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While it’s obvious the ties that bind Mitt Romney and the GOP to Paul Ryan’s budget plan have now been galvanized into hard metal, Ryan has some other baggage that will soon get attention. One item I’ve already alluded to today: Ryan’s claims that his economic and social philosophy reflect Catholic teachings seem to have rubbed the bishops (and even more adamantly, Catholic liberals) the wrong way, and could become a problem for the ticket at a time when the so-called “war on religion” had created a fine opportunity for Republicans to consolidate support among “traditionalist” white Catholics. Constrast that with the last time a Catholic was on a national ticket: in 2004, when poor John Kerry had to fear being denied communion in churches along the campaign trail.
The second problem posed by Ryan’s presence on the ticket was nicely summarized by Ezra Klein today:
It’s not just that Romney now has to defend Ryan’s budget. To some degree, that was always going to be true. What he will now have to defend is everything else Ryan has proposed. Ryan was, for instance, the key House backer of Social Security privatization. His bill, The Social Security Personal Savings Guarantee and Prosperity Act of 2005, was so aggressive that it was rejected by the Bush administration. Now it’s Romney’s bill to defend. In Florida.
Interestingly, Ezra offers ten ways in which the Ryan choice will probably affect the campaign. Only one of them (Ryan’s abilities as a debater) is a clear positive for Romney. I’d add another one: Romney’s probably gotten the right wing of his party off his back for the duration; the primaries have finally ended for him. I would not under-estimate the value of that phenomenon. The question is whether that will come close to offsetting the weight of Ryan’s baggage.
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TCinLA on August 11, 2012 12:13 PM:
Yesterday the little punk was crying that he wanted his business, his imperial wife, his incompetent sons, his toxic taxes and all the other "distractions" off the table so we could debate "the issues."
I think the Prez is going to grant his wish. Romney/Ryan: Making Your Social Security Look Like Your 401(k)!
New campaign slogan for Willard the Wanker: Take the Romoney and Ryan!
Scopulus on August 11, 2012 12:29 PM:
Biden is Roman Catholic. There will be little talk between these two on that issue.
square1 on August 11, 2012 12:33 PM:
Ezra Klein mades his bones because when he started blogging he was one of maybe a dozen kids fresh out of college who truly understood -- or even cared about -- diving into the weeds of health care policy.
But I have seen no evidence that "the other" Klein is particularly insightful when it comes to analyzing electoral politics. Klein is a wonk and is making the classic wonk mistake of thinking that most voters think like he does. Hello? Romney is going to have a problem because his position on defense spending as a percentage of GDP differs from Ryan's?!? What planet does Klein live on?
Simply put, Romney needed someone who could maintain GOP enthusiasm without scaring the pants off of everyone else. Short of picking Mike Huckabee -- who likely isn't trusted nearly enough by the banksters to get the job -- I don't see who else fits the bill.
Is Ryan vulnerable on SS issues, particularly in Fl? Yes. But the Democrats have been crapping the bed on SS issues for years and have changed SS from being the third rail of politics to a low-amperage electric fence that must be negotiated with just a little caution.
DJ on August 11, 2012 12:34 PM:
Which means the last time a Catholic was on a national ticket was ... er, 2008. Swing and a miss, Ed.
SimonPaul on August 11, 2012 12:47 PM:
McKayla's Grandmother Is Not Impressed
http://tinyurl.com/McKaylaGran
sp
Kathryn on August 11, 2012 12:48 PM:
@TCinLa........like your line, Making your social security look like your 401(K)! That line should resonate with suburban and slightly better off independents who might consider Romney/Ryan.
schtick on August 11, 2012 12:57 PM:
Cue in music from the Munsters as they walk onstage at the convention. Herman (Willard) and Eddie (Ryan) Munster on the tealiban ticket. Gah!
c u n d gulag on August 11, 2012 1:07 PM:
So, "Privatizing" Ryan had to come and save Mitt's @$$!
It's now the Ryan-Romney ticket.
Mitt may still have his magic underwear, but Ryan's the one wearing the pants in this little political family.
