Inslee Asks Paul Ryan To Speak Out On Trump's 'Hateful Rhetoric'

EVERETT, WA - With House Speaker Paul Ryan in the state at a Boeing factory in Everett, Gov. Jay Inslee took the opportunity to ask Ryan a favor: do something about President Donald Trump's "hateful rhetoric." Inslee published an open letter on Medium Thursday addressed to Ryan. The letter touched on a lot of topics, and overall asked Ryan to bring the concerns of Washington state residents back to the other Washington.

"Your visit to Everett comes on the heels of a frightening week in our country, with nationalist, racist and neo-Nazi forces emboldened by the president’s weak response to the violence in Charlottesville. This is a historic time with no room for moral ambiguity," Inslee wrote. "Something has to change. And you have the power to bring about that change. I hope Washington State will inspire you to do so."

Ryan came to Boeing ostensibly to promote the Republican plan to cut corporate taxes, which Ryan said would lead to job creation. Memorably, Washington state granted Boeing a $8.7 billion tax break over 16 years in 2013; the company ended up cutting jobs in Washington after the state approved that tax break.

Ryan also took questions from Boeing employees. One woman asked him what he could do about Trump's comments about the events in Charlottesville, Va. Trump has been criticized for blaming "both sides" for violence in Charlottesville, and for taking two days to specifically denounce white supremacists who attended the march.

"“It’s a day-by-day deal,” Ryan told the woman. "First, you control your own behavior and you lead by example."

Image via Elaine Thompson/Associated Press