The man who will run the Republican National Convention warned Donald Trump that he can not be the GOP presidential nominee unless he firmly condemns the KKK and other hate groups.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, who will hold the gavel when at the GOP convention, went before cameras on Capitol Hill Tuesday with a message aimed at his party's frontrunner concerning his apparent wavering when asked about former Klan leader David Duke's endorsement.
This is the Party of Lincoln. We believe all people are equal in the eyes of God and our government. https://t.co/Ft2sCrQ9CX
-- Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) March 1, 2016
"This is the Party of Lincoln. We believe all people are equal in the eyes of God and our government. If a person wants to be the nominee of the Republican party, there can be no evasion and no games, they must reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry.
"This party does not prey on people's prejudices. we appeal to their highest ideals, This is the party of Lincoln. We believe all people are created equal in the eyes of God and our government. This is fundamental and if someone wants to be our nominee they must understand this."
Trump has blamed a faulty ear piece for his reluctance to answer when CNN's Jake Tapper asked him Sunday if he would condemn the KKK and other hate groups.
If Trump or any other candidate does not have a majority of GOP delegates going into the summer convention, Ryan and other party leaders could have power to steer the nomination to a candidate of their choice.
