Rand Paul’s deadenderism on Obamacare: “The whole damn thing is still unconstitutional!”
So just we’re clear: Paul Ryan’s main signature policy is to change Medicare from a defined benefit to a defined contribution health care plan. Or to put it more simply, to turn it into a voucher program. Let’s see how much attention that fact gets tonight — either in his speech or in the press reaction.
Late Update: 9:09 PM — CNN reporter says Paul Ryan is interested in ‘reforming’ Medicare.
Guy proposes to gal on stage at the GOP convention — and other images from today in Tampa.
It took a couple weeks of false welfare ads, and a full day at the GOP convention premised on the idea that President Obama believes successful companies are doled out to lucky business owners like heavenly manna. But for all intents and purposes the political press has placed the Romney campaign at a crossroads.
Either it can proceed with these two lines of attack — which, let’s face it, are now the tentpoles holding up his entire campaign — or it can capitulate; not necessarily confess to having done anything out of bounds, but just drop the lines in order to avoid more and more stories about how mendacious they are.
As of yesterday, the campaign seemed pretty content to carry on as it has been. Maybe that’ll change — but whatever Boston decides to do will, I think, have genuinely significant consequences. Read More
Author of South Carolina’s voter ID law apologizes for writing “amen” in reply to email comparing blacks to “bees going after a watermelon.”
TAMPA, Fla. — Is Ann Romney a “modern feminist” or a traditional, doting housewife? Even her own daughters-in-law couldn’t decide as they introduced her at a “Women for Mitt” event here Wednesday morning, painting her as both a new-school crusader for women, and an old-school instructor of household upkeep and pie-baking.
Their conflicting accounts reflect a broader struggle within the party to define the would-be first lady — they want to make Ann Romney all things to all women, whether that means she’s an ambassador to working women with whom she has little in common, or the “conservative ideal of a woman whose strength lies in running her home.” Read More
No question. The Romney campaign has doubled down. All in on the race/lazy/dependency groove from here on out. No going back.
In private they’re all but bragging about it — specifically their run of welfare-centric commercials which they’re running at a red hot clip in swing states all across the country. It’s working, they say. The fact-checkers can go screw themselves.
More on the main event shortly.
Ron Fournier follows up on calling out the Romney campaigns appeal to race hatred in a new article at National Journal.
Anyone else want to step up?