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
Jack
August 11th, 2012
1:33 pm
Ryan’s an excellent choice. But then I’d've voted for Romney if he’d picked Mortimer Snerd. We have to get the Marxist out of office before he has a chance to futher socialize this country.
jim
August 11th, 2012
1:34 pm
The ignorant liberals have no idea what the Ryan plan is and continue to spread misinformation. There are NO changes to Medicare or Social Security for those already receiving if or born before 1957. Of course the liberal spin machine will lie about that just like everything else. Ryan is a great pick since he is serious and visionary. Obama has no vision whatsoever except to continue to push the US towards a socialst European state. I serioulsy don’t know how anyone who has half a brain could vote for Obama and his trillion dollar deficits. They obviously don’t care about the future of America and only about getting nanny state protections and $$$ for themselves.
Dr. C.
August 11th, 2012
1:35 pm
Paul Ryan, though a smart man and a believer in free markets, is not a supporting candidate. Romney needed someone to add charisma to the ticket. The best choices were Condi Rice and Marco Rubio. Ryan’s lack of charisma and name recognition will help the ticket fade into obscurity. Ryan would be better off staying in Congress where he will make a big impression over time and attain the stature of a presidential candidate in his own right. I could see Ryan running for President in 2020.
Charles V
August 11th, 2012
1:36 pm
Oh’man your comments are the most ignorant I’ve read thus far on this. Congratulations.
It DOES matter, and this election will touch every person in this country in some way or another. And, there’s a HUGE difference between the two. What’s the Happy Gilmore quote, “We are now dumber after having read your comments”
What he said
August 11th, 2012
1:38 pm
Ryan’s attempts over several years to remake the normally untouchable Medicare program — he’d allow those under 55 to leave Medicare and instead buy their own insurance with government assistance — passed the House but was assailed by Democrats and died in the Senate. The plan was even criticized by Newt Gingrich as “right-wing social engineering.” :::::: will you really vote for this guy?
RB
August 11th, 2012
1:39 pm
I love the Ryan pick, I’m a Obama supporter. This will make it much easier for Pres. Obama to be re-elected.
Oh'man
August 11th, 2012
1:40 pm
Charles V, how is this election any more different than any other election? Obama policies has been a direct correlation to the Bush adminstration. There are only subtle differences between the two but on the major things they both agree! Its not hard to realize that, just throw away all your preconceived notions about politics and start addressing the candidate based on his policies not his character. Policies will dictate character.
alex
August 11th, 2012
1:41 pm
What a great team!…Can’t wait to vote for them!
Gatekeeper
August 11th, 2012
1:44 pm
@GT August 11th, 2012 11:46 am
Your “comments” are copied and pasted straight from Wikipedia. Cite your sources rather than attempting to appear “knowledgeable”. Sheesh!
Fat Tony
August 11th, 2012
1:45 pm
If the VP choice doesn’t matter then why is it commonly assumed McCain lost because of Palin? It matters for several reasons:
- It’s the non-incumbent candidate’s first “Presidential” decision
- It clearly demonstrates the platform he is taking into the fight down the home stretch
- It complete his election team. No only the VP candidate, but key surrogates can now fully engage.
- VP candidate hails from a battlegound state when dems/unions just received a smack-down in the recall attempt.
- Excite the base without running independent off
As an independent I’m quite happy with this selection. With Ryan there will be virtually no talk of a social agenda. It really is “the economy stupid”.
Romney/Ryan will provide a stark choice for the future of America. In summary:
Obama/Biden: Government centric managed decline of America (to European levels) with a strong dependency culture (i.e nanny state), which includes a strong dose of crony capitalism.
Romney/Ryan: A pro-growth approach that counts on the free market and exceptionalism of Americans while having a responsible government. Less stifling regulation and less taxes will allow Americans to create/grow their businesses.
I’m sure the Republicans will have proposals to make an independent cringe. However, I get that daily from Obama/Biden.
In the spirit of the Olympics, let the games begin!
tlhanger
August 11th, 2012
1:46 pm
Finally, someone who understands a budget, just like all of us. Not out to steal our hard earned money and then chastise us by saying “You didn’t build that business!”
hood
August 11th, 2012
1:52 pm
The only thing Rob-Me knows is how to rob the poor and give the proceed to himself the rich, the death squad and the mafia. He is not presidential material.
