TOWNHALL EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Rep. Paul Ryan on his 2012 Budget, President Obama's "Plan," and the Debt Fight

Townhall Staff | July 18, 2011 6:00 PM

Watch as Townhall's Political Editor, Guy Benson, sits down with House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan for a wide-ranging discussion of his Path to Prosperity budget, deficits, debt, federal spending, entitlement reform, and conservatives' fundamental ideological differences with President Obama:

Highlights:

00:30 - Rep. Ryan discusses the risk of a US credit downgrade, and how to avert the "most predictable financial crisis" in US history.

02:38 - Rep. Ryan summarizes the economics and demographic math behind his plan.

05:30 - Guy asks Rep. Ryan about specific criticisms of his budget plan; the Congressman responds.

10:12 - Asked about President Obama's rhetoric about, and alternatives proposals to, the Path to Prosperity, Rep. Ryan says the president has utterly failed to lead. He also warns about the IPAB -- the president's rationing board, comprised of unelected bureaucrats.

14:00 - Rep. Ryan compares and contrasts the Path to Prosperity with Senate Democrats' rumored budget outline.

15:45 - Having seen his budget defeated in the Democratic Senate, Rep. Ryan answers the crucial question, "where do we go from here?"

18:15 - Rep. Ryan weighs in on the Balanced Budget Amendment -- offering his support for the measure, and explaining why the Path to Prosperity wouldn't be incompatible with a potential BBA.

20:00 - With talks still underway, Rep. Ryan throws cold water on prospects for a "grand deal" emerging from the debt limit debate.

21:30 - Rep. Ryan says he's "not a fan" of the McConnell compromise, but won't rule it out.

23:30 - "We [Republicans] are not interested in playing with default." Why not? Rep. Ryan explains, followed by a denunciation of President Obama's class warfare tactics.