At CPAC, Paul Ryan Downplays Tea Party/Establishment Divide

At the Conservative Political Action Conference today, House budget committee chairman Paul Ryan dismissed reports of a GOP “civil war” and heaped praise on both Tea Party and establishment members of Congress.

The way the Left tells it, the Republican Party is in a civil war. It’s Tea Party versus establishment—libertarians versus social conservatives. There’s infighting, conflict, backbiting, discord,” Ryan said, according to prepared remarks. “What I see is a vibrant debate. We’re figuring out the best way to apply our principles to the challenges of the day. Sure, we have our disagreements. And yes, they can get a little passionate. I like to think of it as ‘creative tension.'”