The Conservative id is on display for the whole nation to see.
dalloway on August 11, 2012 1:09 PM:
@square1: Ryan may be reasonably intelligent and surely will come off as more sane/competent than Sarah Palin -- but once the average voter understands how extreme his views are and how radical his budget is, he WILL scare the pants off them.
square1 on August 11, 2012 1:09 PM:
Digby touches on exactly why I like the Ryan pick:
"... for the past couple of months there has been an aggressive effort [by Centrist Democrats] to create this "fiscal cliff" hysteria and push through large cuts to the safety net and other important programs in exchange for some millionaire tip money and a small reduction reduction in defense in the lame duck session....But this could change the dynamic. Up until now all this talk has been largely under the radar and away from the campaign trail as everyone tries to talk about jobs and the current economic woes. After all, that's what the people of the country actually care about. But that's over. With Ryan on the ticket his dystopian Randroid budget will be on the ballot. If we're very lucky the Democrats will say things on the campaign trail that will make it much harder for them to agree to a Grand Bargain in the lame duck. "
I agree with this. But who knows? Maybe Obama will lie through his teeth and club Romney and Ryan like baby seals during the campaign and then cut a deal during the lame duck anyway.
jjm on August 11, 2012 1:11 PM:
Sorry, but I think Ezra is right. This guy's budget, when given to people in focus groups, evinces gasps of horror and disbelief. In two short months, he's going to persuade the mass of American voters that it is in their best interests to trust him? I doubt it.
Even Mitt is immediately backing away from it : "I'm not going to run on Ryan's budget."
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/mitt-romney-ryan-budget.php?ref=fpa
A typical Romney lie, of course. But seriously conservatives have such an overblown view of their superior intelligence and abilities, believing seriously that they are Ayn Randian Olympians of intellect, that they've commented on Klein's blog that Ryan wiped the floor with Obama on the debate on health care held at Blair House.
I barely recall what Ryan said, but I do recall that it was Obama who was wiping the floor with the GOP on that occasion, as on all others.
T2 on August 11, 2012 1:20 PM:
Romney's poll numbers were tanking, and the Very Crazy Wing of his Party were approaching revolt with two weeks left until their convention - he had to do something and his decision was to let Grover Norquist make the call for him.
The Convention has now been reduced to a boring lovefest....for Ryan. Here is what I"ll look for: A repeat of the Palin fiasco and here is why.....Mitt Romney has a huge ego typically of a multiple-millionaire a Bishop ini the Mormon Church. Like McCain he has waited for his coronation and won't like every single question from here on out starting with "Paul Ryan says.....". Guys like Romney don't tolerate playing secong fiddle.
jimfilyw on August 11, 2012 1:29 PM:
one of many questions in my mind is whether ryan will soften romney's hard core support among the southern baptists. they swallowed the u-turn on romney from cultist to savior with barely a hiccup, but ryan's wet dream will hit them in their pocketbooks (what's a soul compared to that?). granny's medical bill just might get their attention. facts are generally more annoying than instructive to these dimwits, but there's got to be a point. i don't expect them to swing, but ryan just might let them feel less guilt about staying home.
Gangis Khan on August 11, 2012 1:37 PM:
One other advantage Ryan brings to Romney: the media is totally in the tank for him. Granted, they are generally hesitant to call out Romney's lies, but even he can occasionally go too far (claiming Bill Clinton would support his policies; cutting Obama-quoting-McCain out of context into just an Obama quote). But Ryan? He has a plan to cut taxes by more than he cuts spending, and the media agrees that this will somehow cut the deficit. He has a plan to end Medicare, entirely consistent with his worldview's desire to kick "parasites" to the curb, but since he'll replace it with a completely different program CALLED "Medicare", it is somehow a lie to say it ends Medicare.
I don't want to be a downer, but voters are hesitant to believe that Ryan could be as extreme as he demonstrably is, and the media (sorry to any trolls here, I mean the "liberal media") will shush anyone who tries to point it out. Hopefully this will change by November.
Spiny Norman on August 11, 2012 1:38 PM:
Who cares what the Catholic bishop child rape cartel thinks? That they are weighing in at all should be cause sufficient to immediately strip their tax-exempt status.
yellowdog on August 11, 2012 1:41 PM:
Paul Ryan has a smarmy Eddie Haskell quality that makes him grate on the nerves after limited exposure. He doesn't wear any better than Romney does. While he is articulate and eager to prove his worth, Ryan is also trying to defend at the same time Randian economic liberty and Falwellian moral absolutism. These are hard to reconcile.
I look forward to Ryan's appearances in Florida. If there is any justice, there will be a Clara Peller moment or two, where Ryan has to defend his Randian ideas against serious critics and questioners. Conservatives love their Medicare--and Ryan's ideas on the subject just don't add up, despite all the hype. Ryan will end Medicare--though he will keep the name. That much is clear. Even conservatives expect to keep their Medicare--and they won't trust young Mr. Ryan enough to go tampering with it.
