Paul Ryan has the ability to define the Republican Party’s domestic policy agenda. The party’s adoption of his reform plans for entitlements and the budget have demonstrated that. Now the House Budget Committee chairman is turning his attention to poverty.

Ryan said Thursday night in an interview with NBC News’ Tom Curry that the 50-year old war on poverty initiated by President Lyndon Baines Johnson has “failed miserably” and called for the Republican Party to take the lead in reducing poverty.