Despite mispronouncing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s full name earlier, Speaker Paul Ryan didn’t waiver during his 12-minute speech on Tuesday night. The chair of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, whose remarks were preceded by UFC President Dana White, wanted to stress the GOP’s need to unify around its chosen candidate ahead of the general elections. And if Ryan’s words were any indication, he really seems to think such a feat is possible in time for November (despite his past comments to the contrary).
“Democracy is a series of choices,” he told the crowd. “We Republicans have made our choice. Have we had our arguments this year? Sure we have. You know what I call those? Signs of life. Signs of a party that’s not just going through the motions, not just mouthing new words from the same old stuff.”
Like speakers past, Ryan offered comments here and there critical of President Barack Obama’s current administration, and the possibilities of a second Clinton White House. However, the Wisconsin representative spent most of his 12 minutes on stage trying to convince Republicans at Quicken Loans Arena (and across the country) to unify by Trump and vice presidential nominee Mike Pence.
“Whatever we lack going into this campaign, we should not lack for motivation. In the plainest terms I know, it is all on the line. So let’s act that way. Let’s use the edge we have because it is still what earns the trust and the votes,” he stressed. “Our candidates will be giving their all, will be giving their utmost, and every one of us has got to go and do the same. So what do you say? What do you say that we unify this party? What do you say that we unify this party at this crucial moment when unity is everything?”
Paul Ryan: “Let’s win this thing. Let’s show America our best and nothing less” https://t.co/HphbHkvAxI #RNCinCLE https://t.co/3LJeWicTCg
— CNN (@CNN) July 20, 2016
It was a stirring speech, no doubt. Yet plenty of reporters, pundits and Twitter trolls were all too willing to pick apart Ryan’s words as he was speaking them.
Paul Ryan: Everyone is equal *
* Exceptions and conditions apply. See party platform for details.
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) July 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/755580817607241729
https://twitter.com/AndrewStilesUSA/status/755576563614310400
I'm not sure but I think Paul Ryan just accepted the nomination.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) July 20, 2016
As Paul Ryan delivers most substantive, muscular speech about conservatism, camera pans to Ivanka & Eric Trump, who weren’t clapping.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) July 20, 2016
I'm not watching Paul Ryan. I can't. He's like the world's worst camp counselor crossed with the office yes-man.
— Bilge Ebiri (@BilgeEbiri) July 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/ditzkoff/status/755573040390496257
Check out the full speech below.