PHOTO: Reuters
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has announced the selection of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate. The 42-year-old anti-gay congressman is a rockstar in the Republican Party and a favorite of conservatives and the Tea Party.
Ryan chairs the House Budget Committee. Ryan's proposed 2012 budget would have abolished corporate taxes and privatized Social Security and Medicare. The House passed the Ryan budget in June 2011. The bill later died in the Senate.
Ryan has received a "zero" rating from the Human Rights Campaign, reports Paul Schindler at Gay City News.
In 2007, Ryan was one of 35 Republicans to vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which at that time only proposed to protect against job bias based on sexual orientation, not gender identity or expression. When Republicans unsuccessfully tried a parliamentary maneuver to shelve the bill prior to its passage –– with what is known as a motion to recommit –– he joined 26 other GOP ENDA supporters in the unsuccessful effort to kill the bill they would vote for just moments later.
In 2004 and 2006, Ryan voted for a federal marriage amendment that would have defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman everywhere in the United States.
In both the 2009-2010 and the 2007-2008 sessions, he voted against hate crimes protections, which became law in 2009. He also did not support repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in 2010 –– a measure that received votes in both May and December.
Ryan has consistently opposed a woman's right to choose, health care, labor protections and other progressive causes. He also joined the House Republican leadership in opposing LGBT rights in the District of Columbia, supporting a ban on domestic partnerships and gay adoptions.
Romney caves in to the tea party and picks pretty much the most extremist candidate out there.
when did moderation and compromise in our political system become a bad thing?
Posted by: fff | 11 August 2012 at 12:53
YEAH - it is a wrap in the donkey camp!
Posted by: Kirk | 11 August 2012 at 13:03
Im SOOO ready for this plastic andriod like character to get kicked off the public stage. I honestly felt he didnt have much of a chance in the first place but now he has really shot himself in the foot. Looking forward to the debates however to see how these clowns will try to defend and dance around there platform...smh // OBAMA 2012
Posted by: Quest | 11 August 2012 at 15:34
I absolutely loathe and despise Romney and I loathe and despise Ryan even more. What an evil disgusting force in the world he represents. And Romney too. A Catholic and a Mormon. What a repulsive combination.
Posted by: Jerry | 12 August 2012 at 08:14
...And of course both the Log Cabin Republicans and GOProud applaud the Ryan choice. (SMDH)
Posted by: Andy Niable | 22 August 2012 at 05:04