Paul Ryan As Romney’s V.P. Pick: A Bold Conservative Pick Or More Of The Status Quo?
After months of speculation the news is out and this morning in front of a national television audience, Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney announced, what many on the right see as a bold move, Wisconsin Representative and House Budget Committee chair, Paul Ryan as his Vice-Presidential running mate.
While we are surely going to hear from the likes of Hannity, et al about what a great conservative legislator Ryan is, a little examination of his voting record tells a different tale.
Although Ryan’s introduction of the 2010 United States federal budget gained the admiration of Republicans and Tea Party supporters, few remember, or chose not to acknowledge Ryan supported the massively expensive Medicare Part D prescription drug expansion in 2003.
In addition to that George Bush expansion of government, here and abroad, Ryan voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002 and more recently, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
The website, Independent Voter found a Ryan quote oddly justifying his vote for the Wall Street Bailout:
“Madame Speaker, this bill offends my principles. But I’m going to vote for this bill in order to preserve my principles.”
Huh?
The list of anti-conservative, anti-free market bills goes on to include GM and Chrysler auto bailouts and the No-Child Left Behind act.
Ryan’s lack of concern for the Fourth Amendment was demonstrated with his vote in favor of USA Patriot Act of 2001.
When Ryan said in his speech this morning that there has been four years of failed leadership, he definitely forgot about the eight years prior in which he was a contributor.
A bold conservative pick? Nah.
The typical big government Republican? Pretty much.