Paul Ryan: Attack dog

Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Fla.

/ Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

This post originally appeared on Slate.

(CBS News) Paul Ryan is supposed to be a wonk, but we've never really seen this side of him since he's become a vice presidential candidate. So far he has been an articulate Republican Party spokesperson for all of Barack Obama's failings. He hit his rhetorical height Wednesday night at the Republican convention when he unbuckled a long and stinging critique of the Obama administration and the Democratic Party. It was powerful, well received, and passionately delivered. The speech didn't require policy expertise, particularly. Indeed, an expert might feel compelled to avoid the series of inconsistencies and contradictions that were woven through Ryan's jeremiad.

Paul Ryan: "We will not duck the tough issues"

Ryan boasted in his speech that he wanted to have a big policy debate, but there's also been no evidence that the Romney/Ryan campaign really wants to have a debate if that means anything other than a rag session on Obama. This is a direct contradiction of the Ryan political model for governing. In 2006, when President George Bush tried to sell a plan for Social Security private accounts, Ryan told his colleagues it was an idea they could run on. Not many did. In later elections, Ryan made the same case. Be specific about revolutionary change and it will serve you politically. That's not the way Ryan is behaving now. The timid promotion of the ideas he supposedly stands for suggests that either Ryan never believed in his original theory or Mitt Romney doesn't believe in it.

I'd love to see Paul Ryan explain how the premium support plan works, how he arrived at the formula for increasing the voucher-like payment, and why he thinks that amount is the right one. He could explain the economic reasoning behind why Mitt Romney thinks the free market will reduce Medicare costs, maintain quality and not cause a reduction in benefits. What studies makes them think this? He might point to the example of Medicare Part D's savings to give the theoretical underpinnings for Romney's larger theory of savings. Does that mean that the conservatives who were against the part D expansion were wrong?

Let Paul be a wonk or let's stop calling him one.

When Romney picked Paul Ryan he said that he had a "unique ability to get people to come together." This is not supported by Paul Ryan's resume, which contains no bipartisan achievements of note. It certainly wasn't found in the speech Ryan delivered to Republicans on Wednesday night. He talked about Obama's "government-planned life," which sounded like the cartoon speech of talk radio. A number of his lines were politically powerful. "After four years of getting a runaround, America needs a turnaround and Mitt Romney is the man for the job."

When Ryan uses his policy expertise to make his case against the president it is effective politics. When he plays with the numbers, elides his own role in budget failures, and only tells half the story, he is acting like a politician. Right now he is definitely filling the role of the vice presidential attack dog. But he might also be undermining the trust the campaign has been asking for from voters. Trust Mitt, Ann Romney said last night. When he's doing bold things you know he'll be fair and that he has a good heart. But if the idea man on the ticket only uses his skills for bare-knuckled attacks and disingenuous sales pitches, why should voters trust that he won't do the same thing once Romney is in office?

[TimeToEvolve]

Good boy Lyin' Ryan, good boy. Good mindless Republicon repeating the right wing bullet points with no plans, new ideas or substance behind them. Good boy Ryan, now sit. Sit and don't move.

[AOCGUY]

"since the dems suck less they get my vote"

I realize especially when it comes to presidential elections it is tough to seperate the candidate from the party, but think how nice it would be if we all voted based upon the candidates positions rather than voting for a party. If we continue to elect parties then we should be come like Israel where whichever party has the majority rules.

[karlejohn]

Paul Ryan fast talkin straight face lying lap dog.

[AOCGUY]

I really shouldn't say this, because it is beneath me and I do think Ryan is a smart guy (I just don't happen to agree with him) but CBS, why this picture? - I swear (OK here it comes) it looks like he is getting ready to go down on his microphone.

OK I'm sorry but I just couldn't help it.

[mtracy99]

Once again the corporate elite at CBC News is sucking-up to Ryan and the Republicans by not fact-check Ryan's speech. If they did, they would have to acknowledge that Ryan told some huge lies, including the one about GM.

[A_Moderate]

"When Romney picked Paul Ryan he said that he had a "unique ability to get people to come together."" Yes - everyone within his own party but to independents and democrats, NOT. Just like they believe in 'Diversity'? Diversity that excludes anyone is not really diversity. But it sounds good :-)

How in the heck can anyone really be undecided at this point? Really! My mind was made up NOT to vote for Romney after I saw the circus primary between Santorum and Romney. If Romney really wanted to reach out to those outside his own party, he would have chose someone else besides Ryan. Ron Paul was given only a token place at the Republican convention. Romney proves once again he is only concerned about his base (Santorum supporters and Tea Party People). This ticket is tooooo far to the right for me. They need to come back to the middle again!

[kathleen1125SE]

Just for once, I'd like to see you actually report the news without your liberal bias and lame coments. If you're gonna lambast the Republicans, at least use your own words and not the same regurgitated garbage used by all the other liberal reporters. Oh, sorry! I know CBS would fire you if you actually reported the truth.

[RollotheNorman]

Go to Faux, you'll get all the bias your dark right-wing soul craves.

[clydealan2]

Both parties pretty much suck. Politics is costing us more and doing less as time passes. However, it is all we have to run the business of this country and since the dems suck less they get my vote.

[AOCGUY]

forrestt56 August 30, 2012 1:55 PM EDT
Jesus is a socialist.
...still think that you are a Christian?


How exactly was Jesus a socialist? Good lord folks please learn what words mean before using them in a post.

[sjc_1]

I believe that means for the good of everyone. I don't think that the Republicans are interested in the good of everyone, do you?

[frankie2fing]

Jesus preached taking care of each other. He was not a socialist, although His followers were communists. Jesus said to pay your taxes. He also said love thy nieghbor... ALL OF THEM, not just the white ones. He also said that a camel has a better chance of passing through the eye of a needle than a rich man has to get into Heaven. He said to store your riches up in Heaven, not on Earth. He said a lot more that are contrary to lyin' ryan's crap, but I am so tired of typing. Hey, how about you bigotted baggers follow the Bible you supposedly believe in and STOP LYING to the American Public.

[mjad2003]

Ryan's and Rice's speached were excellent! Dickerson's liberal bias points out nothing of substance he just uses insults. How many bipartisan achievments has your idol Obama had? For all Obama's lofty rhetoric he has produced nothing but debt, division, unemployment and more welfare. The U.S. and the world are much worse off than 4 years ago and 4 more years will be a complete disaster. Dickerson and Chris Matthews should get together and form an Obama worship cult. Oh, they already have! Wait until next week to see how Mr arrogant Obama makes them quiver with delight.

[steeepe]

You have to resort to insults when all Romney and Ryan do is lie. Do some fact checking yourself to see. This team is the most dishonest I've ever seen run for national office. If they were capable of shame, they'd be ashamed.