The Illusion of Paul Ryan's Bipartisanship
Mitt Romney’s VP pick makes a point of seeking out Democratic partners, then goes his own way
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From the moment Mitt Romney announced Paul Ryan as his running mate, the campaign has held up the Wisconsin congressman as a leader who excels at bipartisanship. Romney and his surrogates have repeatedly said Ryan “reached across the aisle” to fashion his Medicare reform plan devised with liberal Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, “a well-established Democrat,” in the words of Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah).
The bipartisanship argument is one voters have heard for years. The Romney campaign seems to be betting it’ll have particular appeal in an election year when congressional approval ratings are at record lows. There’s only one problem: The assertions don’t track with the lawmaker’s 13-year congressional career.