Will Paul Ryan help or hurt the GOP ticket?
It’s official: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has chosen Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his vice presidential running mate, sealing the ticket for the November showdown with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Ryan, a seven-term congressman, gained national attention and widespread support among conservatives after championing a major restructuring of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and trimming trillions in federal spending.
“I believe my record of getting things done in Congress will be a very helpful complement to Governor Romney’s executive and private sector success outside Washington,” Ryan said in a statement released by the Romney campaign Saturday.
According to Washington Insider blogger Jamie Dupree, the National Journal 2011 vote ratings for the U.S. House have Ryan as the 150th most conservative, 278th most liberal congressman.
The Obama campaign quickly knocked Romney’s choice, calling Ryan “the architect of the radical Republican House budget” and advocate of “budget-busting tax cuts.”
The selection comes as Republicans prepare for their national convention Aug. 27 in Tampa, Fla.
Do you think Ryan’s selection will help or hurt the GOP ticket?
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244 comments Add your comment
dl
August 11th, 2012
11:16 am
BAD PICK! The election right now is about the independent “fencers” and those disappointed with their pick last election of Obama. To pick someone like Ryan who wants to rid Medicare and SS will return many of these voters back to Obama. Being “serious” and JFK like (a fairy tale at best due to his unfortunate demise but little known of actual policy) I believe this guy scares off more than he brings to the table. And yes, the VP does matter. Just look at what’s her face from AK. She single-handedly lost the election. Bold moves were not what was needed for Romney to win this election but a more pragmatic selection of someone who could bring in a state and a group of people at the same time without the overwhelming negative challenges that will be made against Ryan. My only hope is that Obama does not see the oval office again except from Fox news back home in Chicago.
Rick
August 11th, 2012
11:18 am
Don’t like the Medicare reforms. I say if you privatize anything, privatize social security.
Just another government screwball looking for ways to rip off the American people. Attacking a big pot of money.
Is he a lawyer?
Dogham
August 11th, 2012
11:18 am
As one of the biggest supporters of Ronald Reagan. I have to say the GOP has lost their way and distanced themselves from the middle class by the lure of the almighty dollar. We cannot strengthen our society as a whole by rewarding the 1% with more tax breaks. The 1% are not in turn spending the $$ to trickle down to everyone else. The selection of Paul Ryan has solidified the GOP philosophy of the Middle Class carrying the weight of the economy on their backs and the 1% reaping the benefits. For the first time, i will be voting for the Democratic nominee.
Brosephus™
August 11th, 2012
11:20 am
Try selling this to hispanics after passing over Rubio.
That won’t be hard at all. It would have been much more formidable to sell Rubio TO the Hispanics given the rift between Cuban Americans and other Hispanic groups.
Aidan
August 11th, 2012
11:24 am
@GT: Obama is in on it. He’s not different. Do you think you become President in a corrupt system by being the nice guy who does the right thing? You’re insane if you think he’s not a puppet of lobbyists and corporations just like (almost) everyone else in Washington.
@UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR: They must have pretty low standards for grammar at UGA.
Mike
August 11th, 2012
11:25 am
Paul Ryan is a very serious , Honest and Intelligent man. Romney couldn’t have made a better choice.
Raul
August 11th, 2012
11:30 am
HEY GT !!! Your liberal media prevents these guys from communicating to the general population. THANK GOD for FOX NEWS!!!! GO ROMNEYRYAN2012!! ANYTHING is better than BARACK HUSSAIN OBAMA!! EVEN HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
August 11th, 2012
11:32 am
The choice is this- Medicare and Social Security will either go bankrupt and be gone ten years from now or we will change them radically and they will stay. That’s the only two options open to us. Paul Ryan is the only one I have heard telling people the truth about this. He is the perfect person to be VP.
Not Right Politics
August 11th, 2012
11:32 am
It is what it is. Romney, with strong ties to Michigan, and Ryan from Wisconsin… two states getting back-ended by their elected officials on a precedence setting level. Michigan legislators trampling state constitutional rights and Wisconsin following close behind in what looks to be a joint effort between the two states to clobber peoples right to collectively bargaining… and then there is Romney’s self proclaimed only source of income – capital gains, and Ryan’s desire to eliminate taxes on capital gains – go figure… he picked a perfect vp running mate… they’ll be as happy as two non consensually fertilized eggs in a uterus!
