I hate to keep "beating a dead horse", but, once again, I have to ask Mitt about those tax returns. This questions becomes even more important because of what Mitt demanded of his potential running mate for vice president."CHARLOTTE - Mitt Romney requested "several" years of tax returns from his potential running mates, a senior adviser to the candidate said Saturday, suggesting that those considered for the ticket may have been required to reveal more financial documents that the candidate himself.
In a briefing with reporters in Virginia Saturday, senior adviser Beth Myers, who was charged with headed the vice president selection process, declined to specify exactly how many years of tax returns were required, saying only that "several" were requested.
Several, by definition, implies more than two years." [Source]
I can't say that I blame Mitt for wanting to know how his potential running mate has handled his taxes over the past few years, and Mitt should understand why we, the American people, want the same from him. To say that seeing how an individual has handled this important aspect of his life over the past few years is not important for the person running for president is ludicrous. Of course it's important. And I suspect that Mitt and his supporters know that it is. However, for the sake of political one- upmanship they pretend not to.
Speaking of running mates, Mitt had his on the stump with him today in North Carolina. They had bigger crowds and more enthusiasm coming from those crowds. Ryan, right on cue, lashed into Obama for attacking Mitt instead of offering real hope and change. Yes, he attacked Obama for attacking. This is politics in America.
Anyway, it seems that Obama and his peeps have some attacks of their own. Apparently they have been expecting Mr. Ryan.
"..Team Obama's response to the House Budget Committee Chairman's elevation to potential VP made clear that the Democrat's campaign won't overhaul so much as go into overdrive. Aides argue that Ryan amplifies rather than challenges their core message with just 88 days until the election.
The early attacks are telling: Obama's website repeatedly refers to Ryan's "extreme budget plan" as favoring the rich over the middle class (the president's core argument against Romney). The first line of its biographical sketch reads "Paul Ryan is a career Washington D.C. insider." (Obama has been running in large part against inside-the-Beltway political stalemate, casting the blame on Republicans.)
In an attack everyone in politics saw coming, the site warns Ryan's budget "would turn Medicare into a voucher program, increasing seniors' costs by up to $6,350 per year"—an unusually precise figure seemingly tailored to shock elderly voters in pivotal battlegrounds like Florida, even though his proposal would not affect people currently over 55. [Source]
Ryan is 42 years old and has spent 20 years in Washington. So yes, he qualifies as an inside the beltway guy. (Isn't that the antithesis of what the new republican party is supposed to represent? Tea Party types who want to throw the bums out and give government back to the people?)
Another thing, is Paul Ryan really a blue collar guy? I know that he represents a blue collar district, (even though he seemed to shun them for a more well to do County when he appeared today with his wealthy new friend) but blue collar? Hardly.
He is a fourth generation Wisconsin native, his dad is a lawyer, his great- grand father owned a hugely successful construction business, his grandfather was appointed US Attorney for Western Wisconsin by Calvin Coolidge, and his family liked to go on ski trips when he was a kid. Yep, a real everyman background. I can just see him and his dad pounding back Pabst Blue Ribbon beers and swapping jokes about the mill in their overalls. Not.
Still, the imagery is there, and right wingers -from the republican wonks in Washington to the Tea Party faithful down at the local Wal Mart- are all on board.
Now if they can just keep those minorities, old people, and single women home come November, they will be in business.
*Pic from the Paul Ryan Watch
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