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Subscribe to RSSLYNCHBURG, VA -- Amid questions and criticisms related to Paul Ryan’s visit this weekend to an Ohio soup kitchen, the charity’s president said the Republican vice presidential candidate did, in fact, scrub dirty dishes though his visit wasn’t officially sanctioned.
The question of whether the Wisconsin congressman cleaned dishes that were actually dirty – as opposed to re-washing already clean dishes so as to get a good photo opportunity -- Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society President Brian Antal clarified that Ryan did clean soiled dishes. This differs from what Antal had told The Washington Post Monday.
Speaking Tuesday morning with NBC News, Antal said he was not on-site when Ryan was at the soup kitchen and attributes his earlier comments that the dishes were clean when Ryan washed them to hearing the details second-hand from a volunteer.
Following a town hall meeting in Youngstown, OH on Saturday, Ryan -- joined by his wife and three kids -- made a quick stop at the St. Vincent De Paul Society shortly after the homeless people had breakfast. There were only volunteers left inside the building by the time Ryan arrived, as his public event ran longer than expected.
After arriving at the soup kitchen -- where Secret Service agents and staff had gathered before the motorcade arrived -- the Ryan family put on white aprons and proceeded to wash dishes for several minutes as cameras and still photographers snapped photos nearby.
In response to questions about Antal’s comments to the Washington Post that Ryan “did nothing” while at the soup kitchen, Antal said his words were mischaracterized. He told NBC News in that Ryan did very little work only compared to the larger context of Saturday morning, when the kitchen fed 180 homeless people breakfast. Antal conceded that Ryan did wash several dirty dishes.
The head of the charity said a campaign aide who had sought permission for the visit prior to Ryan's visit was granted access by a volunteer, rather than any person of authority at the soup kitchen. The volunteer, Antal said, had no authority to allow or deny the Republican vice presidential candidate's stop.
Ryan has made several quick stops that are unannounced to the general public in the past while campaigning across the country. In response to questions about the stop in the battleground state of Ohio that has raised questions in the media, campaign spokesman Michael Steel said: “It was a great opportunity to highlight the importance of volunteerism and local charities.”
Antal says he is speaking to the media because the organization is non-political and is concerned that being connected to the campaign could negatively impact their support.
The confusion, though, hasn't stopped Democrats from trying to turn Ryan's stop into a political issue.
The Washington Post posted an updated article online Tuesday morning noting: “The head of an Ohio charity who criticized Mitt Romney’s campaign for staging a 'photo-op' at one of the group’s soup kitchens has consistently voted in Democratic primaries.”
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I think it's great he is developing these dish washing skills as a back up plan for when he is thrown out of office in three weeks.
Again the Liberals come out with their nasty condescending remarks. Surprise, surprise.
What skills has Obama developed? Oh yea hes a great liar...
Boy the dem's are running scared. Knowing Obama is out in November. Of course he washed dirty dishes. You can tell Antal is a republican. Making up lies are what they do best!!!!!!
St. Vincent De Paul is a Catholic organization that does a lot of good. Ryan is Catholic and he brought attention to a good organization. Nothing more, nothing less. BTW I'm sure it's not the first time Ryan has done dishes and St. Vincent's.
Antal is not a Republican; he voted in the Democratic primaries. You know what they say about assumptions...
Once again, the media is stooping. It must of been a slow day at NBC. And of course the left were the first to start with mud slinging and name calling. Fear does weird things to people. I'd rather see these guys washing a dish or two than Obama sitting at the right hand of David Letterman or the View crew. Give me a break.
Answer me this LD. How many other times before this has he stepped into a shelter and washed dishes?
It doesn't matter what party you belong to. If you use the less advantaged to make yourself look compassionate, you do not deserve to represent anyone, let alone yourself.
Well NYMike, I don't know how many times he's stepped into a shelter, but either do you! For all we know he's been doing it on a regular basis. The point is, people on this site are so quick to judge someones good intentions. I don't believe he's using the less advantaged to make himself look compassionate. He wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. If Obama had done this, I'm sure NBC would have been hailing him.
He hasn't. If he had, his campaign would have made that a focal point for him.
If Obama had done that, you're right, NBC would have made a two hour special about it. That still doesn't make it anymore right for anyone to do it, now does it?
