LYNCHBURG, 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.”


Seriously...a soup kitchen!? that's all ya got. Mitt Romney will clean Obama's plate tonight. Obama will good naturedly help Mitt out too (Barry will not realize what has happened until after the debate...again).
No its not all we've "got." It's yet another lie in a long string of lies that Pinocchio tries to get away with.
Know why he was gulping down so much water that his eyes were bulging, and why Joe couldn't keep from laughing so much?
Because Pinocchio was in the HOT seat and trying to cool it down.
Liar liar, pants on fire! Pretty damn funny. Had me laughing also.
What is not funny and rather pathetic, is that Pinocchio is teaching his children how to lie as well, having them don an apron and pretend.
You love to lie for the lord too like Vo Mitt?
At the "Special' GOP/RNC Mental Hospital. Nutty Newt loves washing dishes, and he is drawing his Moonbase Kitchen in the Art Classes. Now "Nutty Newt" has help in his 'special' GOP/RNC Mental Hospital Kitchen. There is "Trampy Trump." The "Chump On The Stump." He loves to march around the kitchen banging his 'special spoon' on a pan yelling. "I have my Birth Cerificate." Then there is "Annis Akin's" having another wet towel fight over by their 'quiet closet.' Over by the Wash Sinks. "Puppet Palin,' and "Bitchy Bachmann" are spraying each others with water hoses."Sanitarium Santorum" is looking very confused watching the Tea Beggers going at it. He is very up set that he forgot what the female body looks like. "Bonehead Boehner" is crying in the corner after "Richie Rich' Ryan slapped him in the head with a wet towel. "Crazy Cantor" is running around the kitchen with tea bags hanging around his ears. Now he is very happy that he got out of doing any work. What a joke America!
I just love it...Obama goes out and LIES in front of his "supporters" about the GM bailout being completely paid for the same day the CBO comes out and says taxpayers are going to lose 24 billion dollars.....and yet, First Read comes out with a story, were they clean or dirty?? HA HA HA.....my goodness you people are PATHETIC. No wonder Barry has had a free hand at screwing the country up so badly......
You're lying now. President Obama never said the auto bailout was completely paid for.
Vo Mitt said let Detroit go bankrupt and Paul Lyin voted against the auto bailout under President Obama.
You're right...it was BIG BIRD that said it was paid for...you got me.
Dee -
Was that on page 1 or page 2 of your list of approved derogatory comments?
Did he use Dawn (As recommended in 8 out of 10 households) or Joy for those stubborn gravy stains?
did he wash his a_s?
Ryan is a First Class Phony!
Phony, Baloney as my Grandmother would say and she owned a Restaurant in Manhattan during WWII!
Kind of like when Michelle went to the food kitchen in her $600 sneakers and several hundred $$ t shirt. Bet she worked really hard....NOT!
Don't worry lulu, someday, if you stop being such a slacker, maybe you too can wear a pair of 500.00 tennis shoes while helping the less fortunate. I won't hold my breath though.
For some reason, I don't want $500 sneakers. However, my grandson got $159.00 basket ball shoes. My idea of being happy is to be able to pay my mortgage, have food on my table, and gas in my car if I want to go somewhere. Guess it takes little to make me happy. But, I'm through with these comments -- don't like being told I have no class and all that hateful mess everybody spews. I don't fit in with hate.
Gerri
You make a whole bunch of nasty remarks about Obama and now someone called you out for being a rude Republican and you can't stand the heat. Go back and read them, I just did. Bye, bye...
Ryan and Romney are both men of faith and do charitable work for others. I am certain that Ryan rolled up his sleeves to help, not for a photo op. There are alot of liberals who will stop at nothing to spin their hatred. By doing so, you show immaturity.
Romney/Ryan 2012 Men not afraid to roll up their sleeves and clean up the White House.
Are you dumb or naive?
Neither. I am also respectful and do not resort to name calling.
dezhawaii
Then he should have ordered the cameras outside.
Doing something right is doing it when no one is looking.
