Ever since New York’s 26th District delivered a stunning upset by electing Democrat Kathy Hochul, the GOP has been struggling to deny that the election was a referendum on House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) plan to end Medicare. Despite ranking as one of the biggest political fails among Americans, the GOP is committed to walking Ryan’s plank.
But one (current) Republican is not buying it. This morning on Fox and Friends, perennial presidential candidate Donald Trump lambasted the GOP over the Ryan plan. Calling it a “death wish,” Trump noted that the plan’s “horrendous” timing delivered the GOP “an impossible loss” and will cause serious losses in future elections:
TRUMP: Hey look, I’m looking at the Republicans and seeing things that are like they have a death wish. Whether its the Ryan plan — which is a death wish. For him to have brought this plan out at this time. Why doesn’t allow Obama — you know these are not good business people or these are not good chess players — why doesn’t he allow Obama come out first, why does he have to come out with a plan? You know, he’s a nice guy and all that but that’s irrelevant.This plan caused a loss in an area that never loses for a Republican, you know that, in upstate New York. An impossible loss.
GRETCHEN CARLSON: But I’m stunned by your reaction to that because you also are a guy who tells it like it is, and so one would think that you would agree with Paul Ryan’s plan because some people say he’s the only person who’s telling it like it is.
TRUMP: The fact is that whether you agree with the plan or not, his timing was horrendous. … You don’t come out with a plan, have all your friends vote on it, and now half of those guys are going to lose their elections.
Watch it:
Trump is not the only one to point out the obvious to House Republicans. Prior to the actual vote, GOP pollsters warned Republicans that the plan was so “toxic,” they “might not want to go there.” But — as if possessing a “death wish” — they did, and now they’re bearing the consequences.