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Andrew Innerarity / Reuters
Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan waves to supporters while holding a cup of coffee during a campaign stop at a Cuban restaurant and coffee shop in Miami on Saturday.
BELOIT, Wis. -- Paul Ryan has been campaigning as Mitt Romney’s running mate for six weeks but it wasn't until this week that the Republican vice presidential nominee finally pulled out a tool from his own Wisconsin playbook: a PowerPoint presentation.
“I'm kind of a PowerPoint guy so I hope you'll bear with me,” the Wisconsin congressman and budget guru joked to a crowd full of supporters Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.
Speaking on the campus of the University of Central Florida, the wonky Ryan used four different slides to help demonstrate the problems with the nation’s debt and how spending has changed under President Barack Obama.
Michael Steel, a spokesman for the Romney campaign, said the use of the presentation – which was displayed on two large television monitors inside a gymnasium – was “simply another tool to highlight President Obama's failed leadership."
But it’s also a staple of Ryan's campaigning for his seven terms in the United States Congress.
Ryan’s congressional re-election campaign spokesman, Kevin Seifert, told NBC News a PowerPoint presentation is “a staple of Congressman Ryan's townhall meetings” – which, Ryan himself pointed out, he has held more than 500 with his constituents over the years. Seifert added: “It is a great way to explain problems like the debt and deficits and always has spurred great discussion with constituents in the first congressional district.”
Florida politicians help Ryan woo Hispanics
After debuting the PowerPoint slides in Florida, Ryan went on to hold a nearly 30-minute question and answer town hall session with the couple thousand-person crowd.
This “new” prop comes just following reports casting Ryan as “mini-Mitt” -- that is, the Romney campaign had forced the congressman to follow the lead of the nominee, rather than letting him be himself. Plus, early Friday morning, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker publicly chided the Romney campaign for not “effectively” utilizing the GOP vice presidential nominee. But, Ryan told reporters, he is happy with his role.
“I feel really good about it [his role]. Look, I am doing the things I want to do,” he said Friday inside Walker’s Produce, a fruit stand in Lakeland, Fla. “Look at what we are doing, we are talking to local people, going around the country talking to local press. I am excited about my role. I feel very comfortable with it.”
The quick event, though, marked Ryan’s first retail drop-by since Aug. 25, when he stopped by the Puritan Backroom restaurant in Manchester, N.H., despite holding more than 50 events in the last month and a half.
In the lead-up to his VP selection, Ryan would answer questions from the press practically whenever reporters would have questions. In the month and half since being tapped on Aug. 11 to fill this new position, the congressman has yet to do a formal press conference. Friday, standing inside the fruit stand, was the first time Ryan has answered questions from the press on the ground (he has held two quick gaggles on board his press plane flying between states).
When the House Budget Committee chairman first joined Romney’s ticket in August, he was forced to align his views with his running mate noting “no two people agree on every single issue” and Romney is the top of the ticket.
But as the weeks go on, it appears Ryan is settling into his role as Romney’s number one surrogate on the campaign trail. Perhaps this weekend is the start of Ryan being allowed to insert more of himself into the ticket with just 44 days left before Election Day.
As it is sometimes said on the campaign trail, it is always good to “let Paul be Paul.”
Leave a Comment:
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Hey Ryan, just to let you know, your a so called "conservative" wink, wink, your not supposed to believe in science or technology. Don't let Mitt know your using Powerpoint, as he"ll make you go to confession.
He'll just wait till he's dead and convert and baptize him.
"Paul Ryan brings a tool" and by tool, he means himself.
Is it because Paul Ryan showcases the magic of Power Point in front of senior citizen audiences that he gets called "the intellectual leader of the Republican Party?" Sheesh! It's the modern equivalent of Ross Perot using his flip cards and we all know where that got him. Yes, I agree we should all Let Paul be Paul.
Does he not think we understand him when he speaks...???
He finds it necessary to bring visuals to show us...
OK boys & girls...this is how the President screwed around with us since elected......
What, you don"t believe it..?
Wait, oh wait, I must have another visual that I can show you.....This one has lots of nice bright colors..!!!!
Why are you people leaving...???
Damn, well that did not work.....
Ryan is as much help to Romney as Palin was to McCain. Two disasters. Tea Party extremists have put GOP in a the fringe party category.
Can we do anything but laugh at this BS???
Didn't someone else try this one before, like a past Presidential candidate? Shades of Ross Pero...oh, no!
The Grim Reaper's Harvester, so he can reap grimly at high speed?
The change of the past decade, from the surplus of more than 200 billions USD of Clinton administration to the collapse and the gap being widen of the middle class, which is 98% of Americans, still fighting for a decent job, with affordable health care coverage, education, and mortgage . . . including retirement and saving, like Romney/Ryan, which it is not exactly like them, is a tool from Ryan who has been working in the budget committee since previous Bush administration.
No, voters do not want his tool anymore, for his tool has collapsed our Uncle Sam.
