Hugh Hewitt: Freedom Caucus Must ‘Get with the Program,’ Support Paul Ryan

On Sunday, talk radio host Hugh Hewitt said the House Freedom Caucus must “get with the program” and fall in line behind Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) if he runs for House Speaker.

On Meet The Press, Hewitt, the GOP establishment’s favored pundit who was a questioner in the last GOP presidential debate, admitted that he was “desperately hoping” that Ryan runs for House Speaker.

Addressing Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA), Hewitt said the the 40-member Freedom Caucus “is like 15 people” and “Paul Ryan is liked by 225 Republicans.”

“Get with the program, guys,” Hewitt said.

Brat said that his Freedom Caucus, which has endorsed Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL), would give Ryan “a strong look” if he agrees to the five policy commitments on his website, including opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Ryan, though, has long been one of the top supporters of various pieces of legislation that would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants. And that is why he has even received the support of Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), arguably the most pro-amnesty advocate in Congress. Gutierrez said Ryan is the “smartest person” in the GOP conference and would be “good for the country,” the House of Representatives, and the Republican Party.

“Paul Ryan is the kind of individual that will work with people on the other side of the aisle and that’s what we need,” Gutierrez said last week of his “ally” on amnesty legislation.