VinnyD
August 11th, 2012
11:36 am
I would have gone with Rubio to take the state of Florida. Without Florida, you LOSE. Ryan’s plan doesn’t do near enough for me. In fact, it increases spending and the debt ceiling and doesn’t balance anything for a LONG time. We have to cut spending dramatically. I don’t like his voting record on many key issues but it could have been worse, it could have been Condi Rice.
Independent voter
August 11th, 2012
11:41 am
you need to watch CNBC.. business news…. NOT FOX or MSNBC… to understand how to get the economy and JOBS going !!
Smart like a fox
August 11th, 2012
11:44 am
oh yeah !! Now we can pound the poor and middle class….I love it !! Finally some will be there to look after all my money….now just put min wage back to four bucks and I might start hiring again.
GT
August 11th, 2012
11:46 am
Long-Term Capital Management L.P. (LTCM) was a hedge fund based in Greenwich, Connecticut that utilized absolute-return trading strategies (such as fixed-income arbitrage, statistical arbitrage, and pairs trading) combined with high leverage. The firm’s master hedge fund, Long-Term Capital Portfolio L.P., failed in the late 1990s, leading to a bailout by other financial institutions, under the supervision of the Federal Reserve.
The plan by John Meriweather was brilliant except he couldn’t mathematically predict one thing, the Russian default on their bonds, the human element of corruption and poor character. This is exactly what is happening to our economy again. We have projections that add up perfectly but reality is the air that decays the best made plans. Greed always breeds corruption and a weak government allows corruption to take its place. Long Term Capital was a warning we didn’t follow up on and it repeated itself in 2008 and if Romney is elected along with his greedy Tea Party attachments it will be the death of us all. What people don’t recognize in the theology of this crowd is the “me” first, disguised as a national movement of patriotism. It is like the religious right movement that tell you to block out large sections of humanity, hate what you don’t understand and tell them Jesus sent you. One brilliant group to figure out how to cover religion and greed and call both their property. Truth is it can’t be done.
Not Your Typical Atlantan
August 11th, 2012
11:48 am
@Not Right Politics….
Romney has absolutely no foothold in Michigan as he strongly opposed the automotive bailout which saved thousands upon thousands of jobs. The truth also is that Ford took the tarp stimulus as well to brace Ford Motor Credit against the SUV and housing market bubble burst!!!
Romney’s dad has more respect in Michigan that his son who relocated to Mass.
Brosephus™
August 11th, 2012
11:54 am
Medicare and Social Security will either go bankrupt and be gone ten years from now or we will change them radically and they will stay.
Funny how today’s conservatives tend to forget that the patron saint of modern day conservatism, Ronald Reagan, raised social security taxes to help account for the surge in spending when it was time for the baby boomers to retire. Social Security is ok for a few more decades. I don’t know if that’s the same for Medicare, but that talking point makes for great horror theater. I almost flinch every time I read that one.
Hmmmmmmm
August 11th, 2012
11:56 am
LOL @ UGA economics major….. Just go ask for your money back….
Chris Salzmann
August 11th, 2012
11:57 am
As an independent, I see this as the last nail in the coffin, for Romney. Just more stale ideas about trickle down economics that don’t pass the smell test anymore. The only people these guys benefit are the rich. Lower taxes, no estate taxes, etc for the rich (and themselves). People who are against Obama will vote for Romney anyway. The only way Romney had a chance of winning was to win over independents and Hispanics. This ticket isn’t going to do that and panders to the extreme wing of the Republican Party. Plus with Paul Ryan’s record of statements on social security, Florida and it’s seniors are going to vote for Obama/Biden. Things were going badly in the polls for Romney; it’s going to get much worse.