If one nation goes to war, does one administration calculate what may cost, e.g. the quantity of missile related to the dollar sign? One cannot just go to war without doing all the calculation in which it has collapsed the 98% Americans. One should set the boundary what one can do or cannot do. Now the 98% is in trouble, but not the rich; instead, the rich is getting richer, e.g. the defense contract companies.
The 98% has paying the tax for the rich, when the rich has experienced more credit and less taxation than 98%, and that must say thank to Ryan; and Romney has made no sound, not until the presidential campaign 2012. Why has Romney only concerned the welfare of the 98% right now, but not after 2006 or 2008?
No more Ryan's tool, we have enough from 2001-2008.
Go OBAMA 2012.
The top 10% pays 70% of taxes. Know the numbers please if you r going to speak about them.
the 10 most profitable U.S. companies paid an average federal tax rate of just 9 percent last year. Some of these companies paid more than 9 percent -- JPMorgan earned $26.7 billion in 2011, for example, and paid $3.7 billion of it, or 14 percent, to the federal government -- and some paid less, like Exxon Mobil, which only sent 2 percent of its $73.3 billion earnings to the IRS.
When has Obama ever spent 30 minutes answering questions?
I'm sorry, but has Paul Ryan EVER taken a picture where he DOESN'T look like a pandering, butt-kissing little wimpy boy?
Just askin'.
Pon Raul 2102
Uh, sorry, but Ron Paul lost my support when he rolled over and died at the RNC....and for what, to buy a way in to the party for Rand in 2016 and beyond?
Total sell-out.
Rand, unfortunately, is certifiable.
Ron Paul 1860.
I am talking about Mr. Raul, not Dr. Paul.
The reporter had a typo, its not wonky Ryan, its WACKO Ryan!!! This wacko is just a tool for the GOP/TP! Nothing more than a V.P. wannabe.
I thank all the powers that be, there will be NO Rummey/Ruin Presidency!!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT!!!
time to get off of the welfare.....
The GOP ticket is so enamoured with polish and presentation,..but NEWSFLASH : It is quite possible ot make data say whatever you want it to say.
When you only talk about half of a story - as the non-stop GOP propaganda machine does - the one half of the story may sound good,...and you can say a lot of convincing things quite emphatically,...BUT it is HALF of the story.
The GOP doesn't want to talk about the other HALF of the public and more.
They will underline the benefits,..over here,....while ignoring the inequity and problems being created ,...over here.
You can make a nice shiny power point presentation and try to BS and dazzle everyone with your business acumen,...but TRUE leaders are so much more than that.
F Paul Ryan,...mouthpiece for wealthy private and corporate interests.
We are telling you very clearly that we no longer believe in the trickle down. We tried that since the Reagan era and look where it has gotten us. It is time to stop favoring the wealthy and level the playing field.
Obama/Biden 2012.
Let me guess, the Democrats talk about the other half...
Good luck with "building the middle class out" without a plan. Or that going to be the big reveal?
I don't recall the big O ever spending 30 minutes answering questions. Am I wrong?
Only when he went to several Muslim countries during his Muslim tour.
Sounds like Ryan couldn't convince anyone even after 30 minutes. Obama seems to be a far more effective speaker.
@ mj ct
Rescue the auto industry, Reviving U.S. Manufacturing, President Obama has a plan to bring jobs back to the U.S. by eliminating tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and creating incentives for businesses to bring jobs back to America. President Obama passed Wall Street reform to make sure that Americans would never again have to pay to bail out big banks.
copied and pasted from his website. sorry for the plagiarism
No need for you to apologize. The President should apologize if that is on his website.
Why didn't President Obama deal with the tax issues when they had the opportunity?
What are the "incentives" for businesses? "Creating" is a great word, but doesn't tell anyone what to expect.
PowerPoint: Making poor speakers worse for 25 years.
Copy this and send it in emails too everyone you know and post it in every single chat room you enter:
DO NOT ADD A SINGLE WORD
Yes, he told us in advance what he planned to do. Few were listening.
The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised "Meet The Press'.
From Sunday's 07 Sept. 2008 11 : 48 : 04 EST, Televised "Meet the Press" THE THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.
General Bill Gann' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...
During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, "Stand and Face It".
NOW GET THIS !!
'Senator Obama replied :
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides". "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression.." "The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing."
(ARE YOU READY FOR THIS???)
Obama continued : "The National Anthem should be 'swapped' for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing'. If that were our anthem, then, I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as 'redesign' our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of warring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails - - - perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments ....."
When I become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past".
"Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First black Family. Indeed,CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America "
Yes, you read it right.
I, for one, am speechless!!!
Dale Lindsborg , Washington Post
Thanks for the info. I can not believe the American people elected this man to be President and speak for all of us. He obviously is a muslim. I have heard him speak about the beliefs of Muslims and wonder if he is trying to convert us.
Well, he does not speak for me. I believe in the Bible and in the Christian Faith. Let me state that I believe he will loose the next election. Due to the fact that he has lost the Catholic vote. Among other voters. There was a shellacking last election cycle. There will be another shellacking this November.
