Ryan's Soup kitchen visit goes awry

Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and his wife Janna wash pots at St. Vincent DePaul dinning hall, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 in Youngstown, Ohio. / AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

A weekend visit to a soup kitchen blew up on vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, prompting a protest from the charity's president that news reports later found to be partially inaccurate.

After holding a town hall Saturday at Youngstown State University, Ryan visited the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society. Breakfast service had already ended for the day, but Ryan washed a few pots and pans with his family.

Brian J. Antal, the group's president, told The Washington Post after the visit that Ryan and campaign aides had "ramrodded their way" into the soup kitchen without seeking his permission first. He suggested the visit could jeopardize the group's donor base or its nonprofit status as a faith-based organization.

A volunteer at the soup kitchen, Juanita Sherba, told the Youngstown Vindicator that she gave a staffer from the campaign permission to conduct the visit before Ryan arrived, but said in hindsight she wishes she hadn't because the event was a "photo op." "They couldn't have cared less," Sherba said. "The advance man said Paul Ryan wanted to come and talk to our clientele, but he didn't."

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Paul Ryan makes unauthorized stop at soup kitchen

Antal told local reporters on Tuesday that the story had "spun out of control," but that he wasn't upset with Sherba for letting the campaign stop by because he doesn't expect her to know the charity's rules and bylaws.

While Antal initially said Ryan "did nothing" during the stop, he later told NBC News that his words were mischaracterized in the Post story. He said Ryan just did little work compared to other volunteers who had helped served food that morning. Ryan and his family washed dirty dishes the campaign staff had asked the volunteers to leave behind, contrary to several news reports that said the dishes were clean.

The Post later updated its story to note that Antal, who self-identifies as an independent, has voted in Democratic primaries for the last 17 years.

Asked about the visit, Ryan spokesman Michel Steel said, "We are always happy to highlight the importance of volunteerism and local charities."

The narrative about an uninvited politician washing clean dishes - or dishes left dirty so he could wash them - was an irresistible target for the Democratic National Committee.

"Thanks to GOP Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan, we've been reminded once again that details matter. Details like, "Are the pots and pans I am scrubbing already clean?" or "Does anyone actually want me to be here right now?' DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse wrote in an email. He said the budget plans supported by Ryan and GOP nominee Mitt Romney would cut programs that directly benefit the types of families who depend on charities like the St. Vincent De Paul Society "when they fall on hard times."

Woodhouse later circulated a poster tying Ryan's charity visit to the GOP ticket's support for preserving Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. "Extending tax breaks for those already wealthy is like washing dishes that are already clean," the poster said.

[Necroscope84]

Actually you're wrong. Ryan did clean a couple of dishes. He called and had them leave a few dishes dirty for his little photop. So not only did he not get any permission to do this and possibly hurt the kitchens future donations. Then he never even apologized plus a handful of workers had to stay late just for him to come by and pretend to work. Why didn't he just stop by and thank them for their selfless acts? Why couldn't he just stop by and help because he wanted to, because it came from the heart? It was a cold blooded attempt for some publicity and nothing else.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/10/16/ryans-despicable-soup-kitchen-antics-a-perfect-metaphor-for-gop-tickets-disrespect-for-the-poor/2/

[BillFromFlorida]

As an independet observer: The Romney/Ryan campaign has been a Chinese fire drill. I was amazed at Romney"s first debate because I expected it to be as bad as the rest of his campaign. I'm less concerned about Romney becoming president than I am about his campaign advisors obtaining White House Staff and Cabinet positions

[BillFromFlorida]

As an independet observer: The Romney/Ryan campaign has been a Chinese fire drill. I was amazed at Romney"s first debate because I expected it to be as bad as the rest of his campaign. I'm less concerned about Romney becoming president than I am about his campaign advisors obtaining White House Staff and Cabinet positions

[tryhonesty]

RepubliCON Lyan Ryan at it again. This Bozo has never had a real job, not fit for any office in America. He should try North Korea, he would fit in well there.

[ekg1951]

Okay! I'm an independent voter and not partial to any political party. Try to do my research and then make my decisions based on what I believe will be good for me and my family of course but, also on what is best for society as a whole even if I do not think it will be beneficial on a personal level. So, I have a few questions for Mr's Ryan and Romney. When you want to express gratitude to organizations such as the St Vincent DePaul Society and other charitable entities, why not just stop by and say thank you? Really!! Camera crews are not necessary if you really do believe in helping others then do it not for photo ops or accolades but because it's in your heart. If you really care about the middle class or the poorer among us or the 100% as you claim you do, then why only show up if you think there might be something in it for you?

Mr Romney, you care so much about all of us right? well did you care about that man who had a sick child at home when you and your ilk closed the doors to the company he worked at for 20 years, or that single mom working and going to school to provide a decent living for her children, how about when they lost their healthcare benefits, or their pensions or that they became part of the 47% as a result of your need to increase the wealth of your partners and were forced to avail themselves of unemployment benefits, did you sleep well at night knowing that in your so called christian belief your actions directly affected hard working families in the most horrible manner, Did you care then? I think not! Your focus was on you and yours not society as a whole. I am then forced to ask myself if you didn't care then and by your actions it's clear you didn't care about the families and the employees of those closed companies, then why should I believe that you care now? There are two things I look at when I think of a persons character, 1. Will they be the same person when they think no one is watching as they are when they know the world is watching? and 2. Does their life's work measure up to what they say they stand for. What have you done to help the least among us? Giving money to your church does not cut it, anybody with means can write a check, going on a mission, Nah! that's not doing it for me either, maybe if you had gone into a third world country and aided the residents who are poor, in need of healthcare, education, etc, but to FRANCE! REALLY!! and what was your mission about? oh yes! religious conversion, not really a true mission. The Bible teaches that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to make it into heaven, you say you believe and I think you do although it's not my place to judge your beliefs, or anyone else that's between you and God, but just a thought, you might want to go back and reread scripture, especially the beatitudes, then examine your heart, and the ruthless manner in which you have acted in business and conducted your life's work. Your words about the 47% were spoken so easily because that's what is truly in your heart, the 100% is a lie and insulting that you think there are so many of us that can be swayed because you changed your mind when it didn't play out as you thought it would. You know in Missouri the "Show Me State" they say if you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes it'll change, well I suppose one could say the same about you, "if you don't like Mitt's answer, wait 5 minutes and it'll change.

[joe1022joe]

Ryan is intellegent, a Christian, a family man, and a gentleman.

[bud28dy]

And a flip flopping compulsive liar.

[ejs82]

According to MSNBC, this story is not true. It came second hand from the head of the soup kitchen who was not present at the time of Ryan's visit. Could you please try researching a little more thoroughly before you publish stories?

[KPeters_from_UK]

Did you read the above article? CBS basically reiterated the same thing as the NBC article.

[tvwatcher5345]

ryan has a job once he loses the vice presisidency and his congressional seat.....he can get a job cleaning pans that are already clean

[soylentcorp]

Nice try. Update:


By NBC's Alex Moe and Betsy Cline

LYNCHBURG, VA -- Amid questions and criticisms related to Paul Ryan's visit this weekend to an Ohio soup kitchen, the charity's president said the Republican vice presidential candidate did, in fact, scrub dirty dishes though his visit wasn't officially sanctioned.

So, these aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along.

[jimatmadison]

Q: How many born-to-privelege 1%er career politicians does it take to wash a soup kitchen pot?

A: None. The 99%ers already did all the real work.