Is Romney Trying To Flip Flop On The Ryan Budget?

[ProSense]

Is Romney Trying To Flip Flop On The Ryan Budget?

by ukit

Is Romney trying to pull the ultimate flip flop?

Politico had a strange piece of reporting in an article today about Paul Ryan's VP chances:

A senior Romney adviser told the traveling press corp late last week that Romney still does not agree with the Medicare cuts in the Ryan budget, a fact that would be explored at length if the Wisconsin congressman were to be on the ticket. He would end up discussing that budget plan rather frequently, a fight Democrats would be eager for.

- more -

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/05/1117115/-Is-Romney-Trying-To-Flip-Flop-On-The-Ryan-Budget

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan campaign on the freedom of living without Medicare

by Joan McCarter

VP talk is flying after Mitt Romney's campaign appearance with Republican wunderkind and austerity poster boy Rep. Paul Ryan in Wisconsin today.

Starting the fourth day of his heartland bus tour, Romney carried his economic message here to Janesville, the hometown of Rep. Paul Ryan, where he was introduced by the trifecta of Badger State Republican stars – Walker, Ryan and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. [...]

Ryan, who chairs the House Budget Committee, called Romney a leader with “bedrock of principles” and a “moral compass” as he tried to bestow upon Romney the fiscal credibility he enjoys among conservatives.

“In this coming election, we’re going to make a choice,” Ryan said. “What kind of country do we want to have? What kind of people do we want to be? We want to be free. That’s right.”

Yes, we want to be free from Medicare, and that's what Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will deliver to us, if Romney's elected. That'll be true either with Ryan on the ticket with him, or continuing as the House budget leader. Ryan's and Romney's moral compass points to as much suffering for as many of the undeserving as they can ladle out, starting with ending Medicare.

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/18/1101078/-Mitt-Romney-and-Paul-Ryan-campaign-on-the-freedom-of-ending-Medicare

Romney backs Ryan plan, to Dems' delight

By Steve Benen

<...>

Eventually, after avoiding the subject for nearly a year, the former governor broke down and said out loud, "We're going to have to make changes like the ones Paul Ryan proposed."

That was in December. What, pray tell, does Romney think about Ryan's new-and-not-improved budget plan? Here's what the former governor said a campaign event yesterday:

"I'm very supportive of the Ryan budget plan. It's a bold and exciting effort on his part and on the part of the Republicans and it's very much consistent with what I put out earlier.... I applaud it. It's an excellent piece of work and very much needed."

There's not a lot of wiggle room here. "I'm very supportive of the Ryan budget plan" is not an ambiguous statement of support, no matter what Romney chooses to do with his Etch A Sketch.

This is no small development. On the contrary, it's arguably one of the most important policy developments of the year -- Romney is "very supportive" of a budget plan that ends Medicare's guaranteed benefit, takes health care coverage from millions, radically redistributes wealth in the wrong direction, slashes taxes on the very wealthy, and would "take food from poor children, make it harder for low-income students to get a college degree, and squeeze funding for research, education, and infrastructure."

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http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/21/10795679-romney-backs-ryan-plan-to-dems-delight

Romney On Passage Of Ryan Budget: 'We Are Making Progress'

Mitt Romney issued the following statement on Paul Ryan's budget plan passing the House of Representatives Thursday:

We are making progress. The House of Representatives has unanimously rejected President Obama’s vision of an America with higher taxes, unlimited spending, and expansive government. Owing in no small part to the leadership of Paul Ryan, it has put conservative fiscal principles into action and passed a bold budget that directly addresses the drivers of our nation’s spending crisis. The House budget and my own plan share the same path forward: pro-growth tax cuts, getting federal spending under control, and strengthening entitlement programs for future generations. I look forward to working with Congress to achieve fiscal discipline and passing a budget that moves us toward a simpler, smarter, and smaller federal government.

TPM has the full story here.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/romney-on-passage-of-ryan-budget-we-are

[Bucky]

1. What, Romney do a flip-flop? Not until it's politically expedient, young padawan.

[flamingdem]

2. He has to distance himself

but it might be too late!

[ProSense]

3. Mitt likely

isn't trying to distance himself as much as he's trying to confuse people.

He's down with the Ryan plan, but he is hoping that a few reports to the contrary will benefit him among those who think the plan is despicable.

[flamingdem]

4. That sounds like the strategy he's using with his VP pick

He wants to get credit for considering a black woman, etc. even when he knows where he's going - Portman or Pawlenty. All he's got going for him is a cloud of dust for cover but it's settling fast.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Maybe Romney only wants to cut Medicare, not slash it? nt