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
Whaeema
August 12th, 2012
12:36 pm
Ryan is a fantastic pick. The left is in overdrive to mischaracterize him as somehow a dangerous radical…pretty typical leftist playbook stuff. The hard left which is most democrats these days has seen three and a half years of failure of thier policies and unmasking of The One who was going to heal the world. About all democrats have left is anger.
cc
August 12th, 2012
12:37 pm
jim:
“A truly disgraceful, disgusting ticket.”
I could not agree more! Obama-Biden were disgusting before they elected, and have doubled-down on ‘disgusting’ since being elected. Obama-Biden is “a truly disgraceful, disgusting ticket” for 2012!
Tea Party Meber
August 12th, 2012
12:43 pm
This cournty needs mor guy like Rayan 2 lead this country out of its problem brought on by the tax and spend librals and loosers on welfare 2 high on drugs 2 get a job.
Jack
August 12th, 2012
12:49 pm
For the record, the Jack at 11:11AM on the11th ain’t me; he’s a flaming’ liberal.
Jackie Lyles
August 12th, 2012
1:08 pm
I think he is a great pick because he wants our government not to spend more than it brings in and I think all American’s can learn from this concept. I think he cares about money that is wasted and believes in helping people along with helping people get back on their feet and work. I think he will actually be a working vice president.
Moderate Joe
August 12th, 2012
1:11 pm
Poor choice. Confirms that Romney is pandering to the ultra conservative fringe groups.
Something Wicked5
August 12th, 2012
1:11 pm
Herman Cain, Newt and a few more like this selection. Now that Romney has his running mate they all are getting on board to see where this train is going. Cain and Newt both fail with their lies and continuation of step on, make rule statements about President Obama no matter what he does…frankly many don’t want to see him reelected or back in the Big White House again. I would say that many of us have done our homework. We know what has happen and it don’t really bother us because what can be done in 4 years with the issues that came before in the last 8 years and how on the shoulder’s of this current president. I will not tell an Air line pilot how to fly his 767 or 787. I will trust him to get me where I need to go….and even if we have some ruff winds, I still think President Obama has been good for America even if he can’t solve the problems that has confronted us. It is not his fault that it is what it is and until something good happen, we are better off with him. Now here is where Ryan is going to say I should have given it some time before I put my eggs in the hat. Romney taxes and this CEO with Bain will come back to haunt Ryan and Romney to a point where ther own party is going to say….it was a bad ideal to have Romney and Ryan on our Republaican ticket. The sea always gives up it dead, the truth comes out when you are on a roll…….and when you think you are set, you are really sinking. I will take my choice withthe current President Obama and VP Biden ticket for the next 4 years. Why, when it tuff, they hand tuff, and if you want a fight…….bring it on!
Juan Matute
August 12th, 2012
1:11 pm
The answer to your question has three responses.
(1) If you are a Republican, and on the extreme right edge, this a wonderful and energizing situation.
(2) If you are a moderate Republican, and dissatisfied with the extremem right, you may be part of a new poll category question; Does the selection of Ryan as VP running mate change how you will vote, and if so, how?
(3) If you are a Democrat, you are confident that Romney’s move moved the ticket way beyond what most people would accept as a voting option. You also know that you will have to work very hard to get out the vote.
Time for a real change
August 12th, 2012
1:13 pm
It makes no difference to which party you are aligned. To vote for someone because they are better than Obama or Romney is ludicrous. Why don’t we have better choices on either side? It seems there are plenty of decent people who could run for office and do a good job. The two party system is a joke and we the people deserve better than to have candidates who are rewarded for having paid their dues to the party. Time for a real change!
DAG
August 12th, 2012
1:23 pm
I can’t WAIT to watch the Biden – Ryan debate!!
Bludhart
August 12th, 2012
1:23 pm
Willard is a draft-dodging tax cheat. Swiss bank UBS turned his name over to the IRS in 2009, and Willard cut an amnesty deal. This is why he desperately conceals his tax records. Willard is also a coward who sat out the Viet Nam war in France, hiding behind his cultish “religion,” even while he supported an illegal and immoral war. Willard’s buddy Ryan is a lifelong politician whose right-wing social engineering scheme would sock it to the poor, elderly and infirm while rewarding and protecting millionaires.
MrLiberty
August 12th, 2012
1:29 pm
Let me begin by saying that Obama is probably the worst president we have ever had. But he only leads a very large group by a hair. That group of course includes Bush. Obama’s policies are basically those of Bush and Romney’s will be the same as Obama’s. To actually expect anything different is to delude yourself.
