Fmr. WI Congressman Obey Criticizes Rep. Paul Ryan Pick
By:
BAYFIELD-Dave Obey, former Congressman for Wisconsin's 7th District, criticized his former colleague from the state's 1st District on Sunday.
That's U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan - announced as Mitt Romney's running mate on Saturday.
"Romney has made it quite clear that he is in full support of the Ryan budget," Obey said.
"The Ryan budget savages education. It savages Medicare. It virtually ends Medicare as we know it. And it privatizes social security and takes the guarantee out of Medicare," Obey said.
It's no secret that Democrats, like Obey, disagree with the financial priorities of the presumptive Republican Vice Presidential Candidate.
With Romney, Ryan made an appearance in North Carolina at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville.
Ryan, critics say, is a choice to appease members of the Tea Party.
The Congressman representing the Janesville area says he would try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace Medicare with a voucher-like system.
"So we're going to offer to you, our fellow citizens, a choice. Do you want the American idea, that opportunity society with a safety net, a land of prosperity where you can make the most of your life no matter who you are or where you come from, tap your potential. Or do we go with the status quo?" Ryan said to a crowd of hundreds.
Current 7th District Congressman and fellow Republican Sean Duffy released this statement on Ryan:
"His selection as running mate will be a tremendous asset to the Romney campaign, bringing bold ideas for the future of our great country and specific plans to balance the budget and save Medicare for generations to come."
"Paul's vision for fiscal prosperity along with Governor Romney's steady leadership are certain to give voters the stark contrast this November to the current administration who squandered their opportunity to fix our fiscal house."
Duffy's opponent in November, democratic candidate Pat Kreitlow, said that assessment is backwards - a main reason he's running for the 7th District seat.
"I was the first democratic challenger in the country to announce my campaign after the first Paul Ryan budget passed. Because I knew once Sean Duffy voted for that he did not have the right priorities or values for this district compared to how you're supposed to balance the budget and get the economy moving again," Kreitlow said.
In Bayfield, Kreitlow was just one of the people criticizing Ryan's plans to keep tax breaks for the rich while cutting assistance programs.
It was the annual Chequamegon Democratic Party Picnic at Mt. Ashwabay. Attendees supported local candidates while talking about national issues - including major disagreements with Republicans.
"Today we're still arguing about healthcare. It's ridiculous. If a person is born in this country we should be able to take care of him. That my bottom line right there. That's it," Bob Olson, who describes himself as a lifelong Democrat, said.
More than 200 people attended the event.
