NBC on Paul Ryan: 'Architect of a Politically Polarizing Budget Plan to Slash Trillions'
Hoping to define vice presidential pick Paul Ryan early with liberal
talking points, on Monday's NBC Today, correspondent Peter Alexander
painted the Wisconsin congressman as "the architect of a politically polarizing budget plan to slash trillions in federal funding, including cuts to Medicare..." [Listen to the audio]
Alexander began his report by offering this description of Ryan: "To
Republicans, Ryan is viewed as a conservative, a courageous and
visionary conservative. To Democrats, his views are seen as extreme." At
the top of the show, co-host Matt Lauer only saw problems for
Republicans and advantages for Democrats with the Ryan pick: "Will Ryan's budget plan hurt the ticket? And how is President Obama using the choice to his own advantage?"
Wrapping up his report, Alexander declared: "Already, Matt, Democrats
are pouncing on this pick, saying that Paul Ryan's plans threaten the
future of Medicare, while the Republicans are saying the Republican plan
is the only way to save Medicare."
Here is a full transcript of Alexander's August 13 report:
7:00AM ET TEASE:
MATT
LAUER: Divide and conquer. Mitt Romney and his newly-tagged running
mate Paul Ryan head to different parts of the country today. Was
Romney's decision a game changer? Will Ryan's budget plan hurt the
ticket? And how is President Obama using the choice to his own
advantage? We'll talk to senior advisers from both sides.
7:02AM ET SEGMENT:
LAUER: Obviously the big news over the weekend was on the political
front. Mitt Romney choosing his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan of
Wisconsin. How will that impact the campaign? Let's get right to it.
Peter Alexander is with the Romney campaign in St. Augustine. Peter,
good morning to you.
PETER ALEXANDER: Matt, good morning to you and welcome back to New York
City. Here in Florida, Mitt Romney will be arriving shortly, but he
made big headlines over the course of this weekend with his vice
presidential pick, Paul Ryan. To Republicans, Ryan is viewed as a
conservative, a courageous and visionary conservative. To Democrats, his
views are seen as extreme. Ryan today will be competing with President
Obama. They host dueling rallies in Iowa. Romney is here in Florida,
where this new pick could really help set the terms of the debate going
forward. For the new vice presidential pick Paul Ryan, back in Wisconsin
alongside Mitt Romney, it was a heroic and emotional homecoming Sunday
night.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Running With Ryan; Stage Set for November With Romney's VP Pick]
PAUL RYAN: Thank you, Wisconsin. It is good to be home.
ALEXANDER: Relishing his new role as Romney's chief advocate, Ryan
blasted the President's record on the economy and promised an inspiring
alternative.
RYAN: The worst economic recovery in 70 years, the largest deficits and
the biggest government since World War II. Nearly one in six Americans
are in poverty today. It's the highest rate in a generation. You know
what? We're not going to take that!
ALEXANDER: Less than 100 miles away in Chicago, President Obama weighed
in on Romney's running mate for the first time, criticizing Ryan's
policies but praising the man.
BARACK OBAMA: I want to congratulate [booing] – no, no, no, no. Look, I
want to congratulate Congressman Ryan. I know him. I welcome him to the
race. Congressman Ryan is a decent man. He is a family man. He's an
articulate spokesman for Governor Romney's vision, but it's a vision
that I fundamentally disagree with.
ALEXANDER:
The selection of Ryan, the architect of a politically polarizing budget
plan to slash trillions in federal funding, including cuts to Medicare,
has set a clear contrast between the two tickets. On 60 Minutes Sunday
night, Romney insisted his policies will govern the administration.
MITT ROMNEY: Obviously I have to make the final call on important
decisions. But this is a man who's dedicated the last 14 years working
in Washington in ways that are not highly partisan or political but
instead are focused on what he thinks the right course is for America.
ALEXANDER: After their Wisconsin rally, the two candidates ended their
whirlwind weekend by literally heading in opposite directions, Romney
flying here to Florida, Ryan to Iowa. Earlier, the two had joked about
how their busy campaign schedules could keep them apart for quite
sometime.
ROMNEY: Will we ever get a chance to campaign together? Or is that like, we've now experienced-
RYAN: Will that ever happen again?
ROMNEY: Yeah, never see him until inauguration.
ALEXANDER: They definitely have a good personal chemistry together, as
we've witnessed over the last two days, but Ryan and Romney will likely
not be together again until a couple weeks from now, at the Republican
national convention. But here in Florida, where there are a lot of
seniors, one of the key issues going forward is going to be the issue of
the future of Medicare. Already, Matt, Democrats are pouncing on this
pick, saying that Paul Ryan's plans threaten the future of Medicare,
while the Republicans are saying the Republican plan is the only way to
save Medicare.
LAUER: Alright. Peter Alexander in St. Augustine, Florida this morning. Peter, as always, thank you very much.
