the party first, but is unable to resist throwing out jabs…..

    Yes! Trump is boisterous and often obnoxious & crude. His personal morals or lack of them were well known BEFORE he was the chosen one to lead the Country. His voice and words are that exactly like most Americans. It’s upsetting to the up tight ‘suits’ that are nested in DC politics including trade offs.

    The differences between Trump & Clinton are glaring…..Would these career politicians rather have Hillary? Or is it that they SERVE THEMSELVES FIRST ? When Ryan ‘dis-invited’ Trump to his ‘unity’ event, HE INSULTED every one of those majority voters that want Trump and every American that prefers
    Trump over Socialist….. He knows that it’s too late to get someone else and is sucking sour grapes like a child…

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