Oh No, Not Again?! Will They Ever Learn?

Hi Everyone,

So the Republicans had their shortened convention last week and I was really surprised by what Paul Ryan said during his speech. You would think that when someone has center stage to introduce himself to the entire nation, you would think that common sense would be paramount. Paul Ryan had the golden opportunity to say things that were unexceptionable. Not long after his speech, I began hearing and reading negative comments. Just so I wouldn't be accused of repeating what some say are the liberal leaning media, I went to the media that most supports the Republicans. I went to Fox News.

Sally Kohn, who is a writer and Fox News contributor, had some very interesting comments on the "facts" Ryan used in his speech on what he didn't say. The following is from Ms. Kohn's column. These are her words, not mine:

Ryan said that the downgrade of the United States' credit rating was because of President Obama.
Truth: The Republicans refused to increase the debt limit, which lead to the downgrading.

Ryan blamed President Obama for the closing of a GM plant in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Truth: The plant was closed under President George W. Bush.

Ryan stated that President Obama wants to give all the credit for private sector success to the government.
Truth: President Obama never said that.

Ryan said that President Obama took $716 billion out of Medicare.
Truth: $716 billion was the amount of savings in Medicare reimbursement rates, which incidentally, save Medicare recipients out-of-pocket costs, too. Ryan himself embraced these same savings in his budget.

So it seems that on his biggest day in his political life, Paul Ryan showed his real character. How can lying be a virtue? It isn't! But it is always a detriment. Why can't Republicans stand on their record and beliefs and not outright lies? Unfortunately, diehards will now believe whatever, just because Ryan or Romney said it. Honesty is a vital aspect of being a true and good leader. Maybe if Ryan had more common sense, he would not have said lies that he surely must have known would be fact-checked. But to be checked by Fox News and found to be lies, says a lot. Between the two of them, I haven't heard one speech that didn't contain at least one lie. Why is that?

Sally Kohn continued her column by stating that Ryan didn't talk about his extremist stance on banning all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Ryan also did not mention his plan to hand over Social Security to Wall Street. Ryan didn't mention his numerous votes to raise spending and balloon the deficit when George W. Bush was president. And finally, Ryan didn't mention how his budget would eviscerate programs that help the poor and raise taxes on 95% Americans in order to cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires even further and increase- yes increase, the deficit. So I have to ask, if these are such important issues to Ryan, why didn't he mention them? Oh right, I get it, Ryan's positions are such an extreme that they will become a detriment to the Romney-Ryan bid for the White House.

As a side note, I just read in today's newspaper that Ryan now says that he did not run a marathon in less than three hours as he claimed in a nationally broadcast interview. Ryan acknowledged yesterday that he had misstated his time by more than an hour. Seems his pattern of mis-statements just continues as usual. What a shame.

Lying is just plain stupid and shows a lack of moral character and a total lack of common sense. Isn't common sense an extremely important aspect we seek in our leaders? Please, please beware of and don't be fooled by sheep in wolf's clothing.

Til next week.

Peter