AU Liberal in ATL
August 11th, 2012
1:53 pm
As a liberal Democrat, I love it. He’s an ideological nut case who I doubt could win a national election. I think the republicans know they won’t win this thing but they think he’s probably their best bet for 2016. This is about getting him ready for that. On the other hand, he is cute as a button. Maybe he’ll do a spread in Playgirl. That’s about the only thing he could sell that I’d consider buying.
Albert
August 11th, 2012
1:57 pm
I didn’t know Jack Kennedy personally, but I was a boy when he was President, and I have seen film of him speaking since then as well as heard recordings of him. Paul Ryan is no Jack Kennedy.
And JFK would never have dreamed of dismantling Medicare. I wonder how many people over 50 will vote for Romney now that Ryan’s on the ticket.
As one previous commenter said, Obama and Biden all the way!
Devil's Advocate
August 11th, 2012
1:58 pm
Another “Game Change!” (wink, wink)
Spud
August 11th, 2012
1:58 pm
The current guy has no idea what true leadership is. Hoping for change! Ryan is a fine pick. Come on November.
JW
August 11th, 2012
1:59 pm
How sad to listen to the poor slobs on here complaining about losing their government benefits e.g. social security and medicare. Have you nothing but the government to provide for you since you have no brains to support yourselves? How about taking care of yourself by being a responsible human being? It really does tell you about the mentality of America in 2012. I’ll vote for the Democrats because they give me “free” stuff that the greedy rich can pay for. They owe it to your for being such loser right?
Devil's Advocate
August 11th, 2012
2:02 pm
Was Romney thinking, “Revenge of the Nerds?”
barb
August 11th, 2012
2:08 pm
why would you flock to the nominee for Vise President. They don’t do anything
ms mayers
August 11th, 2012
2:13 pm
Great pic.
Ga for Ron Paul!
August 11th, 2012
2:13 pm
Ron Paul 2012!
Tony
August 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
WHILE RYAN IS A SMART MAN, HIM ON THE TICKET KILLS THE INDEPENDENT VOTE FOR ROMNEY….WHILE HE EXCITES THE BASE, THE GOP IS SMALLER DUE TO LACK OF ATTENTION OF HISPANICS, BLACKS, AND OTHERS. SO THE BASE ALONE WONT DO IT.
THE RYAN PLAN IS GOING TO KILL THE TICKET IN STATES LIKE FLORIDA AFTER THE DEMS SPEND A LOT OF MONEY HIGHLIGHTING THE PLAN (REMEMBER…EVEN REPUBLICANS WERE RUNNING FROM THE PLAN WHEN IT WAS 1ST INTRODUCED).
THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH ROMNEY IS TRUST. HE HAS SAID ANY AND EVERYTHING TO GET SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. AND WHILE SOME HARD NOSED REPUBLICANS SAY HIS TAXES ARE A NON ISSUES, IT SCARES ME THAT HE WONT RELEASE THEM.
AS AN INDEPENDENT, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ROMNEY AND RYAN HAVE TO DEAL WITH. IF NOT HANDLED QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY, OBAMA WILL WIN AGAIN BY 5-7 PTS NATIONALLY!
Teresa
August 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
because they are cute don’t make them fit to run this country. we barely know any of these guys!
mason
August 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
Spike Lee 2012!
Billy
August 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
The Ryan pick is one of excellence. Medicare will have to be reformed or it will fail. All serious people on this subject freely acknowledge this. Liberal losers will whine, but reasonable people will applaud this VP choice. With three years of abject failure from PBO and the Dim brain trust in trying to turn this country into the next USSR, I believe the November election will be Romney’s to lose. PBO and the Dims have failed–it’s time to throw them out on their ear and elect people who know what’s going on, know what works, not haters of our system and beliefs–all they want to do is hate and do so by destroying this country. Kick the leftist haters out!
Ayn Rand was Right
August 11th, 2012
2:15 pm
Intelligence will appeal to the American’s that will save this country. Good looks and an effusive personality will appeal to the idiots who get out the vote.
Ga for Ron Paul!
August 11th, 2012
2:17 pm
“Choosing between Obama and Romney is like choosing between brushing your teeth with Coke or Pepsi.” Ron Paul 2012!
Really?
