Prince Ryan

BASH: You told members of the Freedom Caucus that you were not going to touch immigration reform, something that you worked really hard on. You went out and campaigned with one of the most liberal Democrats in Congress, talking about it. Do you see any future for actually getting that done? And why did you make that promise if you want to do big ideas?

RYAN: Because this president tried to write the law himself. This president went beyond his separation of powers to try and write the law. Presidents don’t write laws. Congress writes laws.

This president tried to go around Congress to unilaterally write immigration law. So, specifically on this issue, you cannot trust this president on this issue. So, why would we want to pass legislation on a very divisive issue with a president we can’t trust on this issue?

Tommy Christopher, MediaITE wrote:

Ryan’s answer also ignores the fact that President Obama only took executive action after House Republicans blocked a bill that had passed the Senate, which had more than enough votes to pass the House, and which contained everything Republicans say they want. Paul Ryan calling President Obama “untrustworthy” is like Darth Vader saying he can’t work with Luke Skywalker because he took unilateral action on Death Star Reform.

But even under its own logic, Ryan’s answer makes no sense. Congress is one of two checks on executive power, so if Obama really is tyranting all over the joint, the only thing Congress can do about it is pass a law. It’s like saying you won’t take over bartending from Bill Cosby because you don’t trust Bill Cosby.