Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) made a quick trip to Iowa after being named as Mitt Romney’s running mate on Saturday. He took part in something that has become a tradition at the Iowa State Fair – The Des Moines Register’s Soapbox.
He was greeted by approximately 2000 (conservative guess) fair goers and a number of obnoxious hecklers, one of whom was escorted away from the area by the Iowa State Patrol as she tried to climb on the stage. Several hecklers chanted “stop the war on the middle class,” “stop the war on the poor” and “stop the war on the common good” throughout Congressman Paul’s 12 minute speech. Congressman Ryan’s response to the hecklers was to respond saying, “Iowans and Wisconsinites like to be respectful of one another, and peaceful with one another and listen to one another. These ladies must not be from Iowa.”
Ryan highlighted many of the same taking points that Mitt Romney gave when he was in Iowa last week – their five point plan to help add 12 million jobs to our economy – energy development (renewables and non-renewables), developing skills and improving education, spending cuts, free and fair trade, and reenergizing small businesses. He attacked President Obama’s executive order waiving the work requirement for welfare. And echoed the new campaign mantra that he and Romney want to help develop “more jobs and more take home pay” for Americans.
Ryan closed saying, “What’s unique about America is that we recognize the point, the fact, the essential principle that our founders established and our veterans fought for – our rights – they come from nature and God, not from government… And if we apply those founding principles we’ll get our country back on track.”
After the speech the overwhelming thing I heard from people who attended – even a couple of Democrats I spoke with was disgust with the lack of civility shown by those who came to protest. Numerous people complained about not being able to hear Congressman Ryan. Shouting down people with whom you disagree is not reflective of Iowa values.