Rally
August 11th, 2012
12:02 pm
The only problem which is really not a problem at all is that Ryan is way too smart for the average voter that most of what he says will go right out the window of people who do not understand economics. The people who live paycheck to paycheck couldn’t balance their own checkbook if their life depended on it…so to them a Ryan pick means absolute squat. The thing I like about this ticket is to the opportunity to put Harry Reid and Pelosi finally in their place. Ryan being the VP will make him Senate Pro Tem which will make sure FINALLY that budget bills make it to the Senate floor that to me is golden!
andy
August 11th, 2012
12:04 pm
It remains unclear to me why Paul Ryan who has had a government job all his life can have the nerve to tell the rest of that we’re not entitled to the Medicare and social security that we have WORKED and PAID for.
Rally
August 11th, 2012
12:09 pm
And for those on here arguing that Ryan will take away my SS or my Medicare your already a dollar short because the system is broke you fools. It ain’t there and it is an entitlement to which you are not entitled to. The only reason you get it at all is because the government is propping you up at this time because they are flat broke. Honestly if they have to tell banks to prepare for a collapse that the government can’t help them the next time around you honestly think they are going to help you. Please…get real.
Hmmmmmmm
August 11th, 2012
12:13 pm
Let’s be honest Chris… You are NO independent…. If you have voted for Obama and vote for him again, your just another liberal. Period. Any independent voter that votes for Obama is truly putting the last nail in this country’s coffin. Romney may not be the answer to all the right reasons to fix this country, he is at least in the right direction…
Butch Cassidy (I)
August 11th, 2012
12:13 pm
Great, now maybe Ryan can implement his plan. All we need to do is get unemployment down to 2%. Forget the fact that the U.S. has NEVER had 2% unemployment, but I digress. I don’t like either party, but could the GOP at least pretend that they want to win?
P B Orr
August 11th, 2012
12:16 pm
Nope. A dour prissy snob, doesn’t help the wimpy Romney at all.
P B Orr
August 11th, 2012
12:17 pm
Hmmmmmm, the voice of sanity. You’re all traitors!! Obama is from Mars! It’s just covert racism.
Thumbody Thed
August 11th, 2012
12:17 pm
Right now he could pick anybody in the USA and I would vote for whoever is running against O’bummer.
I don’t even care if it’s Romney. I’m only voting against somebody not for someone. ANYTHING, and I do mean ANYTHING would be an improvement on what’s sitting in the White House now.
GT
August 11th, 2012
12:20 pm
Rally the strongest support for Romney is the middle and poor white male. Growing up in the south I find this group not well versed in balancing the checkbook, as you put it. I think people recognize that Romney has had to dumb down his own message to attract this Chevrolet and Ford truck crowd. One of the messages he has not even tried to relay to them is his opposition to bailing out their beloved truck makers. When that gets out he may lose some of his base there too. I find it usually takes this Romney tribe about six months longer than the rest of us to catch up on the affairs of this country if they ever do. This car shutdown hits em where they live with trucks and NASCAR and for that reason alone they may take exception to the Romney policies. They can understand a truck not being in their driveway the rest is background noises.
P B Orr
August 11th, 2012
12:22 pm
The best thing about having a black man as president is watching the racists out there lose their minds. Lynching, persecution, and slavery are all illegal now, and they are out of options. It’s awesome!
Charles V
August 11th, 2012
12:23 pm
The Party of NO, the GOP, has said NO to everything these past two years. It didn’t matter what it was. Funny how the Republicans claim Obama has done nothing, but that statement couldn’t be more false. They’ve said no to some bills that could have created lots of jobs, see the Small Business Act, which the GOP should have been on-board with, but as predicted, they said NO. How can our country operate this way? How can the GOP say that Obama has done nothing with a straight face? Just when our country needed it the most, the GOP wasn’t willing to work with the other side. Heck, the economy is great to them, half price mansions, cheap and desperate labor, what could be better? The economy is great for the people who have money to spend. You won’t hear this from Fox News, but as a recovering GOPer, they’ve pushed me very far away/.
Tap Out
August 11th, 2012
12:24 pm
Perfect pick…just the person I was hoping for. Obama/Biden 2012
but I thought...
