Center-Right Reaction to Romney-Ryan 2012

Ken Blackwell, former Secretary of State in Ohio, is the Senior Fellow for Family Empowerment at the Family Research Council. He serves on the board of directors of the Club for Growth and the National Taxpayers Union: “Paul Ryan is a solid conservative leader who’s conservatism is indivisible. His commitment to advancing American exceptionalism is rooted in his embrace of our pro-life, pro-family,

pro-growth and pro-defense traditions.”

Maureen Ferguson and Ashley McGuire of The Catholic Association (TCA) www.thecatholicassociation.org: “We believe Governor Romney has made an excellent choice.  As a smart, serious Catholic, Congressman Ryan has been steadfast on issues of fundamental principle – defending religious liberty, life, and traditional marriage. Ryan is a Catholic who believes that faith, including his own, has a rightful place in the public square. We believe he can help restore fundamental liberties to our nation. In addition, he has been thoughtful and articulate in applying Catholic principles to the other challenges facing America. We strongly agree with Congressman Ryan’s concerns about the devastating consequences for the poor when out of control deficit spending is allowed to continue. In his own words:”

It is rare in American politics to arrive at a moment in which the debate revolves around the fundamental nature of American democracy and the social contract. But that is exactly where we are today.

One approach gives more power to unelected bureaucrats, takes more from hard-working taxpayers to fuel the expansion of government, and commits our nation to a future of debt and decline. This approach is proving unworkable – in Congress, in our courts, and in our communities.

This path fails to do justice to either subsidiarity or solidarity. It dissolves the common good of society, and dishonors the dignity of the human person.

Our budget offers a better path, consistent with the timeless principles of our nation’s founding and, frankly, consistent with how I understand my Catholic faith.

We put our trust in people, not in government. Our budget incorporates subsidiarity by returning power to individuals, to families, and to communities.

We draw inspiration from the Founders’ belief that all people are born with a God-given right to human flourishing.

Protecting this equal right of all persons is required for solidarity – trusting citizens, not nameless government officials, to determine what is in their best interests, and to make the right choices about the future of our country.

(speech at Georgetown University, April 26, 2012)

Dr. Bob Reccord, Executive Director, Council for National Policy: “Gov. Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan for a running mate shouts with boldness a commitment to address the real and substantive issues of our nation and to stop kicking the cans down the road to next generations.  It also speaks clearly of the personal security and strength of leadership of Gov. Romney in drawing to the ticket a running mate who is a strong and acknowledged leader in his own right.  Great leaders always draw the best and brightest around them, not simply those who will be neutral and non-threatening.  Today Gov. Romney incarnated the principle that Americans are mature and smart enough that he can tell them the truthful facts of our challenges and then trust the people to do the right thing. “

Brent Bozell, chairman of ForAmerica: “Governor Romney made a very important and wise choice for Vice President when he picked Representative Paul Ryan to be his running mate.  Paul Ryan is a staunch enemy of ObamaCare. In picking Ryan, Governor Romney is demonstrating that he is serious about ending the Obama era of massive government intervention, historic debt, and depressing economic growth. Ryan is a man of great character and strong conviction and, unlike President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, is not afraid to lead.  He is serious about addressing the deficit and is a pro-growth conservative who believes government is part of the problem and not the solution.  Unlike Obama, Reid and Pelosi, Ryan is a staunch ally of individual freedom and a defender of the constitution.”

Penny Nance,  CEO and President of CWALAC: “Paul Ryan is an energetic and solid social conservative. He has tirelessly supported the unborn and voted in favor of a federal marriage amendment. In addition, he showed great courage and willingness to make the hard decisions needed to clean our fiscal house by actually putting pen to paper and advancing a plan. Others were simply content to sit on the sidelines and make political points, Congressman Ryan was determined to be a grown up and work for a real solution. The nation’s mothers demand that our leaders in Washington stop spending money that belongs to our children and grandchildren and to live within the nations means much like we all do at the kitchen table every month.”

Austin Ruse, President, C-FAM (Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute) Cathy Ruse, Catholic lawyer, writer, lecturer: “Governor Romney could not have chosen a better person to run with than Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Ryan is not only 100% pro-life, he is a full spectrum conservative and thoroughly unafraid in expressing conservative and pro-life views. We cannot wait to see him debate Vice-President Biden. We note that Paul Ryan is a Catholic who takes his faith seriously and in this season of easy anti-Catholicism and attacks on religious freedom, Paul Ryan is perfectly situated to articulate and defend our First Freedom. Paul Ryan will serve our country well as our next Vice-President.”

“Today marks the real start of the general election as Mitt Romney hit a home run with his Vice Presidential selection. Congressman Paul Ryan is a very smart, young and a superb family man with serious policy solutions to turn around the disastrous fiscal and economic policies of the Obama Administration.