Ryan criticizes Obama over failure in policies

TAMPA, Florida - Agence France-Presse

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (2nd R) stands on the stage with his family after speaking to the delegation at the Republican National Convention. ABACAPRESS photo

Paul Ryan has energized Mitt Romney’s White House bid with a scathing take-down of Barack Obama’s economic record as he accepted the vice presidential nomination at the Republican convention.

Adding youthful vim and policy vigor to the Romney ticket, the 42-year-old rising star from small-town Wisconsin received a standing ovation for his impassioned pitch to American voters 10 weeks from election day. “I accept the duty to help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity. And I know we can do this,” Ryan said, exhibiting little sign of nerves during his 35-minute speech, by far the biggest of his political life.

Ryan accused Obama of saddling the U.S. economy with four years of failed big government policies and held up Romney, a 65-year-old former Massachusetts governor, as the man to turn things around with his business acumen. “After four years of getting the run-around, America needs a turnaround, and the man for the job is Romney,” he said.

Foreign affairs salvos

Ryan took his chance in the convention spotlight to assail the president’s record, saying Obama’s promises of hope and change had fallen flat after four years of fiscal recklessness, ballooning debt and joblessness. “It all started off with stirring speeches, Greek columns, the thrill of something new,” he said. “Now all that’s left is a presidency adrift, surviving on slogans that already seem tired, grasping at a moment that has already passed.” Romney lies neck-and-neck with Obama in national polls ahead of a Nov. 6 election that should be the challenger’s for the taking, given the sour economy and stubbornly high unemployment.

Romney’s vice presidential pick was seen as crucial four years after John McCain electrified conservatives by choosing inexperienced Alaska governor Sarah Palin, only to see her wither in the national spotlight.

Speeches earlier on Aug. 29 by Senator John McCain and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice focused on foreign policy, which has taken a back seat to the economy in the campaign, saying Romney would restore U.S. leadership in the world and accusing Obama of letting down Israel and other allies.
Rice implicitly criticized Obama’s leadership in foreign affairs: “We cannot be reluctant to lead and you cannot lead from behind.” She said Romney and Ryan “will provide an answer to the question, ’Where does America stand?’”