As for Ryan, I think it was summed up best by this statement from the Republican Liberty Caucus (the small handful of congressional republicans that still care about freedom and liberty):
“Possibly of even greater concern is Ryan’s ongoing record of absolute irresponsibility in the area of civil liberties. Since 2010 Ryan has been on the wrong side of almost every important vote involving basic Constitutionally protected rights. He voted to extend the PATRIOT Act, for CISPA, for DOMA, for the NDAA (three times), to expand the Department of Homeland Security, to extend troop commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and to give the President the power to appoint department heads without Senatorial approval. At a time when more and more Republicans are waking up to the threat of expanded government power to operate without observing traditional limits on their police power these votes are a major concern.
TARP, bailouts, entitlement expansion, endless military spending and bigger, more intrusive and less constitutional government. Is the Ryan record an example of the kind of policies a financially imperiled nation needs and which grassroots Republicans are demanding? Ryan is probably a gesture in the right direction, but Liberty Republicans should be concerned that the gesture is more symbol than substance and demand a clear and aggressive fiscal plan from the Romney campaign.”
In other words, Ryan is just the sort of totalitarian big government type the Goldman Sachs folks would love to complement their hand-picked selection of Romney.
To see the entire RLC piece, check out – http://www.rlc.org/2012/08/11/the-paul-ryan-record/
MrLiberty
August 12th, 2012
1:31 pm
And here is Paul Ryan begging congress to pass TARP. Pathetic. The perfect complement to Romney’s liberal stands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RyJBZYz858M
mommyof2
August 12th, 2012
1:32 pm
Ryan is a GOP foot soldier. He will vote along party lines even if it the government can’t afford it. Ryan voted yes for the Medicare Prescription Drug Act, the largest entitlement giveaway in this nation’s history.
shiri
August 12th, 2012
1:49 pm
Anybody is better than Obama and this Biden guy !!!!!
WELL said...
August 12th, 2012
1:56 pm
UGA & Not your typical Atlantan. You’ve summed it up. Obama doesn’t need to pack for 4 more years.
Donna P.
August 12th, 2012
1:57 pm
I like Paul Ryan a lot. He is too intelligent to be a politician though. I know the media, the Progressives, and Obama will try to destroy him and his family. I hope he is prepared for that.
Yankee boy
August 12th, 2012
2:18 pm
Southerners. Geeze.
Pamela
August 12th, 2012
2:20 pm
Write-In Ron Paul 2012
LoFlyer
August 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
It will be interesting to note how the media attacks Ryan, I suspect its not going to be as bad as the attacks against Palin. (for some reason the media hated a gun-wielding conservative female with an indepentant view.)
This is total BS by the AJC and media, 86 percent of the stories from Romney’s European trip was negative, which just happens to coincide with the journalists political contributians to the Democrats.
Isn’t that special!
Mike
August 12th, 2012
2:29 pm
As a Democrat, I was really hoping that Romney would pick Ryan. I think this really enhances Obama chances of being re-elected in November. If Romney had picked Portman from Ohio or Rubio from Florida, then I would be scared. Romney will now find it difficult to win the critical states of Ohio and Florida.
doodle
August 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
Palin is an air head. She proved that over and over again.
In the midst of an economic crisis you would turn over the country to woman who took six years to get a four year journalism degree? Now you know why your side lost- but I don’t know if you can understand it.
another day...
August 12th, 2012
2:35 pm
Rubio was the best choice for Romney. It would have given him Florida and the hispanic vote in swing states. Now he gets Wyoming, which he already had.
The Repubs now have a Mormon and Catholic on the ticket- Lets see the christian right get behind that. LMAO.
marc
August 12th, 2012
2:44 pm
GOP just lost the swing voters. Edge to Obama.
cc
August 12th, 2012
2:57 pm
Bludhart or Blowhard:
You probably should cite some sources for your unsubstantiated charges against Romney, or are you merely imitating obama? It appears that both Blowhard and obama believe in telling “the big lie” so often that it becomes accepted.
Typical liberal BS . . .
cc
August 12th, 2012
3:05 pm
another day…:
“The Repubs now have a Mormon and Catholic on the ticket- Lets see the christian right get behind that. LMAO.”
Becuse obama has declared war on Christianity, you wll find the Christian right solidly aligned with Romney/Ryan. The supprt for the Catholic Church by the Christian right sealed the deal. The support obama has given homosexual marriage was the final nail in the coffin for obama as it relates to the Christian right. I don’t think that this is enough to necessarily gain black votes for Romney, but it is certainly enough to keep a respectable number of black voters at home on election day.
JMH
August 12th, 2012
3:10 pm
Bludhart are u suggesting that if someone has to pay for any part of their healthcare…etc they are getting it socked to them? Is it wrong to expect people to pay just a little bit for the benefits they get? Wow, if this is the way you libs think we are in bigger trouble than I thought. Also, as cc said where is your proof for any of the claims you make? Is dirty Harry’s mystery source good enough for you?
