A Patch poll of Georgia Democrats found that most respondents think Mitt Romney’s decision to tap Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate could make it easier for Democrats to paint the GOP ticket as out of touch with the middle class.
“Romney is now absolutely married to the tax breaks for the rich, tax increases for the middle class, gut the programs for everybody but the 1%,” one respondent said.
Most of those who took part in the nonscientific flash poll agreed that Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, will ‘galvanize’ Democrats in the Peach State. Twenty Democratic elected officials, candidates and activists completed the nonscientific survey over the weekend.
Several respondents said they didn’t think the Ryan selection would make a big different in Georgia, which has been a safe Republican state in the past several presidential races, though it could help Democrats in other key states.
“They [the Romney-Ryan ticket] will have to defend public policy that is antithetical to the needs of middle and working class Americans,” said one respondent.
Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that the Ryan pick would give Democrats a chance to win the presidential race by running against the Congressman’s budget plans, which would reduce spending on Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Sixty percent strongly agreed and 30 percent somewhat agreed with the statement, "Now that Ryan is on the ticket, Georgia Democrats can win by running against Ryan's existing budget plans and particularly his proposal for Medicare."
Still, Democratic respondents were less strong in their opinion on whether the Ryan pick would help Democrats win the support of senior citizens in Georgia. Forty percent agreed with that statement and 15 percent somewhat agreed.
When asked if they felt the Ryan nomination would “galvanize” Georgia Democrats, 35 said they strongly agreed and 40 percent said they somewhat agreed.
A similar flash poll of influential Georgia Republicans found enthusiasm for the Romney-Ryan team.
Here are some excerpts from the Democratic respondents:
- “He’s not from the South – can’t imagine he’s going to win over undecideds in Georgia.”
- “Senior citizens will be pushed toward President Obama because of Ryan's Medicare voucher plan.”
- “The CEO has hired a brilliant and youthful CFO.”
Related headlines from Patch sites across the country:
Would you like to take part in future polls? If you are an elected official, candidate or party activist _ Republican or Democrat _ and you'd like to take part in our surveys, please email Regional Editor Anna Varela.
Your boy is being bought by his corporate masters .Thanks to the bad decision on the Citizens United case by the supreme court, you have lost your democracy to multi- national corporations.Paul Ryan is what he is a radical right winger and like Newt not very smart.
I will at least go down fighting.
When I met Michele at a fund raiser ...her shoes didn't seem that fancy.
As the owner of three corporations ,thanks to the "Citizens United" decision I can give unlimited amounts of corporate money to pacs.Let me assure you that before this election is over ...I will.
Just wait until we get closer to November...you haven't seen nothing yet!
Well said! I would add that medical care is just not like buying a TV or car.Gee Doc, I need to get three quotes on that gall blatter operation before I can proceed. Also, think about all those elderly people with with some diminished mental capacity making buying decisions on a complicated medical insurance plan. These are real life practical realities that people like Paul Ryan at age 42 don't understand.
There are many ways to fix Medicare that will not take away the safety net for seniors and other vulnerable people. But any plan MUST address the escalating cost of health care and the Ryan plan does not do that at all. He leaves it up to the "free market" (which = for-profit corporations). We all saw in 2008 how well they've been looking out for us!
Is that what Social Security is? A government subsidy? I've been paying into Social Security for nearly 40 years. I'd like to think that it's my money if I ever see it, not a government subsidy.
There are people who don't believe that the general revenue fund should have to pay back these bonds, that we should effectively default on them. But even under these conditions Social Security wouldn't be bankrupt, they would slowly reduce benefits as they exceeded receipts from the payroll tax. But this would require further legislation to default on the bonds and anyone who voted to default would have to answer to the voters for reducing Social Security benefits.
Overall funding for Medicare under the Ryan-Wyden plan is scheduled to grow at the same rate as under President Obama’s proposals. Is this “gutting Medicare” and “ending Medicare as we know it”? In reality, it’s the market giving seniors cheaper, higher quality choices they can take if they wish, with the traditional program remaining an option.
Only Global warming is as big of a problem facing the country as the run away costs of medical care. Neither is made any easier by the fact that one of our major parties representing nearly half of the country refuse to face either problem, preferring to ignore both.
And while both proposals a project similar funding rate, unlike the Obama's plan, the Ryan plan has proposed zero cost controls. The money saved from capping Medicare funding and strict cost control in Obama's plan will be returned to Medicare to continue to fund the program. The money saved from capping Medicare funding in the Ryan plan will be used to fund tax cuts (and not for the middle class!) Seniors will be the ones who bear the burden of greater out-of-pocket costs.
I don't see the point of an article with as little to discuss as a "nonscientific flash pole of Georgia Democrats". To be fair, I would not see the point of an article discussing a nonscientific flash poll of Georgia Republicans either. Jesus Christ, get a life.
Who's side are you on? I am sure I am missing something here. Please explain.
My companies could be better described as small businesses.I'm referring to large multi national corporations that have no loyalty to any country.They contribute millions not hundreds.
A perfrct example of what I'm talking is the billionaire casino mogul,Sheldon Adelman, who gave over 10 million to the Gingrich campaign.Adelman met with Republican operatives in Israel doing the Romney visit. He has promised the Romney campaign millions.What are Adelman's motives? War with Iran,support of Israel's policies,or moving money from his Chinese casinos at a tax advantage to the United States.All of the above?
Thanks, Brian. I saw that you ventured into the Republican Flash Poll thread and all I can say is....you're a better person than I am! :-)
payments and your survving spouse(paul Ryan's mother) also draws SS benefit until she dies