August 11th, 2012
12:28 pm
the GOP wanted a conservative? this guy voted lock step with “W” on everything. TARP, No Child Left Behind, expansion of medicare, etc…this guy is a RHINO.
Chris Salzmann
August 11th, 2012
12:29 pm
Hmmmmm@12:13. I voted for Bush in 2000. Obviously, people on the right have no idea how independents think. Romney also just proved it with this pick. I’m not overjoyed with Obama but I’ll vote for him over Romney/Ryan anytime of the day. Trickle down economics haven’t worked before and still won’t work. You NEED independents and Hispanics to win the White House. This certainly isn’t the ticket that’s going to do that. Let’s face it: The Republican Party has been hijacked by its extremists. During the Republican Primary, someone mentioned that why in God’s name would you pick a guy who lost to the guy who lost to Obama??? That logic still stands. You guys called Kerry a flip-flopper and an elitist??? Good Lord, Romney is that times 100!!! He has not taken a position that he has not changed. And you called Kerry an elitist for wind surfing??? I guess having a horse in Dressage now makes wind surfing look like a poor man’s sport.
Paul Ryan isn’t going to help Romney except with the extremist Republican base. Bottom line is that people who HATE Obama will vote for Romney anyway. But you aren’t going to win many converts here with this pick. The only interesting thing to watch for now is by how much this ticket loses to Obama by.
Brosephus™
August 11th, 2012
12:34 pm
The only problem which is really not a problem at all is that Ryan is way too smart for the average voter that most of what he says will go right out the window of people who do not understand economics.
Which part of it too hard for many people to understand?
Is it the part where he claims it’s a “Path to Prosperity” to get control over our deficits and debt, yet it doesn’t present a balanced budget for at least 20-30 years?
Is it the part that projects the debt limit to exceed $23 Trillion within the next ten years, even though the current GOP threw a tantrum when Obama asked for an increase in the debt limit last year? Remember, the GOP House unanimously backed Paul’s budgets for 2 years running.
Or, is it the part where the rosy outlooks were projected based on the US having an unemployment rate below 3%, even though the US hasn’t seen such a low percentage since 1953? You also have to remember that, since 1953, the US total population, including the workforce, has exploded in numbers.
Let’s be honest Chris… You are NO independent…. If you have voted for Obama and vote for him again, your just another liberal. Period.
And how exactly do you know what his political leanings are? Responses, such as yours, tend to be a turn-off for people who are not beholden to either political party. The whole “either you’re with us, or you’re against us” mindset probably keeps more than a few independents for voting for this current day manifestation of the GOP.
Painful Truth
August 11th, 2012
12:39 pm
Paul Ryan is the “brain” of the GOP Congress. You know, the Congress with a 13% approval rating.
Obama has this election in the bag. Easy win.
GT
August 11th, 2012
12:42 pm
You take the haters out of the Republican Party and Obama wins by 90%. The GOP are forced to the mats by voodoo logic because the real smell in the room is racism which is still not an acceptable argument unless you are in the KKK. Romney gets a jury stacked with young white uneducated males, sponsored by rich conniving Wall Street and gambling interest, who can convince this pool of unwashed, gravity is a temporary event not to be bought into, a socialistic plot by a socialistic God evenly distributed among undeserving masses. How do we keep a steady supply of voters? Break the public school systems and you have massed produced your voting public, do it by corruption and pay your local representatives from the money you divert from the rightful purpose of educations and the welfare of the state. Then as you entertain in your mansion paid for by unethical methods you have made legal at the expense of pensions and investment funds and tell the world what a great country we live in and you certainly mean it as I am sure Jessie James did too.
Steve
August 11th, 2012
12:57 pm
As a progressive, I think the nail has been pounded into the lid of the coffin with this pick. Two out of touch wealthy white guys who want to lower taxes on the wealthy and in the same breathe gut beloved social safety net programs all in the name of “lowering the deficits.”
This, folks, ain’t gonna fly. Romney’s poll numbers will temporarily jump, then in Sept-Nov, Obama’s polls widen. Slam, dunk, it’s ovah!