One question for you, if I earn 500k dollars is that not my money? Is it yours or some politicians place to tell me I’m bad because I desire to keep more of it? Why should I be made to contribute more to the government so they can piss it away trying to buy more votes!
Romney-Ryan 2012
howard
August 12th, 2012
3:16 pm
It was a good choice for the Democrats because Ryan is a right wing extremists that would do great harm to the middle class.
JMH
August 12th, 2012
3:17 pm
Marc,
How does Ryan make Romney lose swing voters? You dont think the swing voters want to get this country moving in the right direction? At least Ryan has a plan! What is Obama’s plan other that tax the rich? He doesn’t have one. What is he going to do different in the next 4 years to improve the economy? I bet you don’t know because he doesn’t even know. Pretty sad people are that ignorant!
JMH
August 12th, 2012
3:18 pm
Howard ,
What is extreme about Ryan? He wants to fix social security & Medicare? That seems really extreme to me! Get a clue!
JMH
August 12th, 2012
3:20 pm
Also Howard just how is he going to harm the middle class? How about an example or two? Bet you don’t have any.
JMH
August 12th, 2012
3:22 pm
Howard=typical idiot Obama voter. No facts to back up his lame argument.
FarmerRob
August 12th, 2012
3:31 pm
Ryan is an excellent choice. Unlike Obama or Obiden he will look you in the eye and tell you the truth. Something the current leadership? knows nothing about.
SheeshLoiuse
August 12th, 2012
4:01 pm
Newt Gingrich told the TRUTH about Paul Ryan’s super bright ideas: “Right Wing Social Engineering” is what he called it. Then, he walked it back for politics’ sake, because he knew he would be running or President himself. Too late, damage was done Newt! Smart people are smart enough to know you meant it when it came out of your mouth! Even your OWN people, though they will not admit it publicly!
Here is the clip to remind you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsHw92j9P0Q
I’d wait for a rebuttal on it, but won’t hold my breath. I’m sure some idiot will come up with a “Well what about Obama…” LOL By the way, that’s called deflection in the art of Rhetoric. Bring on the convention, bring on the debates, bring on the election. Everything else quite frankly is a bunch of BS!
BehindEnemyLines
August 12th, 2012
4:17 pm
If only his votes matched his rhetoric. Alas, hasn’t seemed to meet a bailout he didn’t like. A disappointing bit of hot air that does nothing to sway me toward an already weak lightweight pseudo-conservative candidate.
cc
August 12th, 2012
4:54 pm
BehindEnemyLines:
“If only his votes matched his rhetoric. Alas, hasn’t seemed to meet a bailout he didn’t like. A disappointing bit of hot air that does nothing to sway me toward an already weak lightweight pseudo-conservative candidate.”
If obama hmself and his plans for a communist America is not enough to “sway (you) toward an already weak lightweight pseudo-conservative candidate”, I submit that you planned on voting for obama anyway.
cc
August 12th, 2012
4:59 pm
JMH:
howard needs no facts to back up his statement. He follows the obama rule: say anything you want and don’t confuse anyone by stating any nasty facts. If you lie often enough, people will believe you.
Unfortunately, the simpletons who support obama woundn’t know a “fact” if it bit them in the a$$.
LoFlyer
August 12th, 2012
5:08 pm
I rarely look at the AJC’s editorials anymore, five years back they quit endorsing liberal candidates because it did more harm than good for their endorsees. If you look through this thead there is a common theme of political delusion of the facts.
I can’t wait till November!
Independent Moderate
August 12th, 2012
5:34 pm
Paul Ryan? Really? It’s almost as if Romney doesn’t want to win…talk about self-sabotage.
barry
August 12th, 2012
5:41 pm
Not Your Typical Atlantan – “we the GOP” yea right. The line is drawn, if Obama wins again, more of the same unsustainable debt and unemployment due to his lack of understand of what creates jobs. But hey, we deserve what we get.
CherylS
August 12th, 2012
5:43 pm
Paul Ryan wants to make sure the rich don’t pay higher taxes and that the elderly and poor don’t have decent healthcare. Guess we all know who the Republicans really care about.
barry
August 12th, 2012
5:44 pm
another day… – hate to point this out but it’s WI not WY
DAWG FAN FROM DOUGLISVILLE
August 12th, 2012
6:48 pm
Enter your comments here
DAWG FAN FROM DOUGLISVILLE
August 12th, 2012
6:49 pm
YAAAAYYYY FOR RONMEY.
ITS ABOUT TIME WE SNED A MESSAGE 2 THE WORTLESS LIBERALAS THINKS R ABOUT 2 CAHNGE!!