August 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
And, most importantly, Ryan was voted Prom King in high school. Yeah!
Thomas
August 11th, 2012
2:20 pm
Introduced as the next President of the United States, it could actually come to pass when Social Security bottoms out and a Government not totally prepared for the revolt of the masses.
Say Whut
August 11th, 2012
2:21 pm
Won’t matter. Romney is a weak candidate who flips on any issue that might hurt him with Republicans. The only thing he is for is himself. Most Americans never heard of Paul Ryan– an no, he is not Nolan’s son.
Devil's Advocate
August 11th, 2012
2:24 pm
Quiz – What highly respected, intellectual republican called thePaul Ryan plan, “Right wing social engineering?”
SisterSarah
August 11th, 2012
2:24 pm
@JW
Just so you know, the majority of people getting all this “FREE STUFF” from the government ” e.g. social security and medicare” spent their entire WORKING lives CONTRIBUTING A PORTION OF THEIR SALARY TO FUND said “free stuff” in the form of PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS!
But please, by ALL MEANS, don’t let those FACTS and REALITY stand in the way of a good delusion that as stated before right wingers seemingly find a way to take to new levels each passing minute. Yep @Brosephus, THAT is the turn-off you so eloquently spoke of earlier.
Wurider05
August 11th, 2012
2:25 pm
I am a republican but swear that the whole political game is just a sham. Of all the possible choices this maybe the worst one. Not that there is anything wrong with Ryan but his is the boogeyman that wants to take away medicare from our seniors (at least that’s how he is going to be portrayed). The Obama camp has to be licking their chops at the opportunity to go after this guy. We may never know if better people turned the offer down but Obama is campaign is pushing class warfare and it seems like two candidates were hand delivered to him to help him get his point across. It all feels like one big manipulation in the american people.
Has Obama said anything about what he wants to do in his 2nd term? With no reelection to worry about we may see what his real agenda is.
Tony B
August 11th, 2012
2:26 pm
Well, if people hate Medicare and want it replaced with a voucher program… then Paul Ryan is great!!
I don’t think that is what the majority of America wants. It is sad that older Republican voters that want Medicare, may never learn the truth of Ryan’s views if they only get news from a Republican News Station. The truth is, most of Americans do not know who Ryan is yet. But don’t worry, after the President’s team and more importantly, Saturday Night Live, get down educating the voting public, there will be no doubt where Ryan stands.
RLP
August 11th, 2012
2:27 pm
Lord help us all! If these two get into office the poor and middle class will be fighting in the streets.
Gloryb
August 11th, 2012
2:27 pm
I watched the sad speech given by Romney and his counterpart, Ryan and I must say that the scare tactics continue. In all the rhetoric, there was no mention of the foreign policies and victories that have been gained as a result of President Obama’s directive and administration. There was no mention of Bush, who everyone wants to distance themselves from….there is mention of Reagan, but who cares? Even on television, these people seem unreal, seem disconnected. President and First Lady Obama are warm and engaging and bring you into their realm and make you feel like one of them. Republican = more $$$ for rich, less $$$ for the middle class and working poor, and less $$$ for the social services like Medicare and Medicaid. Can’t wait until November to cast my vote for President Obama and Vice-President Biden.
K
August 11th, 2012
2:28 pm
Smittie and pauley what a pair of losers and slime bags.
Seniors kiss your medicare and social security good BYE..
God help us..
Re-Elect President OBAMA
rtp
August 11th, 2012
2:30 pm
Rubio or Christie would have done it…
clayfield
August 11th, 2012
2:35 pm
Great pick. He is a responsible grown up in a city of whiners and spenders. Will be a great VP for 8 years and then pres for 8 more.
Devil's Advocate
August 11th, 2012
2:35 pm
I am an Non-Partisan independent voter, and a senior citizen. I am disappointed, and very concerned about Romney-Ryan.
Devil's Advocate
August 11th, 2012
2:38 pm
I am still waiting for the real Mitt Romney to show up. I don’t believe what you see is the real Mitt.