Remember Romney s 47% comment behind closed doors, or what he thought was behind closed doors?
really cause im sure the video of obama bringin out 4 boxes of pizza and the cameras on that was not an photo op lol I'm sure the delivery guy brought it right to the president.
NY NY
The dishes were spotless, the whole Kitchen was spotless. It was a Photo Op!
He didn't clean anything, he wasn't even invited in there.
m you didnt respond to my question on the topic i introduced. In case you missed it. Or do you not understand politics? it works both ways. Anyone could have given pizza to those volunteers, but im sure the president didnt think of it as a great video shot lol
"Obama bringin out 4 boxes of pizza and the cameras on that was not an photo op lol I'm sure the delivery guy brought it right to the president."
You could have hired a lot of dishwashers for the 24 billion (and still counting) of taxpayer money that Barry lost on the GM bailout......
BARRY/BIDEN/BIG BIRD 2012 - "FOWL WE CAN BELIEVE IN".....
Dez, with all do respect.....Really?
Roll up their sleeves? That's a good one! Phonies both of them. Oh, they decided to do something nice? Photo op, that's the only time you will see them even pretending to have hearts, when the cameras are rolling!
its funny when we don't agree with a certain topic, or view, those people are labled right wingnuts or extremists. Like i said Children! lol Everyone is entitled to their views. Part of living in this great country.
Ryan is still a Phony!
good reply ted, ill send you some cookies.
Make sure they are NOT store bought cookies! These Republicans are so nice, they insult their hosts whenever they can. Ask the British.
The whole thing is Stupid because we all know Repuds and Dems that this is all for the cameras, it won't happen again. Romney we know probably hasn't washed a Dish in his Rich Life and he is the one running for President, even though we know that Ryan thinks he is.
Washing dishes, feeding the Homeless, are things that we as Americans do everyday one way or another, it's no big deal, it's who we are.
It's a big deal to Ryan because he has never done it before, he has probably donated money, we all have done that. But to actually go to a shelter and work, I bet it's his first time, he probably doesn't realize that we do it all the time, and not for Political gains.
We just need to keep doing what we do for whatever the reason because these folks need us.
wow some of you are ridiculous lol just cause people have money doesn't not mean they aren't human, Obama net worth is $6 million dollars. He didn't go to a community college or state college like some of us did to get to a university cause our parents couldn't pay for college. Hes an ivy league guy. you guys only collect the bits and pieces you want. Only reason hes getting a pass is cause hes in the same minority i'm in as a latino. Wake the hell up lol.
Ryan is a Follower of Ayn Rand, what more do you need to know about this Suck Up?
again good response Ted :-) again ill send you some cookies.
After the asz kickin' he got from Biden, he realized that he had better look for another line of work.
Now Plastic Man eveyone knows that Dawn and Joy. Will have no reproductive rights left if little "Richie Rich' Ryan wins in November. Dawn and Joy may need Planned Parenthood. The GOP/RNC "Speculator and Chief" will close all Planned Parenthood locations. One wonders if Big Bird will have to perform dangerous abortions to pay for his rent? What happens if Dawn and Joy have a serious health issue? Get in line outside of the Emergency Room, and the bill will be sent later. Can't afford it? TOO BAD!
where did you read that? the rachel maddow show? i dont se that in writing. Its not on romney's website so im assuming your just like all the MSNBC pundits. Making it up.
In the first debate, Romney said he would cut all funding for Planned Parenthood. This second debate, spend time listening to the words being spoken, not just the attitude.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/08/barack-obama/obama-slams-romney-on-contraception-and-planned-pa/
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/mitt-romney-clarifies-abortion-stance-re-affirms-desire-to-defund-planned-parenthood/
We can't know exactly what his opinion on abortion is, because he has changed it several time in the past few weeks. He seems to be pro-choice now, but his campaign insists he isn't.
What stands out to me is the retraction after the fact. First Antal said that Ryan did nothing, and now they say that he did.
Especially given the fact that Antal says he is concerned that being connected to the campaign could negatively impact their support.
Was he threatened to retract his statement or be "fired?" Wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Romney Ryan team had something to do with the retraction.
First statements are generally the truth, as in "I don't care about the 47%."
