Should congressional Republicans worry about having Paul Ryan on the ticket?

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., speaks at a campaign event at Walsh University Aug. 16, 2012, in North Canton, Ohio.

/ Getty Images

(CBS News) Last weekend, minutes after Mitt Romney officially tapped Paul Ryan as his running mate, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent out an email blast. The e-mail, citing a Politico story, touted a recent campaign ad from Montana Senate candidate Denny Rehberg that blasted Ryan's budget plan. What's most interesting about the ad, however, is that Rehberg is a Republican - and that the National Republican Senatorial Committee had helped to fund it.

Democrats across the nation have expressed a certain amount of glee at the prospect of running against Ryan: Unlike Mitt Romney, the seven-term congressman from Wisconsin has a long record with which Democrats can pinpoint his positions on a number of ideological issues.

Congressional Democratic operatives, however, have expressed particular excitement about Ryan's new position: Ryan is the author of a controversial budget plan, which includes an overhaul of the nation's Medicare system so controversial that even some Republicans (see: Denny Rehberg) were running against it.

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"From now until Election Day, Democrats will be on offense and in overdrive, seizing this golden opportunity to define the choice in this election: Republicans putting Millionaires over Medicare and the middle class," said Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), in a statement. "It's crystal clear that the Ryan budget will be a defining issue in congressional races across the country and House Republicans can't escape the political devastation it will cause them."

Democrats object to a number of elements in the Ryan budget, but the Medicare plan - which would turn Medicare into what's called a "premium support," or voucher, plan - has the potential to be perhaps the most politically potent: Polling has consistently shown that voters tend to be wary of major changes to Medicare and that older voters, particularly, feel strongly about the issue.

According to a Pew poll from 2011 surveying voters on a plan with elements that reflect Ryan's, more voters opposed a voucher-style Medicare system than supported it, a trend which was consistent among Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Older voters were particularly averse to the plan: More than half of people ages 50-65 opposed it, and more than 40 percent opposed it strongly.  

Democrats are convinced that educating voters about the Ryan budget and Medicare plan will serve them well in House and Senate races, and are working hard to make them defining issues in those races.

"Montana is not a particularly Democratic-leaning state and the NRSC has got their Republican candidate, who's been in Congress for a long time now, up on television saying, 'I voted against this,'" said one Democratic Senate aide. "I think that tells you how toxic it is even in a state like Montana. Imagine how toxic it is going to be in a state like Virginia, that's more contested."

Senate candidates, the aide said, are working to "make sure they're communicating the impacts of what these policies would do and how they would impact not just current retirees but also future retirees as well."

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[mikesfilms]

Ryan is best thing that happened to Dems this election. Associated Press GfK poll: 58% of adults expect Obama to be re-elected. Even 43% Repubs expect Romney/Ryan to lose. GOP chose worst candidates to defeat Obama.

[unclebernies]

I have said it over and over if we had an Australian type of mandatory voting system republicans would become an extinct party. We have 65 percent of registerd voter turnout. They have a 95 percent of the whole country turnout.

[takacrat]

Being that the Dem's got a African with a VP that still thinks that the GOP is going to put Chains on a group of people if Elected, well I guest that having a VP and a President candidate that is none of the above! The GOP don't have a chance if Americans Vote the same in 2012!! GD America, beer parties in the Rose Garden, Golf for everybody and change for chains forward while the rich gets poorer and the poorer getting food stamps, cell phones

[RollotheNorman]

Does a bear s--- in the woods? Does the sun shine?

[TimeToEvolve]

If you can't help yourself reminding people about the Republicon War on Women and then you lose every elected office, "blame yo'self" - Herman Cain, 2012

[bbglow]

Dear Gov. Romney & Rep. Ryan,

I agree with you 100% that we must protect the promise of America including freedom, liberty and opportunity for future generations. I agree that hard work and dedication should determine a person's worth and those looking for a government handout should be suspect. I agree that government should be limited to it's responsibility to the people and duty under the constitution and held responsible when it violates that duty. That is exactly why I am not voting for either of you.

I totally bought in to the Reagan plan for prosperity. I believed that if I worked hard in support of the people able to finance and grow America that as they rose in wealth my boat would also float higher. However, the reality has never matched the rhetoric.

As I dedicated myself to the trickle down ideal and gave my youth and effort to cubical confinement, the following is what I have experienced and noticed:

- As your cronies gained in wealth their boats got larger and larger and floated higher while the greater majority's situation began to stagnate.

