Paul Ryan - hypocrite

[RecycleMichael]

http://news.yahoo.com/presented-letters-ryan-admits-requesting-stimulus-cash-234025910--abc-news-politics.html

After repeated denials, Paul Ryan has admitted he requested stimulus cash even after sharply criticizing the program. As recently as Wednesday in Ohio, Mitt Romney's running mate told ABC's Cincinnati affiliate, WCPO, he did not. "I never asked for stimulus," Ryan said. "I don't recall... so I really can't comment on it. I opposed the stimulus because it doesn't work, it didn't work."

Two years ago, during an interview on WBZ's NewsRadio he was asked by a caller if he "accepted any money" into his district. Ryan said he did not. "I'm not one [of those] people who votes for something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money," the congressman answered.

But as we've now learned, Ryan did write letters. He did request stimulus funds. "The Olympics may be over but Paul Ryan could have gotten a gold medal in hypocrisy," a senior administration official told ABC's Jake Tapper. "As someone who spends all day every day railing against government spending, but then secretly seeks millions in funds for pet projects, he is as Washington as it gets."

In 2009, Ryan wrote to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis asking for stimulus money to cover costs on two energy conservation projects in his home state of Wisconsin. In the letter, Ryan said the funds would help create jobs and reduce "energy consumption" in the state. At least one of the companies received the requested cash.

The letters were first obtained by The Wall Street Journal through the Freedom of Information Act back in early 2010. The Boston Globe turned them up for the first time during this campaign season Wednesday. At that point, a Ryan aide referred ABC News back to what a Ryan spokesman said when the letters first went public.

"If Congressman Ryan is asked to help a Wisconsin entity applying for existing Federal grant funds, he does not believe flawed policy should get in the way of doing his job and providing a legitimate constituent service to his employers," the spokesman told the Milwaukee (Wisc.) Journal Sentinel.

Thursday, Ryan responded to the questions himself.

"After having these letters called to my attention I checked into them, and they were treated as constituent service requests in the same way matters involving Social Security or Veterans Affairs are handled," Ryan said in a statement. "This is why I didn't recall the letters earlier. But they should have been handled differently, and I take responsibility for that.

"Regardless, it's clear that the Obama stimulus did nothing to stimulate the economy, and now the President is asking to do it all over again."
Also Read

[Conan71]

One issue he's a hypocrite on.  Call me underwhelmed.

[Hoss]

One issue he's a hypocrite on.  Call me underwhelmed.

Are you expecting more?  Oh, wait...what?

[Townsend]

Are you expecting more?  Oh, wait...what?

Google it.  There's a list.

[RecycleMichael]

It doesn't bother you to hear him say, "I'm not one [of those] people who votes for something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money," then have him say, "After having these letters called to my attention I checked into them..."

Total lie. He has built an entire political career on the same stuff he got caught lying about.

[Conan71]

It doesn't bother you to hear him say, "I'm not one [of those] people who votes for something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money," then have him say, "After having these letters called to my attention I checked into them..."

Total lie. He has built an entire political career on the same stuff he got caught lying about.

Just like Obama and Biden?

[heironymouspasparagus]

One issue he's a hypocrite on.  Call me underwhelmed.

It's much more than hypocrisy - it is flat out lying.  And just this last week, he was weasling again on it saying how bad the stimulus idea was.



Don't forget Baby Bush, Daddy Bush, Raygun, and Nixon!

[nathanm]

And just this last week, he was weasling again on it saying how bad the stimulus idea was.

Yeah, and lying about not ever voting for stimulus. Like the $715 billion alternative to the Obama stimulus that had more road spending and more aid to states, but slightly less tax cuts. He also voted for the initial Republican plan that failed. I believe that one was $300ish billion. He seems to not realize that he's no longer just one of the Representatives from Wisconsin.

For a guy that thinks stimulus doesn't work, he sure votes for a lot of them. Of course, that's probably a lie, too. Even Romney's economists won't say that stimulus doesn't work at all.

[cannon_fodder]

I am not a Ryan fan, but this is the least of my concerns. 

Im sure his office hundreds of similar letters for his district which he may or may not even really sign.  Entirely possiblw he had no awareness of them.  If he did i would guess he would have given evasive answers instead of straight up lying.

What it shows is his office policy is not very clear.  His staff, like him, are career government and they operate likeeveryone else in Washington (almost everyone else).  Obviously there was not a policy to stay away from stimulus requests.

[nathanm]

Entirely possible he had no awareness of them.

Did he also have no awareness of his previous record of voting in favor of stimulus as recently as 2008?

I agree that there are bigger issues with Ryan; his trouble with the truth is just another to add to the list. It goes along well with the Romney campaign's ongoing struggle with those issues. His VP pick lies, his economic advisers lie, his surrogates lie. It's pretty interesting to watch. I haven't seen Romney tell an out and out lie yet, but he's got terrible trouble when it comes to making up his mind.

[erfalf]

Ain't it fun to watch Obama voters tell Romney supporters they shouldn't vote for him because he has done things that Obama has, and Republican's just can't have that.

Let's take the stimulus, which by the way about 9 of 10 in the house voted for. Obama voted to pass as well. This is a classic case for every Republican. If you vote for it, you are a hypocrite since you generally decry spending. If you vote against, you a knuckle dragging bi-partisan extreme who never wants to work together with the other side, even though if you do and pass something, you are criticized for that as well. So which is worse?

Besides, everyone needs to face up to this fact: Politicians Lie. It's like breathing to them.

[nathanm]

Obama voted to pass as well. This is a classic case for every Republican. If you vote for it, you are a hypocrite since you generally decry spending. If you vote against, you a knuckle dragging bi-partisan extreme who never wants to work together with the other side, even though if you do and pass something, you are criticized for that as well. So which is worse?

No, it's perfectly fine to vote for stimulus, as long as you don't later falsely claim it doesn't/didn't work. It's perfectly fine to vote against it, too, if you don't then go around asking for these monies that you insist are actively harmful to those who receive it. When you manage to do all four in less than 6 months, that's when we start calling you a hypocrite and an idiot.

Besides, everyone needs to face up to this fact: Politicians Lie. It's like breathing to them.

"Everyone does it, so it must be OK!" No wonder our political system is in the shitter and only getting more corrupt by the day.

[erfalf]

No, it's perfectly fine to vote for stimulus, as long as you don't later falsely claim it doesn't/didn't work. It's perfectly fine to vote against it, too, if you don't then go around asking for these monies that you insist are actively harmful to those who receive it. When you manage to do all four in less than 6 months, that's when we start calling you a hypocrite and an idiot.

So you are not allowed to criticize something you vote on...ever. Consider they vote on this not knowing exactly what will happen.

[nathanm]

So you are not allowed to criticize something you vote on...ever. Consider they vote on this not knowing exactly what will happen.

If you read my post carefully, you would have noted that I take issue with false claims and hypocritically asking for something you claim publicly is actively harmful.

[erfalf]

If you read my post carefully, you would have noted that I take issue with false claims and hypocritically asking for something you claim publicly is actively harmful.

Some might say it is a matter of opinion on whether or not the stimulus worked, but hey, whatever.