Fail

That Time Speaker Ryan Didn’t Recognize a Sitting Rep.

Written by SK Ashby

Paul Ryan is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, but he apparently wouldn't recognize some members of Congress even if they appropriately introduce themselves.

Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA) spoke to the New England Council in Boston, Massachusetts yesterday where she shared the story of the time Speaker Ryan had no idea who she was.

After discussion of Clark's plans to campaign in New Hampshire for Hillary Clinton and Ryan's attempts to steer her toward the Republican side, Ryan asked, "So Katherine, what do you do?" [...]

"He was horrified," Clark told reporters after her breakfast speech. "He really just sort of started sputtering, and he said to his staff member who was standing there, 'Did you know she was in Congress?' And she said, 'Well, I saw her pin.'"

Ryan's excuse that he didn't see the congressional pin she was wearing is, in a word, pathetic. Less than 20 percent of the House of Representatives are women.

I can't sit here and tell you that I would recognize every single member of Congress, but I'm not the goddamn Speaker.