Alan Tomlinson on August 11, 2012 2:02 PM:
Galvanization does not affect the hardness of metal in any way whatsoever, Mr. Kilgore. It is a rust-proofing, nothing more. Precision in expression is a noble goal; especially for a journalist.
Cheers,
Alan Tomlinson
fignaz on August 11, 2012 2:24 PM:
Speaking of the Catholic bishops, what ever happened to the much-touted "Fortnight for Freedom" which was supposed to galvanize everyone the first 2 weeks of July? Crickets... nary a peep since it was announced. Am I right in thinking it was a big bust?
DCSusie on August 11, 2012 3:36 PM:
I would like to challenge the moderator of the vice presidential debate to ask Ryan the following question:
Mr. Ryan: After your father died when you were a teenager you were able to use Social Security survivor benefits to help pay for your college education. How would your proposal to privatize Social Security affect the safety net that it now provides for children who like you lose a parent?
researcher on August 11, 2012 3:46 PM:
While the media may obsess now on Ryan and in some ways Romney, all of the lies and penchant for lying by Romney lives on in collective memories.
As do the gaffes, goofs and insults in England, the actions of his staff in Poland (saying kiss my a$$) and that sissified photo of him on the jetski.
And the fact that he has not released enough tax information and hides his money in havens and shelters overseas.
These remain despicable.
Chris_H on August 11, 2012 5:31 PM:
Paul Ryan draws no new groups to Romney and *could* destroy one key group: old conservative voters.
Obama and the Dems could hit Ryan hard on his Medicare coupon system. Say "RYAN AND ROMNEY WANT TO DESTROY MEDICARE AND MAKE IT INTO A COUPON SYSTEM" over and over and watch senior citizens freak out, just like they did in those Senate races where such attacks were wildly successful.
Just stop saying "voucher," Obama/Dems. No one knows what the eff that is. Coupons are scary, and in this case, more accurate.
earthworx on August 11, 2012 6:05 PM:
IMHO, this move indicates that the republicans have just ceded the race to Obama. The increasing grumbling about Romney from the republican base has scared the GOP poobahs. They think the base will likely sit out the election, thus affecting the down ballot races. The selection of Ryan, while essentially destroying Romney's presidential chances, will fire up the base to participate and hopefully preserve their House advantage. Romney probably knows his chances have just sunk, but there was nothing he could do, he was told in no uncertain terms to make this choice. Hopefully, democratic Senate and House candidates will coordinate their messaging and tie the Romney/Ryan ticket to the GOP at large.
Freud Jr. on August 11, 2012 9:26 PM:
Once people nearing retirement, and under age 55, realize the Chuck Tanner hook is coming, and Ryan and other uber-selfish Republicans want more suffering from the masses/less government--they too will rebel.
Seniors shouldn't feel too comfortable either--you can't trust these greedy ba$tard$. Every day Willard is caught in lies--plural.
Ryan's persona is cold and technical.
I have dreaded this day. I worry about these Voter ID shennanigans having seen the elections stolen by republicans in 2000 and 2004.
lonewolfbear on August 11, 2012 11:49 PM:
I disagree that the Ryan pick will get the right wing off of Romney's back. This pick will increase their enthusiasm for Romney, but only in the short term, and only as long as Romney toes the line. As soon as his campaign does something such as their recent touting of RomneyCare, the right wing will get right back on Romney's back. They are not the type to say "phew, he's OK" and let down their guard. This pick won't stop them being suspicious of Romney. It will only give them some reassurance that they will be able to roll Romney.
And this dynamic poses a particular problem for Ryan. If Romney does decide to deviate from the right-wing line in a conspicuous way, such as a major deviation from the principles in the Ryan budget, and if Ryan then proceeds to aggressively support and campaign for that, his own right wing cred will be significantly damaged.
biggerbox on August 12, 2012 12:53 AM:
Ya gotta love that whole "his own plan" malarkey from Romney. First, because it's so typically his mealy-mouthed, can't get caught committing to any one position style to pick a guy known far and wide for his budget, and then say you're not going to use his budget. Sheesh.
But even better, it invites the question "So, Governor Romney, in what exact ways would your budget plan be different from what Paul Ryan has proposed? "
The Romney team just isn't very good at running a campaign, is it?
bobby on August 12, 2012 3:20 PM:
The Ryan plan to convert Medicare into a Health Stamps program is now the Romney Medicare Health Stamps program.