Go Romney/Ryan!!!
sham79......
You need not worry long about President Obama's religious beliefs.
You will likely expire from battery acid raining down upon you on account of the government's ChemTrails program. And, if that does not get you, perhaps your head will explode from the clandestine government HAARP radio frequency transmitters. In any case, you won't last past Dec. 21, 2012 when (as you believe) your world will end as revealed by the Mayan calendar.
Uh oh! It looks like ol' Sham had a double scoop of crazy today! I hope he brought along an extra pair of Spongebob Squarepants underwear because he'll definitely be needing them!
subject: Pinocchio syndrome 4ward
Obama method of prevarication to state a fact that is not a fact. The president and his followers seem to believe in the old axiom that "a lie repeated often enough will become a fact in the mind of the liar and those ignorantly naive enough to believe him." what flav. is that koolaid ???
During A Uni-vision interview, Sept. 20, 2012 President Obama Made these Statements regarding Fast & Furious gun walking program ...
Bold faced lie, or merely a miss-statement of fact? You be the judge...
Is this part of President Obama's response, truth? or did the Attorney General of the United States have full knowledge of, and play a complicit role in the formulation an implementation of the fast and furious gun walking program? You decide...
IS THAT RIGHT???, Mr. PRESIDENT, IS THAT REALLY WHAT YOU DID??? OK then, you have till the count of three to tell the truth... and then it is time for a time out in Chicago
Fast & Furious is literally a killer of a scandal, drenched in the blood of victims of a federal government operation. Despite the best efforts of the Obama team to obfuscate, the truth is emerging, so that the media and even some Democrats are focusing on a full unearthing of the facts.
President Obama wants the American people to believe he and his top officials were unaware that low level agents were implementing a program to curb the flow of guns from the United States to Mexico. The same officials, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who visited Mexico in March and April of 2009 "to make sure" weapons bought in the United States were not crossing the border.
Has the President forgotten he and Secretary Clinton were in the news six months before the start of Fast and Furious contending that 90% of the guns crossing into Mexico were coming from the U.S., a figure later proved to be false? How could Clinton and Obama have been so aghast at the now-debunked number of American guns related to crimes in Mexico and yet remain clueless about the operation going on right under their noses?
Read more: americanthinker.com/2011/10/fast_and_furious_scandal_cannot_be_contained.html#ixzz27JB2zlxF
americanthinker.com/2011/10/fast_and_furious_scandal_cannot_be_contained.html
We assigned a inspector general to do a thorough report that was just issued, confirming that in fact Eric Holder did not know about this, that he took prompt action and the people who did initiate this were held accountable.”
Fast & Furious is literally a killer of a scandal, drenched in the blood of victims of a federal government operation. Despite the best efforts of the Obama team to obfuscate, the truth is emerging, so that the media and even some Democrats are focusing on a full unearthing of the facts.
President Obama wants the American people to believe he and his top officials were unaware that low level agents were implementing a program to curb the flow of guns from the United States to Mexico. The same officials, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who visited Mexico in March and April of 2009 "to make sure" weapons bought in the United States were not crossing the border.
Has the President forgotten he and Secretary Clinton were in the news six months before the start of Fast and Furious contending that 90% of the guns crossing into Mexico were coming from the U.S., a figure later proved to be false? How could Clinton and Obama have been so aghast at the now-debunked number of American guns related to crimes in Mexico and yet remain clueless about the operation going on right under their noses?
lying ryan take tool and mike steele and shove it where sun does not shine
You must have had way too much Cambodian/Laotian heroin 68/69
Ryan is a tool.
PowerPoint *reveals* nothing, of course. It accentuates, and it can accentuate a lie just as powerfully as it can accentuate the truth. Garbage in; garbage out. Ryan is full of garbage about US foreign debt and its effect (has zero in reality) on our sovereignty. He should be ashamed. Everyone else should get educated.
Ryan Budget
20112012Screw the middle class and poor
Call obama a muslim
More tax cuts for the wealthy 1%
Call obama a terrorist
Cut medicare, medicaid, and social security
Call obama a foreigner
Repeal obamacare
Call obama unamerican
End student loans
Say obama apologizes again
End childcare
Say obama makes us less safe
End the epa
Call obama the antichrist
Give middle finger to 47% of the country
Give middle finger to the other 22% that are republicans but are too stupid to know we hate them to but need their votes
You really need to go to bed.
No, he's making a good point, here. You might read his post when you sober up, Viewer Ready. If that ever happens...
Far too many liberals are drunk on Obama.
One more beer for me, won't hurt a thing.
(but, I don't drink) much :)
Romney's pathological inability to tell the truth is exactly the reason why the American people are turning their backs on him.
"I saw my father march with Martin Luther King!" —GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, bragging in 2007 about his family's record on civil rights. Romney later admitted he didn't technically see his father march with King, nor did his father ever march with the civil rights leader on the same day or in the same city.
Obama.
SCREW the USA.
Only one line needed.
Ian Emdee
is a ghost says philapp