DennyR
August 11th, 2012
2:41 pm
Judging from many of the comments here, the current occupant of the White House along with most of the press in this country have certainly done an admirable job of turning many people against the rich. But it’s the rich who pay the bills in this country. It’s the rich who start companies, employ millions of people, give back to their communities, and pay the lion’s share of the taxes in our country. Yet all of that is not good enough, is it? After they pay a good part of their income to help keep this country going, we give them hell for sailing on their yachts, driving their fancy cars, and living in their mansions. Someone please explain to me how being envious of the rich has helped your personal situation. Instead, get off your butt and go build or invent something. The next time Obama stands up and says that we all need to pay our fair share, do you think that ANYONE in the press will ever ask him how it is fair that 44% of this country pays no income tax at all?
FNUS
August 11th, 2012
2:44 pm
Obama has had almost 4 years to be proactive about the economy and do something to bring jobs back to America! Instead he has done the hand-wringing and blaming of Bush instead. Really, other than cutting Medicare now to Seniors now to help fund his OBAMACARE, what is his claim to fame? Just as with athletes who talk trash, most onlookers don’t mind as long as you can back it up! Now he wants to start his trash talk about Mitt’s pick of Ryan as his VP running mate. YAK YAK YAK!! If you had done anything but whine about what others did or didn’t do the last four years or was more concerned about jobs creation and the economy instead of the gay marriage debate I might be willing to give you another shot! Obama is gone in NOVEMBER if I have anything to do with it! YOU ran on change and hope in in 2007. I have no more hope you have the ability to lead and only the change in my ashtray to show for that decision! The Navy Seals took care of one threat to America. Let’s remove the other threat to America in November!!!
Devil's Advocate
August 11th, 2012
2:49 pm
Clearly, some people on here doesn’t know that the president cannot create jobs, or pass legislation to create jobs. It is too bad that Civics is no longer a mandatory course in schools.
JW
August 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
@ sistersarah – how is life in the projects treating you? Hope you are eating well off the food stamps I’m paying for.
If you knew anything, which you obvioulsy don’t, the fact of the matter is the vast majority of people draw 10 time more out of Social Security and Medicare compared to what they contribute. It’s a pay as you go system, there in no trust fund dip s%#t! Yes, look it up! Social Security was set up when the average life expectancy was 66. People drew off it for a few years if they were lucky but now you have people retiring in their 50’s and early 60’s and living well in to their 80’s and 90’s taking taxpayer money for 30 years or more. That was never the intent of the program. A couple of hospital stays will suck up a life time of payroll taxes. But what do you care when you’re not paying for it.
Manny
August 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
I don’t like the pick. I would have picked Rubio or someone else. Paul Ryan authored the Ryan Plan and you will hear it a great deal on the campaign trail. It gives the Democrats to much ammunition that it’s pathetic.
I mean, why get someone who authored a controversial economic plan as your VP during an economic election? It doesn’t make sense, especially when you see that Independents (whom I am one of) thought it favored the rich too much?
cc
August 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
OK, you liberals, ‘progressives’, socialists and communists, take your best shot. Maybe it is too late for intelligence and competency in what used to be America.
I can’t understand how anyone with a smidgen of intelligence and the ability to reason could vote for Obama and the vice-idiot Biden. Obama has had an extremely successful first term – for himself and communism, but not for America. He is well on his way to collapsing the economic system, but the parasites continue to say, “Give us more!” He will oblige them because it furthers his objective to do so.
You can’t spend your way to prosperity.
You can’t borrow yourself out of debt.
A country can do neither of the above.
If you follow Obama, he will lead you to and through the gates of hell. When you see the fires, it will be too late to turn back.
2012 may well be the last free election held in America if Obama is re-elected. Make your choice wisely.
SisterSarah
August 11th, 2012
3:13 pm
I guess you didn’t catch in my earlier post where I stated I fell into the 28% tax bracket hunh @JW? don’t know about you, but my 3200 sq ft home sits on about an acre of land, so suffice it to say I’m no “project” dweller. But, if living in an alternate universe suits you, it sure as h377 suits me. And with that, you can kiss my 4$$ whenever you are ready.
Joshua
August 11th, 2012
3:22 pm
So Romney is hoping to win a national election by pandering to the super far-right? Ryan has a 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign.
SisterSarah
August 11th, 2012
3:28 pm
You know someone is mentally deficient when they gladly swizzle and swallow “we need less government” and “government is the problem” from the guy (or gal) who fights tooth and nail to GET INTO and/or STAY IN GOVERNMENT!! lmao
A “nation” of idiots…