- As your wealth grew, the magnitude was no longer acceptable so it became necessary to send American work off-shore and then proceed to rationalize this apparent necessity by blaming the displaced for not having the motivation to work.

- New and unique ways were invented to stagnate and rob 401K's and investments while huge salaries were channeled to the innovators and creators of the deception while also inventing derogatory terms like Muppets and Aunt Millie for the working life blood channeled to your accounts.

- When events made it necessary to defend America and call for sacrifice your cronies in their infinite wisdom determined it was now time for tax breaks that by percentage benefited the wealthiest allowing the disparity between have and have-not to grow to historic levels.

- With unfunded wars, reduced revenue and a growing government deficit it was once again necessary to find blame with the displaced because of their apparent ever-growing dependence on government.

- With depleted employment and reduced revenue the government deficit grew and once again it became necessary to blame the now growing displaced Americans as the responsible ingrates because they apparently are no longer of value to your personal wealth objectives.

- As emphasis grows abroad and revenue resources diminish it is now becoming necessary to deny the need to improve America's infrastructure and education, nevertheless, pointing the sons and daughter of these same displaced and rejected Americans to defend the growing interests abroad as the remaining value you wish to capitalize on.

I could cite additional examples, however, this alone is enough for me to proclaim I will not vote for either of you because it is my belief that your belief is that America's opportunities belong to only you and your cronies and nobody else. When I was deprived of work and opportunity I would have been much worse off if not for the government I love and the democratically minded who understood and empathized with my situation. If government obligations are growing in an uncontrolled manner as you proclaim, it is your greedy policies that are to blame. Inventing terms like right-to-work and then denying employment represents the insanity of your thought process. Your desire to control government means people like me are at your disposal and reducing regulation translates to more deceptive investment strategies along with more worker and environmental exploitation.

If you want me to vote for you next time around it is necessary for you to demonstrate your value to society. Using your wealth to create greater than subsistence level employment and making government protections stronger and more efficient is a necessary first step. I will not vote to place me and my family at your mercy so that you and your cronies can enjoy the better life at the expense of someone else.

Regards,
Strongly Independent American Voter

[sjc_1]

bbglow,

Excellent post, lots of people bought into the idea that Reagan was selling and got left at the docks while the rich sailed away. If they were honest, which they are not, they would say "too bad sucker!" you believed the B.S., we ripped you all off and it is your fault for believing us! Such is the sociopath and their beliefs.

[thefatcat2]

We Have a $39 Trillion Dollars Deficit > in Medicare Alone.
Even Top Democrats Say Obama stole $700 Billion to put in Obama Care.
YOU KNOW OBAMA WILL NOT FIX Medicare - YOU BETTER HOPE RYAN DOES.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Sigh.........the money "taken" from medicare is merely Moved to help with the prescriptions of our senior citizens. NO benefits whatsoever are lost!

[andie52]

While all this was GOING ON, Ronnie RayGun ran up a $1 TRILLION DEFICIT (EQUAL to ALL PREVIOUS President's deficits COMBINED), in his FIRST TERM, and ANOTHER TRILLION in his Second term. George Bush1 ran up yet ANOTHER TRILLION, and after an EIGHT-YEAR period of SANITY, Junior ADDED an ASTOUNDING $6+ TRILLION to the deficit. He also PRESIDED over the WORST economic CRASH, worse even than the one that kicked off the Great Depression! So, yeah, I understand your feelings that there isn't much, BUT Paul Ryan is NOT your friend. HE'S OUT TO FINISH THE JOB! PERIOD!

[AOCGUY]

I wonder if it is possible to get this conversation back on topic.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Should they worry..........yep! LOL!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 : )

[EmpireGeorge______--]

It's like "how often do you beat your wife" type of questions for a headline.

Should Biden's senility concern voters, would be a more appropriate headline.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

by EmpireGeorge______-- August 20, 2012 4:41 PM EDT
Ryan is the VP selection, we vote for Romney as president.....but you guys act like it's the other way around
------------------

We vote for a ticket George! BOTH of them! Its not like we've never seen a vice president have to take over the job before!

[AOCGUY]

Considering the primary reason for having a VP is to have someone to fall into the Presidential slot should the President die or be unable to fulfill his or her duties, and that Ryan is a much more forecful presence than his running mate makes his political a nd leadership philosophies very important.

[AOCGUY]

her not he