Paul Ryan and hard truths

Paul Ryan Has a Decision to Make – ‘Hard Truths’ or More of the Same?
Vice presidential nominee must define true impact of Romney–Ryan vision

Des Moines – After an opening night full of disjointed and misguided attacks against President Obama, tonight, vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan will take the stage at the Republican National Convention with an opportunity to tell the Americans the “hard truth” about the impact of the proposed Romney-Ryan agenda.

“Before Paul Ryan was picked, we heard a lot about his alleged straight talk style. And last night, Americans heard a lot about the so-called ‘hard truths’ Republicans would be telling country from Tampa. Unfortunately, the reality is that anyone tuned in last night hoping to hear about the Romney-Ryan plan to lift the middle class, improve education, create jobs or end Washington gridlock were left sorely disappointed,” said Sue Dvorsky, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party.

“Instead of sharing responsible, honest ideas about growing the economy and rebuilding the middle class, viewers were treated to a litany of insults, ideology and anger from Republican leaders. Viewers deserve better than that, and my sense is that Republicans are expecting something better from their vice presidential nominee tonight.”

After six trips to Iowa between them, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have failed to answer questions on key issues facing Iowa and middle class Americans – even after pledging to run an issue based campaign. That could be because on issue after issue, Romney and Ryan’s agenda is wrong for Iowa and will move the economy and our middle class backwards.

Instead of more platitudes and defamations, tonight, Paul Ryan should finally level with Americans and tell the “hard truths” about the impact of a Romney-Ryan vision which includes fewer college scholarships for students and vouchers instead of the Medicare guarantee Americans earned.

Instead of tearing down President Obama for the entirety of his speech, Paul Ryan should answer the following questions:

• Will he look students in the eye and tell them that it'll be harder to get Pell Grant scholarships and that he would eliminate their $10,000 college tax credit?

• Will he look seniors in the eye and tell them that they could pay up to $6,400 more for their health care because he’d turn Medicare into a voucher program?

• Will he look up at the debt clock and accept responsibility for his votes for unfunded wars and budget-busting tax cuts that exploded our deficit?

• Will he look Iowans in the eye and explain Mitt Romney’s firm opposition to the wind energy production tax credit (PTC), and why the presumptive GOP nominee would put big oil subsidies ahead of the country’s wind industry - jeopardizing 7,000 jobs in in Iowa and 37,000 nationwide?

Yesterday on the campus of Iowa State University, President Obama laid out his vision that is building the economy from the middle class up, not from the top down. From supporting manufacturing, making college more affordable, and saving the auto industry to expanding the wind industry and preventing a tax hike on middle class families, the President’s agenda showcases his commitment to providing security to Iowa’s middle class families and building an economy where responsibility is rewarded, hard work pays, and everyone plays by the rules.

Can we expect hard truths from Paul Ryan or just more of the same?