The media cannot report on a coverup that only exists in the minds of certain republicans. You can look for it to be reported all you want but will never find it I mean what kind of a news group will try to report on something that only exists in your mind?
i guess he's the first one to do something like this?
They spoke out and now turning 180 degrees. He did clean clean dishes for photo. Phony, fake.
Do we know what Big Bird has to say on this situation? That's all that really matters here. If Big Bird doesn't have an open opinion about it, we can veer off to the old stand-by and blame Bush.
Why blame Bush? You're playing the hypocrite by using Big Bird to push your statement too, correct?
Is a legitimate reason necessary?
Ryan just being the typical phoney just for a photo op...............rofl
"Ryan did wash dirty dishes during soup kitchen visit"
I am sure they all mugged for the cameras in they're cute white aprons.
And even if the dishes were not already clean (as stated previously) when they put this fairytale on film, once the camera lights went out, the one percenter Ryan/Romoney team called in their domestic hired help to do the actual dish washing.
Anyone see the video clip, Paulie looked like he was going to crap himself having never heard of nor been in a soup kitchen with all kinds of dirty, stinky people before.
And poor Janna, the look of horror on her face being around all these smelly, disgusting people and...and....and......WASHING DISHES.................MANUAL DOMESTIC LABOR...........PAUL - DON'T WE HAVE PEOPLE FOR THIS??????????????............................OH THE HUMANITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paulies gonna have some splainin to do when he gets home!
It would have better if Willard was there. I'm sure he would pass out from fear of even pretending to perform manual labor.
The angry right has already been complaining how tonights moderator, Candy Crowly is going to tilt the table towards the President. Its always about the "unfair"Liberal media, and how nobody gives the poor old Republicans a chance..WTF? After the last debate, the "Liberal media" declared Romney a winner! so, stop the freekin whining. Maybe he can pull another rabbit out of his hat. I doubt it, but you never know. PLEASE STOP WHINING REPUBLICANS, you just might win. Will that stop the tears? Damn, I hope so, its getting pathetic.
Go wash the dishes, you crybabies. The clown posed for a political photo-op. where the dishes clean? dirty? who really cares?
When is the last time ANY of you washed dishes at a homeless shelter, clean or dirty? Oh that's right, easier to just sit back on a computer and make a mockery of other people and focus on the frivolous things to make a story. Pathetic. Get out and do some good if you want to see real change. Obama or Romney aren't the ones to change the world. Its you and I. Right now most are failing.
Bravo Commoncents!!!!
When was the last time Ryan stepped into a homeless shelter to lend a hand? Other than for political gain that is.
Explain to me how Ryan made a positive impact by flooding that shelter with reporters, cameras, security and all around general chaos. How many homeless had to move aside or leave so the shelter could fill up with people that would not have been seen dead in there under any other circumstance.
So spare me the humanitarian aspect of this visit. It was all for show and you know that. If he was really caring, he would have done it by himself and not weeks before a presidential election.
If it was Obama, Newt or any other politician, I would say the same exact thing.
Well it's certainly refreshing to hear that the dishes Ryan washed, for a few minutes, were in fact dirty.
I suppose if we all volunteered a "few minutes" every couple of years we could solve all of Americas problems. Thanks Mr. Ryan for your time in helping the needy, even if only a few minutes.
He wasn't helping the needy. If anything, he uprooted their troubled lives for the day by filling the shelter with people that were more concerned about Ryan than those that have no homes.
In reality, he was there for himself. I am pretty sure you know that though.
It would be nice if there were no longer any need for soup kitchens that any politician could use. Unfortunately the way we are going there will be more. Both sides use photo ops.
I would bet that Ryan didn't clean any dirty dishes. This was a photo op and just that. Sad hear is a person who can help but chooses not too.
Awwwwww, poor dumocrats thought they had the big new story to take Libya
out of the news finally.
Obama allows 4 Americans to get killed and lies about the riots Hillary takes the blame for it and The Democrats pick on Ryan for working in a soup kitchen? If this was not so wrong I would laugh! Democrat Republican or Independent This is wrong
Highlighting the importance of volunteering? Ayn Rand would be ashamed.
marty-309309 evidently you are not in touch with reality,go to Freeport,Il and see how Romney is still profiting on the outsourcing of jobs Romney is Elite and a Liar as is Lying Ryan
Who CARES, Is this what the election is all about, washing dishes? Or is it another liberal mark of class distinction and class identification that conservatives are not supposed to enter?
