Paul Ryan--as the pick for Vice President--is a demonstrative, serious, commitment by Governor Mitt Romney to fulfill the vision of returning America to fiscal sanity.
There exists almost no more important reason for this selection to be lauded, by people of every race, religion, ethnic influence, sexual orientation, skin color, and way of life. All we needed to learn about which ticket will be laser focused on causing the economy to be improved, jobs to be created, business formation to begin to grow, and ultimately improve the quality of every American's life, was asserted loud and clear in the pick of the seven term congressman from Wisconsin.
No one else is singularly more qualified to join the already strong credentials of economic improvement for Team Romney than the sometimes only man who stood between President Obama's view of economic destruction, and true free-market solutions that would thwart it. Thus he has accepted.
But for common sense voters there is an infinite record of votes that Congressman Ryan has cast in seven terms, and I believe it might be helpful to see ten additional reasons as to why a Vice President Ryan can not only be trusted with leadership, but demonstrate his commitment to America, his entire elected life.
1. Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
Even those on both sides of the marriage debate will find something to criticize in these two votes, Congressman Ryan has had a consistently pro-equality viewpoint, while defending rights of children to have a mother and a father. His view of freedom, does not interfere with a person's sexual choices.His view of values protects the institution of marriage, to keep it from becoming the next great laboratory of societal experimentation.
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2. Strongly supports an 8.5% Business Consumption Tax instead of taxing profit. (Jul 2009) The benefit of this position would help the growth and advancement of small business in ways few had articulated. It puts fewer limitations on the number one job creating sector in our economy--the small business, and it creates a tangible measurement of how companies can plan for the taxes they will owe--in advance of production. This will do nothing but aid business formation (currently at its lowest measure since World War II) and advance the economic incentive to create jobs.
3. Voted YES on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program. (Mar 2011)
Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education projects. (Nov 2007)
Congressman Ryan understands the challenges of students who are increasingly in need of quality education. By desiring to base help on merit, and not per se a guarantee to any specific school district, he demonstrates that results must be the outcome of any monies spent for education--not excuses.
4. Voted YES on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling. (May 2011)
Voted YES on scheduling permitting for new oil refineries. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005).
Paul Ryan has demonstrated a consistent commitment to making America energy independent. This will not be a mere campaign slogan. And when America is sitting on trillions of barrels, why would we be paying Brazil and Argentina to develop their energy supplies--as President Obama has done.
5. Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003) Voted NO on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Jul 2009)
These votes suggest Ryan understands the need to -- help the environment by creating fewer targets for yearly, wildly out of control, wildfires from eating up hundreds and thousands of miles of land each year. Simultaneously not buying into the joke that the Government buying old cars and trashing them, will improve--anything. (Except a few crony friends of the administration.)
6. Voted YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years. (Mar 2001)
Since marriage partners are presently punished by the federal tax code (as opposed to what many sexual activists tout), Ryan recognizes that raising a family is hard work, and since society benefits from the production of children and the population for the nation's future brought about therein. This vote demonstrated wisdom in helping our nation grow stronger in years to come.
7. Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine. (Apr 2001)
Withhold UN funding until voluntary and program-specific. (Aug 2011)
For such a fiscally responsible congressional representative, Ryan also recognizes the ability for America to do good. Feeding orphans in Africa, supplying Africans with the relatively inexpensive AIDS cocktail treatments demonstrate a compassion for those in true need. Forcing the UN to be transparent and account for the funding they already get, is simply being wise in how we account for our tax-payer dollars.
8. Voted YES on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion. (May 2011)
Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
Voted YES on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
Paul Ryan's respect for innocent human life is without question and while grotesque statutory rapists may oppose his most significant votes on these issues, few people of common sense would find themselves being able to muster a defense against them.
9. Voted YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (Apr 2011)
Voted YES on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund. (Apr 2011)
Many people will attempt to say that by giving Medicare recipients more options that Paul Ryan was seeking ways to hurt the individual. Yet Ryan is savvy enough to know that they way you truly hurt the individual is by removing choices. He also mistrusts government deeply enough to know that nothing as vague as a slush fund, should ever be given sanction for politicians to spend--especially those who live in Washington DC.
10. "America is an idea, it's the only country founded on an idea. Our rights come from nature and God, not from government!"
One of the most important lines of his acceptance speech on Saturday, demonstrating that his understanding of not only his rights, but equally his responsibility come from a source that is bigger, more powerful, and ultimately more informed than he is.
High-mindedness, humility, and honor, are three characteristics severely lacking in today's political system. But they are also three traits that Paul Ryan has built his public and private life around./p>
A bold pick, for a tough job, and for the benefit of a great nation!
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