When we think about how Republicans think about Paul Ryan's radical budget plan, we tend to recognize the party's overwhelming support for the far-right agenda. When the plan came up in the House in the spring, 95% of the GOP caucus voted for it. When it came up in the Senate, support was nearly as strong. Even Mitt Romney has embraced the agenda.
But it's worth noting that Republican support for Ryan's plan isn't universal. In Montana, Rep. Denny Rehberg (R), who's in the middle of a tough U.S. Senate campaign, is benefiting from a new television ad, put together by his state party, touting his vote against the House Republican budget.
Think about that: Republicans are praising a Republican in a Republican state for rejecting the Republican budget.
What's more, in West Virginia, Rep. David McKinley (R) is also touting his opposition to the Ryan agenda in his home district, freely admitting that the House Republican plan "would privatize Medicare for future retirees" and "nearly double out of pocket health care costs for future retirees." In other words, according to this House GOP incumbent, Democratic talking points are correct.
Note the geography, too. We're not talking about New England moderates campaigning against the Paul Ryan agenda; we're talking about conservative Republicans doing so in traditionally "red" states. Montana and West Virginia aren't exactly Vermont and Maine.
If the Ryan plan were the political winner Republicans say it is, Rehberg and McKinley wouldn't be running so aggressively away from it.
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At least a few republicans have brains. Or is it just smoke and mirrors to get re-elected?
The latter.
YES, remember, please, these repugs LIE without compunction.
Scott Brown (R) Mass.ran about the same way in his campaign then turned around and voted along party lines 99% of the time.I do'nt trust republican's that say anything to get elected then use their etch a sketch to do the opposite.
Believe it or not, President Obama would have had a hard time debating Ron Paul.Some of Ron Pauls' beliefs aren't far from the main stream, that's the problem. The Republicans' missed the boat on this one. One of the problems' I have with Ron Paul is that he may be racist. (not sure)
I hope you're kidding. Ron Paul is a kook who, given his preferences, would COMPLETELY wipe out the federal government. But first, he'd destroy the Federal Reserve.
No he wouldn't. Just tell the truth: that Ron Paul DOES want to get rid of Social Security. Then Ron Paul will also tell the truth and admit to it, which will horrify the 80%+ of Americans who say it's a good and necessary thing to have. And then Paul would suffer an electoral beating worse than Dukakis suffered.
Okay, now I don't like Ron Paul, he's a little before his time. We are going to need entitlements for a long time. Why talk about that now. He's toast.
There's no mystery to this, folks. This is rounding the edges for the election. Then in January, when all the shouting is over, they pass it and destroy the 20th century.
Well finally some GOTP'ers that actually have some brain cells firing off coherent thoughts! The GOTP knows that Paul Ryan's budget is a loser, but they're courting their batsh&* crazy cousins into supporting this agenda that would hurt most of them! GOTP so wrong for America, working Americans, common sense, decency and morality!
Vote them out in November!
I love it when Republicans eat their own, though I marvel that they can stand the taste.
The main value of this is that it's dandy fodder for Democratic SuperPACs to use in ads: "according to Republican Representative Denny Rehberg ..."