COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan on Sunday criticized President Barack Obama for planned reductions in military spending scheduled to kick in at the end of the year, saying it was a sign to the country’s enemies that it was weak.
Rep. Ryan himself voted for the cuts as part of last year’s deal to raise the debt ceiling. But he now argues that he wants to replace them with other reductions in federal spending but that the president won’t allow that.
The spending cuts were front and center during a brief speech by Ryan in this city, home to both the Ft. Carson military base and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
“We are not going to gut our military,” Ryan vowed before a rally of about 1,000 people, specifically citing soldiers at Ft. Carson. “You honor us and we will honor you.”
He said strong military spending was part of the GOP ticket’s plan for “peace through strength.”
“Our adversaries, when they see us projecting weakness, when they see us hollowing out our military…they think we are a superpower in decline,” he said, in a likely preview of an attack Mitt Romney will launch in Monday’s foreign policy debate.
Ryan’s voice was noticeably hoarse and he spoke for only 12 minutes, less than usual. He has three campaign events in Colorado tomorrow and will meet Romney Tuesday night for a major rally at Red Rocks amphitheater, outside Denver.
President Obama will follow that with an appearance in Denver on Wednesday, a reminder of the swing state’s political importance in this deadlocked election.
Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan is vowing to keep America’s military strong.
The Republican congressman promised supporters in Colorado Springs Sunday night to avoid budget cuts to the armed forces that are scheduled to kick in at the end of the year. Ryan voted for those cuts last year but now complains that President Obama won’t let Republicans substitute other spending cuts for the defense ones.
Ryan said he and Mitt Romney want what he called “peace through strength.” He said that the cuts are emboldening the country’s adversaries.
Ryan will make three more Colorado appearances Monday. He meets running mate Mitt Romney for a rally Tuesday. President Obama is scheduled to appear in Denver on Wednesday, a reminder of Colorado’s big role in the deadlocked presidential race.
I am sure if Congressman Ryan would propose a Bill extending the Bush Tax Cuts for the middle class without including that extension for the top tax brackets, Obama could rally some support and a compromise, including a reduction in the stop-gap military cuts. could be reached.
Ryan only wants his side of the proposal to be addressed without being willing to consider opinions from the other side.
He acts like a little boy wants to share other’s toys, but not his own, and then cries that all the other kids are being mean to him.
Ryan says. . .”you honor us and we will honor you.” Ryan and Romney didn’t even
mention or thank the military at the Republican National Convention. It was as if
the brave men and women in the military didn’t exist.
Ryan voted FOR the military cuts, but is now AGAINST them. Sounds as if
Ryan has the same illness as Romney, but for Ryan it is Ryanesia.
Voting for that was to put pressure on Democrats to cooperate in finding way to balance budget. But they would rather go into crisis mode, rather than cooperate. reader and gouko need to learn how Washington politics is played. To consider other side of that issue, Navy released 3,000 sea qualified by September, with notice of 6 months. Not retired. released through discharge, shortening their contracts. Now paying bonus to others to serve on ships, since ships are not fully manned at any time. Take crew members off other ships, so a ship can proceeed to mission. Obama appointed Ambassador Stevens, then left him in Lybia without proper security, with a civil war and no solid government control. No one could see the television reports and not know that was a planned attack, using mortars, RPG, AK47s. Benghazi consulate is located among trees, with large, vacant areas, and large storage -manufacturing buildings. Not residential so no demonstration by rock throwers or flag burners. Month and half later this president and vice president still do not recognize it as ATTACK ON CONSULATE, U.S. FACILITY. Attackers :figuratively dragging the president out, torturing him, and killing him. Do you not get that? A real president would have sent marines immediately to recover staff, and would not have let them be in that position in first place. Then work with the government to sort out the details. —————- Don’t know when or how long either of you served, but I would prefer a commander who can make a decision in less than a month and half. Especially if I am in war zone.
Romney and Ryan deal in facts and reality. Thank goodness we’re about to elect them as our next President and VP. Our country has weakened in so many aspects during the past four years (economically and from a leadership perspective). Obama has done nothing but memorize talking points. It’s clear he’s not well versed in how things actually work. Tough job being President and I believe we need somebody with a record of executive leadership problem solving skills, which Romney has. Yes, somebody will come back to this and say Obama has those skills – but he doesn’t..The past four years are evidence enough of that.