LEE’S SUMMIT, August 12, 2012 – Mitt Romney announced today to a crowd gathered in front of the battleship Wisconsin that Congressman Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee is his running mate.
My first reaction was one of disappointment. I have nothing against the congressman, but I had hoped for Senator Marco Rubio from Florida. I thought he would bring some of the Latino vote, and be a very positive influence in the campaign.
The more I thought about it, both Ryan and Rubio would do a better job than most others considered with the exception of Condalesa Rice. The political advantage may bet keep Rubio in the senate and jeopardize one seat in the house where the conservatives have a deeper pool to draw from.
Obama’s Campaign Manager, Jim Messina – according to Reuters – said “Romney has chosen a leader of the House Republicans who shares his commitment to the flawed theory that new budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy”
The only truth in that statement is that Ryan is a Republican Leader in the House: the rest is campaign opinion.
Under Obama’s watch we’ve seen the national debt rise to 15 trillion dollars, no budgets approved by the senate – nor passed – and on the economic side an anemic GDP growth, and an understated 8.3% unemployment. That is what is putting pressure on the elderly, the middle class, and the poorest in America.
Is the current economic malaise the responsibility of Barrack Obama?
- Almost 1 trillion dollars of the debt is partly the responsibility of President Bush, but keep in mind that Obama doubled down on it when he had a chance – so I give Obama at least 60% of the responsibility.
- Obama campaigned on cutting the deficit by 50% in his first term: Obama knew the situation after the emergency meeting where McCain lost all credibility in my eyes with his suspension of the campaign just to seat quietly in the background.
- The constant focus, during the first to years of the great recession, to pass health care rather than improving the economy was Obama’s choice of the legislative agenda.
- The avalanche of regulations that hamstring the private sector keep businesses from focusing on sales, efficiencies, and growth initiatives to spur the economy.
Simply looking at these few key points shows me that the last thing the Obama campaign wants is an Economic showdown with the architect of the only budgets to be voted on in either chamber. They may think that it will be easy to attack Ryan, they may find it more difficult than they think. Paul Ryan has been under constant attack for posting a budget to shoot at, and he has not been proven a weak politician
I look forward to the attacks and seeing how he handles them, because if he is not ready for th campaign, he is certainly the wrong person to help fight the fiscal discipline battles we have ahead of us the next 8 years.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Lee’s Summit Conservative.
