Things you probably didn鈥檛 know about Paul Ryan
Like all politicians, Paul Ryan is a lot more interesting 鈥� and a lot more complicated 鈥� than any superficial image based on what he鈥檚 said (or others have said about him) regarding one or two issues.
Yes, the young (42) congressman and now Republican vice presidential nominee is a budget hawk who thrills conservatives and annoys liberals. When the GOP regained control of the US House in 2010, he became chairman of the Budget Committee 鈥� a principal player in the fierce struggle between congressional Republicans and the Obama administration over how to handle federal deficits, national debt, and economic recovery.
But he鈥檚 also declined to become part of his party鈥檚 leadership in the House 鈥� mainly, he told Time in 2010, because 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to spend my weekends flying around the country campaigning and raising money.鈥�
鈥淚 want to spend my weekends at home with my little ones,鈥� he said, noting too that 鈥淚 like policy over politics鈥� (confirming the wonkishness for which he鈥檚 known).
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This importance of family no doubt is tied to the fact that his father died when Ryan was just 16 years old 鈥� one reason he stresses the importance of physical fitness.
Ryan, reports Time, 鈥渋s a health freak who runs daily grueling P90X classes for members and staff at the congressional gym. He was voted biggest 鈥榞ym rat鈥� by an anonymous poll of congressional staffers by the Washingtonian magazine in 2010.鈥�
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听Ryan and his wife Janna have three children, two boys and a girl ages seven, eight, and nine. Mrs. Ryan, a tax attorney with degrees from Wellesley College and George Washington University Law School, comes with a political pedigree of sorts: She鈥檚 the niece of former US Sen. David Boren (D) of Oklahoma and first cousins with US Rep. Dan Boren, also an Oklahoma Democrat.
Rep. Boren鈥檚 comment on Ryan鈥檚 being named to the GOP ticket reflects what many of both parties on Capitol Hill think of the Wisconsin Republican.
鈥淧aul has a firm moral compass and has always approached his job as a congressman with diligence and honesty,鈥� Mr. Boren said. 鈥淗aving many friends on both sides of the aisle, he is an effective and talented leader. Although we belong in different political parties, I see Paul as a friend, a fellow hunter, and most importantly a family man.鈥�
Like a lot of young conservatives, Paul Ryan was attracted to the works of the controversial writer and philosopher Ayn Rand 鈥� so much so that he gave Christmas gifts of 鈥�Atlas Shrugged鈥� to staffers.
鈥淭he reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be听Ayn Rand,鈥� he told a group promoting Rand鈥檚 works in 2005. 鈥淎nd the fight we are in here, make no mistake about it, is a fight of individualism versus collectivism.鈥�
But as he became more politically prominent 鈥� perhaps in an attempt to reset his public image 鈥� he claimed to reject Ms. Rand鈥檚 world view, which seemed in important ways antithetical to his own strong Roman Catholic faith.
鈥淚 reject her philosophy,鈥� told the National Review this year. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an atheist philosophy. It reduces human interactions down to mere contracts and it is antithetical to my worldview. If somebody is going to try to paste a person鈥檚 view on听epistemology听to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas鈥�. Don鈥檛 give me听Ayn Rand.鈥�
In any case, since graduating from Miami University in Ohio in 1992 (where he double-majored in economics and political science) Ryan has spent virtually his whole post-graduate life in politics.
In Washington, he worked for former US Sen. Bob Kasten (R) of Wisconsin, Republican vice presidential candidate and supply-side advocate Jack Kemp, US Sen. Sam Brownback (R) of Kansas, and the conservative advocacy group Empower America, which was founded by William Bennett and Jeanne Kirkpatrick.
Still, at one point in his life he seriously considered becoming a professional skier before turning to politics.
鈥淒id you ever regret that decision?鈥� CNN鈥檚 Candy Crowley asked him. 鈥淪ometimes,鈥� Ryan replied.
Ryan鈥檚 budget plan is as controversial as it is well-known 鈥� a ready target for liberal commentators and the Obama campaign.
鈥淢r. Ryan has somehow acquired a reputation as a stern fiscal hawk despite offering budget proposals that, far from being focused on deficit reduction, are mainly about cutting taxes for the rich while slashing aid to the poor and unlucky,鈥� New York Times columnist and Nobel economist Paul Krugman wrote in May.
But Ryan sometimes goes against the general drift of his party on other issues.
Unlike Mitt Romney, he supported the auto industry bailout, for which conservative columnist Michelle Malkin labeled him a 鈥減ro-bailout, anti-free market Republican.鈥�
Ryan is very strongly antiabortion, but the fact that he generally avoids social issues like gay rights 鈥渉as sometimes gotten him in trouble with conservative activists,鈥� reports Time.
鈥淚n 2007, he voted for a bill that would ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. He explained his vote because he had friends 鈥榳ho didn鈥檛 choose to be gay 鈥� they were just created that way鈥�.鈥�
Being from the Badger State, Ryan naturally roots for the Green Bay Packers. His outdoor activities include bow hunting deer and fishing for Walleye. And as far as we know, he鈥檚 the only member of Congress whose summer jobs included driving the Oscar Meyer 鈥淲颈别苍别谤尘辞产颈濒别.鈥�
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