United Liberty

Since announcing Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney has seen a surge of support from many of the same people who have been skeptical of his campaign. Some are still many who are not happy with the selection, perhaps best explained by Corie Whalen this morning. But writing at Newsmax, Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, is encouraging grassroots activists to get behind the Republican ticket:

Romney made a good choice — a great choice in fact. It was a real indication to grassroots America that the Romney camp is willing to finally engage on the big issues that matter most in this election. It’s not quite enough to say that Obama has failed, we know that. Incumbent presidents should not win reelection with persistent unemployment over 8 percent and a staggering $16 trillion in debt. Clearly Obama needs to be fired. But what are you, the Republicans, actually for?

Paul Ryan understands that progressivism is a fundamental threat to the American system based on bottom-up individual freedom and opportunity. He understands that economic growth comes from start-up entrepreneurs who struggle for success — who did, in fact, “build that.”

He understands the threat of the entitlement state, how it will bankrupt the country and lock future generations into a system that taxes more and more, but returns less and less. He understands economic opportunity and the need for a tax system that is low, flat, fair and honest.

He even understands sound money, and how the Federal Reserve is destroying our currency, and the economic consequences of its destruction.

Paul Ryan is one of us.

That’s going to be a hard sell to many who are unimpressed by some of Ryan’s votes, including the TARP, the auto bailout, No Child Left Behind, and Medicare Part D; all of which have contributed budget problems and/or fundamentally expanded government. There is no denying that Ryan has his short-comings, but Kibbe explains that the “ascendency of someone like Paul Ryan clearly represents one of the great measures of our success as a grassroots movement to restore liberty and responsible governance in America.” Kibbe also explains that Ryan will be tortured for this by President Obama’s campaign and Democrats:

For all of these reasons, and the vast documentation of his beliefs, from speeches to the Ryan budget plan, expect him to be demonized for his ideas.

For progressives, Paul Ryan is their worst nightmare: A policy wonk who understands what they are all about, who has solutions, and who has an easy style and ability to communicate. For that very reason, they will try to destroy him. Think about the attacks on Sarah Palin — on steroids.

If you and I don’t show up and defend Paul Ryan, expect our best ideas to lose in the political marketplace.

The choice of Ryan is an acknowledgement by Romney that something needed to change in the campaign, and a clear attempt to add some policy heft to the GOP ticket. It will force both candidates — Romney and Obama — to have a more serious debate about the right path to economic recovery.

Ryan being on the Republican ticket does give those of us concerned about fiscal issues some hope. He doesn’t just understand policy in a way few in Washington seem to grasp, but he is able to communicate his thoughts in very simple, very direct terms. However, Ryan hasn’t always matched the rhetoric with his votes. There is no denying that he talks a good game, but, as is often the case with Republicans, consistency is lacking.