What鈥檚 that you say about Paul Ryan? Political combatants weigh in
You could almost smell the smoke as the Internet blazed with reaction to Mitt Romney鈥檚 picking Rep. Paul Ryan to be his vice presidential running mate.
Republicans (and conservatives generally) say they鈥檙e thrilled. Although he鈥檚 spent his whole adult career as a Washington lawmaker, he鈥檚 viewed as a young, fresh face outside mainstream politics 鈥� not at all like those other members of Congress held as a group in very low public regard. Google 鈥渂old鈥� and 鈥淧aul Ryan鈥� and you get more than 3 million results.
Democrats and liberals, while moving immediately into attack mode, are happy in their own way to have a vice presidential opponent who brings (in their view) considerable political baggage 鈥� the man who would end Medicare, if not Western Civilization, as we know it.
Here鈥檚 a sampling of initial response to Mr. Ryan鈥檚 vault to the national political stage, first from supporters.
Former President George W. Bush: 鈥淭his is a strong pick.聽Governor Romney is serious about confronting the long-term challenges facing America, and Paul Ryan will help him solve the difficult issues that must be addressed for future generations."
Former US Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum: "In addition to Congressman Ryan's stellar fiscal conservative positions, he is indeed a full-spectrum conservative. He is solidly pro-life, pro-family, and will be an advocate for our military and our national security priorities.鈥�
Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life Action: 鈥淭his election is a referendum on President Obama鈥檚 championing of a health care plan that is the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.聽 And AUL Action welcomes Congressman Paul Ryan鈥檚 strong stance against buttressing the abortion industry with American鈥檚 hard-earned tax dollars.鈥�
News Corp. Chief Rupert Murdoch: 鈥淭hank God! Now we might have a real election on the great issues of the day. Paul Ryan almost perfect choice.鈥�
Fox News host Sean Hannity: 鈥淥utstanding choice Paul Ryan. America has a choice this election 鈥� Fiscal responsibility or Obama turning USA into Greece鈥�
RedState editor Erick Erickson: "Romney picking Ryan unites moderate, liberal, and conservative Republicans while wooing independents."
Columnist and author Michelle Malkin: 鈥淧HEW. After a week marred by a聽not-ready-for-prime-time聽staffer who had movement conservatives questioning Team Romney鈥檚 competence, sanity, and willingness to fight the brass-knuckles White House and Chicago thug operatives, the Romney campaign made the right decision.... Paul Ryan is fresh, young, energetic, smart, courageous, and ready for prime time. Paul Ryan is a policy wonk AND a front-line warrior whose budget and long-term entitlement reforms have the entire Dem-Soros-lapdog media machine unhinged.鈥�
IN PICTURES:聽On the Campaign Trail with Mitt Romney
Unhinged or not, here鈥檚 some of the reaction from those to the left of Ms. Malkin.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi: 鈥淭here is no question that former Governor Romney now owns the Republican, Ryan budget that puts millionaires ahead of Medicare and the middle class.聽 Congressman Paul Ryan led House Republicans in voting to end the Medicare guarantee, which increases costs on seniors and weakens America's great middle class in order to give tax breaks to millionaires, Big Oil and corporations that ship jobs overseas.鈥�
The New York Times: Mitt Romney鈥檚 safe and squishy campaign just took on a much harder edge鈥�. Voters will now be able to see with painful clarity just what the Republican Party has in store for them.
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz: 鈥淐ongressman Ryan laid the groundwork in Congress for Mitt Romney鈥檚 budget-busting scheme that gives an additional $250,000 tax cut for millionaires while punishing middle-class families with tax hikes of up to $2,000 a year.鈥�
Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund: 鈥淛ust like Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan wants to end safe and legal abortion, would work to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood鈥檚 cancer screenings, birth control, and other basic health care, and would repeal the Affordable Care Act, denying access to birth control, well-woman checkups, and other preventive care to millions of Americans.鈥�
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten: 鈥淩ep. Ryan鈥檚 record speaks for itself. He would reduce, not expand, real opportunities for all students to have access to high-quality public education.鈥�
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, senior Democrat on the House Budget Committee Rep. Ryan chairs: "Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and the GOP want to provide a gilded path to prosperity for the already wealthy, while leaving working Americans, seniors, and future generations behind.聽We tried trickle-down economics under President Bush and it clearly failed.鈥�
Vice presidential candidates traditionally take a prominent attack role in campaigns. But for one day, at least, Vice President Joe Biden was Mr. Nice toward the man he鈥檒l debate.
鈥淰ice President Biden reached out to聽Congressman Ryan聽earlier today to congratulate him on his selection and welcome him to the race,鈥� the Obama campaign said in a statement. 鈥淭he Vice President urged Congressman Ryan to enjoy the day with his family, and said he looked forward to engaging him on the clear choice voters face this November.鈥�
To which one can only say to Mr. Ryan: Watch your back.