Um this is no brainer. lol Who do you think funds these programs with their donations? the 47%? Wake up!
NY = Troll!!!
KJNC, is one of Obama die hard supporter.
I wonder, if the Benghazi case happened under G Bush watch, will he gave the same opinion as he did toward Obama administration blunder where 4 American died include the ambassador ?
I feel sorry for Hilary who sacrifice herself for the blame to protect Obama who is nota bene "Commander in Chief"
Think man, I am not a hater but speaking fact and being rational.
Much worse happened under the Bush watch, over 3000 people died, then his Neocons talked him into attacking the wrong country in retaliation.
Mittnocchio and Paul Lyin got the president of the soup kitchen to change his mind and the media to carry their water. The video clearly shows the guy in the background with the black t-shirt and yellow lettering came from one side of the room to the other, took a clean pan from the bottom shelf, sat it on the sink, then rubbed his hands together like he got the photo op ready. Paul Lyin pretend he was washing the clean pan by turning the pan away from the inside so no one could see it was already clean.
Mittnocchio and Paul Lyin lie for the lord and it's o.k.
You suck Paul Ryan for putting your family in that situation just to get a photo op!
Great post :-) really pressing those issues.
Wait, Antal wasn't there. He could not have spoken as to whether Ryan washed clean or dirty dishes. Bottom line, Ryan was only there a few minutes. He basically did nothing but get a photo op. Disgusting.
More GOP Fraud & Lies. No one is buying what they are trying to sell!!!
Could there be any more stupid waste of time than to argue over Ryan's cheezy photo op? The Nuns on the Bus are pointing out that every church in America would have to raise an extra 50K per year to take up the slack from the proposed cuts to the social safety net in the Ryan budget. Argument over!
How many nuns were there on that bus? 10? Hardly a plurality. Argument over!
Not a spot on Lyan's apron. Very typical of the GOP, leave the country in a mess for the next Democratic administration to clean up (Clinton, Obama), then come in after everything is cleaned up and try to claim they did the cleaning.
Later today, Willard will claim the soup kitchen will be closed so "we don't have to borrow money from China to pay for these hungry people".
These two phony's make me sick. There are real people washing dirty pans in soup kitchens all across the country - couldn't he even FAKE it enough to wash one dirty pan?
It's just like Romoney shopping for clothes at COSTCO! We ALL know he wouldn't set foot in a costco to save a dollar.
These guys are nothing but 'for show' NOT FOR REAL!
I bet you think Michelle Obama really shops at Target. I also bet that you have never done any charity work!
Yes, I've seen photos of Mrs. Obama in Target.
Yes, I'm currently doing volunteer work!
Eddie gives me mini mouth pukes!!!!
What a crock. Boy wonder shows his compassionate side, by washing a few pots during a photo-op. I heard the pots weren't even dirty. They were just props.
Is there anything this clown and his robotic wife won't stoop to? It's hard to believe that serious people are even thinking about putting Willard and boy wonder in the White House.
Yeah Right!
And Mitt Romney doesn't have a $5 trillion dollar tax cut
And Mitt Romney doesn't have legislation with regards to abortion that is part of his agenda
And Mitt Romney doesn't want to privatize Social Security
Show me the Dirty Dishes! Show me the Dirty Dishes!
Obama 2012
Did he put the dishes on the spin cycle? Get it?! SPIN?! Go Team America!
Fast & Furious cover-up
Libya cover-up
Obama claiming every dollar of bailout money was paid back on the same day the CBO says we've lost tens of billions
Obama claiming an "all of the above" strategy on energy while the EPA regulations is forcing coal mines to close, drilling in Alaska and on federal land is severely restricted
Massive sustained unemployment with the latest report missing one large states numbers
Long list of failed 'green energy companies' that received stimulus money
Not attending most of his daily intelligence briefings
etc......
This is who many here will vote for? Talk about being in the bottom of the class.
mhrjhn, good post but we already knew he didn't attend intelligence briefings,
just watch tonight and we will see how many he must have missed in his entire life
As if you know anything about intelligence briefs. When did you get yours? In fact, you appear to know very little about plain old intelligence.