Yes, this is what the election is all about.
A mad scramble in the last few weeks to pretend they care.
Show me another news article where Ryan worked at a shelter when he wasn't actively running for a political office.
The same can be said for almost every politician. Only caring when they are running for office.
Give the man a break, so he washed some dishes, was it a photo opp? probably. All candidates have photo opps. Concentrate onthe issues at hand.
Really? I mean doesn't the liberal media have anything better to report. If he rode past the shelter you would have written that Ryan is heartless. You media idiots are so in the tank for Obama.
Why don't you write about what kind of adult diapers Biden was wearing last week as he acted like a spoiled kid not getting enough attention.
Ryan belongs in hell burning with Satan.
And so does anyone who votes for that evil no good rat.
I do not think Ryan would get a long with Obama..
This is why I do not comment -- no good remarks on here. I only read them because every now and then there's a good laugh. I can't go along with someone saying somebody belongs in hell burning -- nor can I agree with somebody telling another person they have no class -- especially if they do not know the other person, and the other person has said nothing hurtful to them.
OK, so the kid from Janesville wanted to appear as a blue collar worker. Wanted to show he is one of the 47 percentile. All politicians grand stand. They hold babies, hug soccer moms, have a beer with a pub owner or play golf with the CEO of CitiBank. The problem I have with youngster Ryan is that the only time he thinks about blue collar workers is when he is campaigning. Now who do you think has a better chance of meeting with him on an issue, a truck driver or the President of a Janesville Bank?
I do give Ryan credit for one thing...he drove the Oscar Mayer Weiner Mobile while in college.
Ha Ha you know the president of that charity got a good a$$ kicking by his GOP donation holders. That kitchen was so clean when he was putting the apron on. It was an attempt to make him look like a regular guy so why make a big deal out of it.
But some advice next time go when they are eating and shake their hands. Don't worry they most likely have antibacterial soap and/or germ-x to clean your hands after wards.
You don't want to get some of that 47% bacteria on your hands it is contagious after all.
why do Democrats get so mad when they see someone working..
Because they don't like watching anything they can't understand.
And why are you trying to pass this off as him working?
I think the resentment stems from the standard dog and pony show all politicians dish out weeks before an election.
Only a completely drug - induced stupor would allow anyone to make an issue out of a "politician" taking an opportunity for a photo op or a campaign stop.
Douchebags...anyone running for the Presidency or VP position can't just "walk" into anyplace for security reasons alone. So whether you are Hussein or Paul Ryan, at this point, you have to plan a little in advance....DUH!!!
Even your Messiah, Jesus Obama, has to make arrangements as I doubt the Secret Gestapo are going to let him just jump out of the car in Harlem or whichever ghetto he prefers and run into a shelter to be "compassionate".
So quit playing the typical assh&le hypocrite liberals, will ya?? You all bark about compassion, but the truth is most of your compassion is self - serving, "Me, Me, Me" first drivel and your actions, attitudes and lack of moral character all expose you for the lying, cheating bastards you have become.
Clinton and Obama have taught you well...it's okay to lie, demonize and cheat as long as you win and get your way...and if someone disagrees, limit their free speech and rights.
Bite it! Romney all the way because ANYONE is infinitely better than this pretender we have suffered with for WAY too long!!!
My opinion, of course...and we all have them and they all suck (if you dare oppose Oblasto!)
all those words to say nothing!
@b, you'd have to have a brain to understand it. So I guess your S.O.L.
seriously
Under obama 6 trillion more
in debt middle east in a turmoil border guards killed by one of his projects
ambassador killed from lack of proper security Under obama a greater divide in
AMERICA under obama a new tax that will hurt middle class citizens the most
(obama care) under obam a total lack of transparency. Under obama the division
of races has tripled. obama 1st president to win because of his race obama
causes 1st presidential candidate to lose because of his race(mccain) possibly
second candidate to lose because of his race. That is the true picture of the
lawyer in the white house DO YOU REALLY WANT THIS AGAIN
LD 1218
you proved it didn't take you a brain to write it..