Former GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) said the recent developments in Ukraine underscore the fact that Mitt Romney was right about Russia and President Obama has been naive Tuesday on Fox News.
"There are moments when I look down, shake my head and say I can't believe we lost to these guys. This is one of those moments. Mitt was right, I think the president was incredibly naive on his Russia policy. His reset has been a total failure, and I think this is what happens when a superpower projects weakness in its foreign and defense policy, aggression fills that vacuum," he said.
The Wisconsin congressman added he was unsure if President Obama has the will to lead America as a superpower given the president's rejection of traditional American exceptionalism.
However, Ryan expressed some optimism Congress could address Putin's provocations through sanctions and increasing liquid natural gas exports. Increasing American LNG exports could decrease the Ukraine's reliance on Russia for their energy.
The House Budget chair also slammed President Obama's budget for including deep defense cuts that now contribute to America's projection of weakness and the resulting aggression from geopolitical foes.
"I think the lack of a coherent foreign policy, the fact that the president is proposing a budget to highlight our defenses projects weakness, and weakness hordes a vacuum and aggression and I think that's what's happening," he said.
Full exchange:
MARTHA MCCALLUM: [...] Republican Wisconsin congressman who was the vice presidential candidate, of course. He joins us now with his thoughts on this. What's your reaction when you look back at that Congressman?
PAUL RYAN: You know, Martha, there are moments when I look down, shake my head and say I can't believe we lost to these guys. This is one of those moments. Mitt was right, I think the president was incredibly naive on his Russia policy. His reset has been a total failure, and I think this is what happens when a superpower projects weakness in its foreign and defense policy, aggression fills that vacuum.
MCCALLUM: Do you think the president wants to be a superpower do you think he wants to lead in this situation?
RYAN: I don't think he likes us being the superpower as we have seen ourselves. I believe he's taken on the whole notion of exceptionalism. I believe we are an exceptional country for lots of reasons, and I'm not sure he's going to be leading like he ought to be in this situation. Look, Russia's violated the sovereignty of Ukraine. I think there are a lot of things we need to be doing to address this. LNG exports, other kinds of sanctions. But I think the lack of a coherent foreign policy, the fact that the president is proposing a budget to highlight our defenses projects weakness, and weakness hordes a vacuum which is filled by aggression and I think that's what's happening.
Full interview: