Brendan Doherty praising Paul Ryan
After pretty much declaring himself president of the local chapter of the Paul Ryan fan club, conservative congressional candidate Brendan Doherty is now trying to distance himself from Ryan’s plan to slash medical benefits for retirees. Democrats don’t buy it, though.
“Paul Ryan may not be a household name to everyone in Rhode Island, but if you’re a senior citizen who relies on Medicare, you should know who he is and what he stands for, because these are the types of Republicans Brendan will be standing with and voting with, if elected to Congress,” said Bill Fischer, a spokesperson for the state Democratic Party in an email today. “Mr. Doherty’s statements on Monday supporting Medicare are simply not credible after he clearly supported Congressman Ryan at a tea party gathering in May.”
In May, Doherty said told an East Bay Tea Party group the opposite: “I had a great opportunity to meet with Paul Ryan about a month ago and that’s his position and he’s digging his feet in and I applaud him for that and I support him.”
Here’s the video:
Doherty was talking about Ryan’s budget proposal, which would indeed slash Medicare benefits. So which is it Brendan? Do you stand with Rhode Island retirees and the elderly or do you stand with Paul Ryan.
This is how Washington – and politics in general for that matter – works. Whatever Brendan Doherty might say to you while he’s on the stump, you can bet he’ll be voting in lock step with the most conservative Beltway Republicans in the country just as sure as his political mentor is former governor Don Carcieri.
Let’s not forget that Anthony Gemma has also praised Paul Ryan–although at least Gemma’s praise for the Ryan Plan was factually dubious.
“Do you stand with Rhode Island retirees and the elderly or do you stand with Paul Ryan.”
That’s a nice false choice you have there. By the way, what’s the Democrat plan for addressing the unfunded liabilities in Medicare? You can’t tax “the rich” out of this one.
The President’s own ‘National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform’ recommendations include Medicare reductions but the President ignored his own commission recommendations and hasn’t put forth a sustainable plan. That includes his tax the rich scheme. Here’s a thought, how about the President bringing the country together with one theme, we all need to help out. Some cuts in entitlements and government along with increases in taxes for all…including the 50% who don’t pay any. Remember, we’re doing it for country.
“including the 50% who don’t pay any. Remember, we’re doing it for country.”
Isn’t this a little disingenuous? Everyone who is legally employed pays payroll taxes and just about everyone who purchases anything other then food and clothing pays state sales taxes.
Isn’t this a little disingenuous?
No. Payroll tax only benefits the employee. It doesn’t contribute to the federal budget as does income tax.
This is pathetic. You are using a quote from the director of DFER R I to make a point about the man who fronts for right wing business interests? What was that about ALEC? We need better choices than ones where the only choice is neo-con or neo-lib.
Why don’t you write an article explaining this?:
dferwatch.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/dfer-and-alec-a-few-connections/
or DFER’s support from the Walton Family, etc., etc., etc.
The message at this blog seems to be a very conflicted one. I don’t know an awful lot but this looks very wrong to me. What are the choices – the socially conservative Dickensian or the socially liberal Dickensian?
I want to resist the temptation to quote Jerry Garcia via Jesse Ventura but “voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.”