It is being described as a bold choice -- also a risky choice. Ryan will certainly excite the Republican base -- both the conservatives and the moderates -- because of his tax plan.
And that is exactly why the Obama campaign is said to have wanted Ryan to be the choice. Now the tax plan will be front and center, and Romney will be forced to defend it, along with Ryan.
Non-partisan sources have confirmed that it will increase the deficit, in addition to shrinking the government by cutting programs that benefit the poor and working class. As the Obama campaign characterized it:
Budget busting tax cuts for the wealthy and
greater burdens for the middle class and seniors.
greater burdens for the middle class and seniors.
In addition, Ryan has said that reading Ayn Rand is what got him interested in public service. Of course, she is the champion of the me-first, libertarian economy; so that makes sense. Jonathan Chait has described Ayn Rand's political philosophy as:
"[A] belief that the natural market distribution of income is inherently moral, and the central struggle of politics is to free the successful from having the fruits of their superiority redistributed by looters and moochers."As Ryan himself has said, "Almost every fight we are involved in here on Capitol Hill ... is a fight that usually comes down to one conflict--individualism versus collectivism."
But sometime last year, Ryan backed away when it was pointed out that Ayn Rand was also a self-proclaimed and militant atheist. But at this point, the conservatives want to win so badly that they can probably swallow even that. After all, she won't be running.
Romney-Ryan. It's probably the dream team for Obama to run against, because it will pit one philosophy of government against another in the clearest possible way. In Romney, we also have a personal story that exemplifies the rich-get-richer because they have all the advantages stacked in their favor.
Ryan will bring squeeky clean youthfulness, good looks, and Mid-Western freshness to the ticket, as well as his obsession with the budget.
It's going to be interesting. But if they thought this would change the subject, it won't. It's still going to be about whether our government is for the rich or for "the people."
Ralph
PS: In introducing his choice at the rally in Norfolk, Romney managed one of his legendary gaffes. He introduced Ryan and "the next president of the United States." I think this indicates Romney's inner feeling that he has abdicated, and that Ryan will be the savior of the ticket.
Here's how it changes the campaign.
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans had been trying to make this a referendum on Obama's presidency. Obama has been trying to make it about Romney's political philosophy, as exemplified in his own life and wealth management.
This keeps the subject on Romney's political philosophy and makes that the subject, not Obama's presidency. So in that sense it is a game changer.
Romney's personal wealth management will still exemplify the political philosophy, however. It's the perfect example for explaining to people how that philosophy works to the advantage of the already advantaged.
Romney is already backing away from the Ryan budget, in spite of having endorsed it last spring. He says now he applauds Ryan's budget for going in the right direction, and that he will be presenting his own plan.
ReplyDeleteNice try.