Pick A Line. Any Line. Donald Trump Has Crossed It.

MADISON – During a Friday interview with conservative talk radio host Charlie Sykes, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said “of course” there is something Donald Trump could do to make him pull his endorsement of the Republican nominee. When asked exactly what that something is Ryan said, “where that line gets crossed – I don’t know where that is.”

Wisconsinites are also wondering where that line is for Speaker Ryan. Mr. Trump has mocked a disabled reporter, said John McCain is not a war hero because he was captured, wants to ban people from immigrating to America based on their religion, claimed a federal judge’s ethnicity prevents him from doing his job, wanted congratulations for anticipating the worst mass shooting in U.S. history and even advocated for the murder the wives and children of terrorists. Just this week he disrespected the grieving parents of an American war hero and was caught making false claims on countless occasions. Each and every time Speaker Ryan has responded with empty explanations and more often, silence.

Donald Trump has crossed every line there is – except, apparently, Paul Ryan’s line.

Other Wisconsin Republicans have been similarly desperate to thread the needle with Mr. Trump, condemning his behavior but never doing anything about it. That may be because many of Donald Trump’s ideas are exactly in line with the policies Republicans have established in Wisconsin.

Since taking office in 2010, Governor Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature have been diligently working to take the same kind of hateful, misogynistic and regressive ideas we hear in Donald Trump’s speeches and turn them into law.

From assaulting women’s reproductive rights to attempting to denying minority, elderly and low-income Wisconsinites the right to vote, Wisconsin Republicans have demonstrated that they are more ideologically aligned with Donald Trump’s offensive ideas than they are willing to publicly admit. The only difference is that Wisconsin Republicans prefer to accomplish their dangerous policy goals in backrooms with the support of billionaire special interests, while Donald Trump shouts out his outrageous policies on the national stage.

“Paul Ryan and Wisconsin Republican leaders either share Donald Trump’s principles, or lack the political courage to stand up to his hateful and divisive rhetoric. No matter which it is, they are letting down the people of this state and throwing their support behind a man who is temperamentally unfit to be President.” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.