Pro-Obama super PAC American Bridge 21st Century has released opposition research books on five of Romney’s most likely VP choices, and the messaging is as predictable as you’d expect. Rob Portman’s file ties him to Bush’s economic policies, Tim Pawlenty’s rehashes his anti-Romney attacks during the primaries, Marco Rubio’s targets his autobiographical errors, Bobby Jindal’s hits him about tax cuts for the wealthy, and Paul Ryan’s is one long Mediscare attack. And that’s just the beginning; the booklets are hundreds of pages long and cover everything from the candidates’ statements about contentious social issues to their remarks on the Ryan plan, and (in Rubio’s and Pawlenty’s cases) an entire section on their “neoconservatism.”
Democrats obviously have attack plans lined up for each of them, so there’s no such thing as a completely “safe” pick. Not that it matters — as we’ve seen from the disgraceful Priorities USA ad, if the Obama campaign runs out of attacks, their backers have no problem just making things up.
But the booklets are a good reminder that the Ryan plan assault can and will happen whether or not Ryan is on the ticket — even if Romney chooses a running mate who hasn’t endorsed the plan, the media will hound him until he takes a position. As Rich Lowry wrote in a column for Politico:
The Democrats’ assault over Medicare will be ferocious — not to mention lowdown and dishonest. Hell, they’ve already all but accused Romney of killing someone, and they haven’t even gotten around to Medicare. When the barrage starts, Romney won’t be able to duck and cover or look at his shoes. He’ll have to win the argument — or at least hold his own.
This is the broader point. Romney has to carry the argument to President Barack Obama. The state of the economy alone isn’t enough to convince people that Romney has better ideas to create jobs. Neither is his résumé. Romney needs to make the case for his program, and perhaps no one is better suited to contribute to this effort than Ryan.
The fight is coming, whether or not Romney invites it forward.
Paul Ryan is the only man who can save the country from Mitt Romney.
Paul Ryan called the rumour that he encouraged his staff to read Rand an "urban legend." There's a video of him doing just that. Why lie about something you don't need to lie about? n nAnd why pretend that a threesome of Jesus Christ, Thomas Aquinas and Ayn Rand is the Nation's wholesome solution? n nI didn't support ObamaCare, was disappointed when deemed Constitutional but then and there I prayed the blessing of the Lord upon Justice Roberts, now and forever. n nHe made me remember that there are indigent epileptics among us. n nThe visceral case against Obama can't really be made because today is the by-product of thousands of mis-managed yesterdays. n nThis may be the first time I do not vote. Mitt Romney can make sure that doesn't happen by invoking, as he did in Aurora, Our Creator. By keeping in mind that He is the protector of widows and orphans and epileptics.
Romney's ideal pick would be Allen West. I would so love to see these schmucks attack West — as well as speculate on how quickly they would be silenced. West is neither a bully nor a man who tolerates bullying and he will put an end to these hysterical lying attacks quite quickly because he can both fight back and is damn good at it.
Marco Rubio’s targets his autobiographical errors. n nwhat about BO's autobiographical out right lies? why does he keep getting a pass? what about all of the other falsehoods and half truth he, his campaign and the national media keep putting out as facts? this is like watching inmates of an asylum coming up with their own sence of what's real and trying to impose their view on the sane staff that's actually supposed to be running the place.