P B Orr
August 11th, 2012
1:01 pm
I wonder if anyone will mention that the last prominent Ayn Rander to attempt destruction of the American and world economy was Alan Greenspan.
richard
August 11th, 2012
1:06 pm
They claim that those over 55 should not be concerned. As medicare comes to an end, those of us over 55 who they say will still be covered will be left with a system in the midst of being shut down. As the years go by the system will be squeezed because doctors will drop out of medicare and with less participants there will be less political clout need to continue your coverage. So if you are over 55 be very very worried with this plan because as it shrinks you likely will be thrown to the wayside.
cc
August 11th, 2012
1:11 pm
Ryan is a great choice! Governor Romney defied the conventional political rules and picked someone he thought was actually good for America. The decision was not a political decision. After nearly four years of the Beloved Dictator, it is refreshing to see someone actually thinking of the country when making a decision.
givememyfairshare
August 11th, 2012
1:15 pm
it doesn’t matter who Romney picked, the libs are going to push their CNN, MSNBC talking points. Besides Obama has already told us Romney is a lying, tax cheating felon who also happens to be a murderer.
cc
August 11th, 2012
1:17 pm
“Obama’s polls widen. Slam, dunk, it’s ovah!”
I wouldn’t bet the farm on it, but as a ‘progressive’ (read ‘communist’) I’m sure that you would bet everybody else’s farm on it.
We will see in November. I personally think it will look very much like 2010 to you ‘progressives’.
Shine
August 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
He’s a kook’s kook and his voting record looks like Barney Frank’s. This is the tea party champion? gag
claytondawg
August 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
If it takes TWO people who have business expertise, then I say a Romney-Ryan ticket will do the trick to help move this country into a more economic power. No, I’m not a rich business person; I am a retired teacher who believes this country has not been achieving its own ideals. Looks to me as if Ryan has a good idea in placing Medicare into the hands of some private companies. The government’s ideas usually fail, so why not try something else.
pippa's hiney
August 11th, 2012
1:23 pm
I can’t wait to see Ryan tear hair plugs Biden a new one.
sid
August 11th, 2012
1:25 pm
Great pick! As a lib, he’s the one I respect the most. Staying away from the crazy train (bachmann,palin,west,newt,et al) is a wise move. Cons always lose me on social issues. If they focus on numbers-they’ll nab alot of independents. However, Romney’s a dud, so the pick is mute.
D man
August 11th, 2012
1:27 pm
I love the pick and enjoyed his introductory speech this morning. Well done Mitt. Now go fix the problems of our great country…
Oh'man
August 11th, 2012
1:29 pm
Anybody who Romney chooses will be the same status-quo. If you guys actually think there is a difference between a Democrat and a Republican you need to change your priority and avoid politics. There is more of a difference between what I think in the morning to the afternoon than between a Democrat and a Republican.
Jane
August 11th, 2012
1:30 pm
The Ryan pick means Romney is willing to talk to Americans as though they’re adults. We’ll see if they are.
Bobby
August 11th, 2012
1:31 pm
IMHO, if Romney/Ryan win, it represents the downfall of the USA. Neither have any interest in middle class americans and their voting records whether looking at civil rights, medical rights or tax reform are not in the best interest of anyone other than the monied in this country. Those of us who work for our achievements will be in serious trouble. I’m not impressed with the GOP ticket and will still vote for President Obama.
marko
August 11th, 2012
1:32 pm
I feel sorry for the liberals and their knee jerk “tax the rich” reaction. While it does play well to small minded people, the simple fact is there are not enough “rich” that even taxing them at 100% (assuming they keep working) to pay the government bills. If we don’t fix spending EVERYONE, rich or poor, needs to pay more taxes. That’s the choice – you want a bigger government YOU are going to have to pay more. YOU, not just other people.
Realtycheck
August 11th, 2012
1:32 pm
Wonder how many Tea Party goobers will vote for him thinking he is Ryan Paul. Romney is a combination Gordon Gecko and Draco Malfoy. Anyone who would vote for him deserves what they will get.