Last presidential cycle, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was adored by the conservative movement.

This presidential cycle, many members of that same conservative contingent claim the 2012 GOP vice-presidential candidate is now a card-carrying member of The Establishment. In headlines, conservative websites like the Drudge Report and Breitbart often link Ryan to President Obama.

So Ryan, keenly aware of how destructive it is in GOP circles right now to be labeled as such, is trying to turn the tables with a message that is arguably his most direct attempt yet to disarm what he calls “the circular firing squad of the conservative movement” pointing their weapons at him: Put down your arms, conservatives. I’m one of you. And my ascension to speaker is proof that you’ve won.