Why Ryan pick won't help Romney

[Fozzledick]

By Ilyse Hogue, Special to CNN
updated 8:48 AM EDT, Mon August 13, 2012

Elections are ultimately about trust. And trust may be the only kind of currency that Mitt Romney is running low on lately. After a brutal couple of months defending the outsourcing of American jobs by his private equity firm, Bain Capital, and his mysterious tax returns, Romney took another body blow when an independent report revealed that his tax plan would grant himself and his wealthy friends a big tax cut while raising taxes on 95% of Americans.

After his botched European tour failed to deflect attention from his troubles back home, on Saturday he played the one card he had left to change the subject: announcing Paul Ryan as his vice presidential pick. But instead of making Americans forget their concerns, the Ryan pick sends a clear signal that Romney intends to double down on his anti-middle-class economic policies.

Ryan, the fresh-faced congressman from Wisconsin, would certainly be voted prom king at Tea Party High. But the tea party fever of 2010 has given way to widespread concerns about both unemployment and political corruption, which frustrated voters view as an insurmountable impediment to putting middle-class families' concerns above those of corporate lobbyists'. On those two counts, as Ryan becomes known outside of the Beltway elite, Romney may end up second-guessing his choice as much as John McCain did when Sarah Palin couldn't name a newspaper.

In fact, it appears second thoughts are already creeping in. After initially lauding the Ryan budget of 2011, Romney now claims he doesn't exactly support everything on Ryan's radical wish list. No wonder: Upon closer examination, Ryan's budget reads like a blueprint for dismantling the American middle class.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/13/opinion/hogue-ryan-romney/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[Lucy Goosey]

1. "the Ryan pick sends a clear signal...

...that Romney intends to double down on his anti-middle-class economic policies"

Yep. I really hope this sinks in with the electorate.

[NNRA]

2. Sweet Pick

To me, this pick is as sweet as it gets. I love the idea of Romney having to run on the Ryan budget. I can't wait. I think he just lost Florida and PA, regardless of voter ID. I think he'll a heck of a lot more close races.

[sabbat hunter]

4. hell with all the seniors and hispanics in Arizona

they may have punted that state as well. Retirees are a large block in Arizona, I cannot see them supporting Romney/Ryan. Hispanics will not support them due to their stance on immigration reform.

[K8-EEE]

3. 'Ryan's budget reads like a blueprint for dismantling the American middle class'

That needs to be repeated, repeated, repeated.