"This is No Ordinary Election." Romney Chooses Paul Ryan for V.P.

by Hillary Pennington

Romney announced his V.P. selection this morning.  Congressman Paul Ryan will be joining Governor Romney on the Republican ticket in November.  May the speculation begin.

Facebook and Twitter were a flitter this morning after the announcement.  Many, I believe were pleasantly surprised, seeing Ryan as an anti-establishment pick.  Are the powers that be finally realizing that the base of the Republican party wants a new voice? 

Paul Ryan, a congressman from Wisconsin, was first elected in 1999.  Over the last couple of years, he’s become a force to be reckoned with and a thorn in Obama’s side. 

In his speech this morning, Ryan said, “No one disputes President Obama inherited a difficult situation -- and, in his first two years, with his party in complete control of Washington, he passed nearly every item on his agenda,” Ryan said. “But that didn’t make things better. In fact, we find ourselves in a nation facing debt, doubt and despair.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  Personally, I’m glad Romney chose Ryan.  His youth and vigor bring a whole other face to the campaign that will invigorate the base and, I believe, attract new voters to the Republican ticket. 

In recent months, Obama came under fire for a ridiculous and quite stupid declaration that small business owner’s weren’t responsible for their own success, a statement that I personally take issue with.  In 2010, Betsy and I started Strategic Victory Consulting.  Starting a small business in Maryland is no easy feat.  The costly, complicated web of regulations and tax codes could leave anyone confused.  But we did it, on our own, and today, we’re quickly becoming one of the most widely known political fundraising firms in the state of Maryland.  Believe me, the government did nothing to help.  In fact, I’m pretty sure they wish we’d go away.

This morning, Ryan said in his speech, “If you own a small business, you did build that.”  This is the type of leadership we need in America, people that understand that this country is built on the sweat of the brow and not the ill-managed charity of a dysfunctional government.

We’ll be talking about the V.P. pick with congressional candidate, Ken Timmerman on PEP Talk Radio Tuesday night at 8 pm.  Join over 800 listeners from around the state for the discussion and call in to comment if you’d like.  The call in number is (213) 943-3619.