There is your sound bite takeaway from Rob Zerban's press conference this afternoon. Who is Rob Zerban? Why, he's the Democratic candidate for Paul Ryan's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (WI-01)
Mr Zerban was not wearing the kid gloves. He contrasted his entrepreneurial experience, the creation of two successful business and 45 well-paying jobs with benefits, with Paul Ryan's adult life spent earning taxpayer money form government paychecks. He pointed out how Paul Ryan used Social Security funds to help pay for his college. He pointed out how every GOP proposal is simply a re-run of the failed Bush policies which created our economic woes.
Perhaps his most hurtful blow landed when he coined the phrase "The Romney/Ryan Road to Ruin". As soundbites go, this is a good one. It's catchy, but most importantly it cuts to the meat of the matter. If this one goes viral, I won't be sorry.
Also present were many Wisconsin state-level Democrats from the area. Peter Barca, Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader and hero to many an American progressive, spoke at length as well. So too did WI State Senator John Lehman, and another gentleman whose name I failed to file in the old memory banks. (Inoperative word: old.) Every WI official spoke with confidence that the Paul Ryan pick will prove to be a net drag on Mitt Romney this November in Wisconsin.
TV cameras were there from two Milwaukee outlets. I saw only one logo, for Channel 12 WISN. I expect they will post a video sometime after their 5:00 local news airs. Milwaukee Kossacks might be able to catch it live.
Sorry I do not have more to report. My job today was to applaud and show support not to take notes. Bottom line: Rob Zerban is tanned, rested, and ready. He is a much more confident speaker than when his run began over a year ago. He has his priorities in order and he has a real chance to be the next Representative from WI-01. With the Ryan pick, Rob Zerban will benefit from the bleedover effect from the huge Obama/Biden warchest.
The Romney/Ryan Road to Ruin. That one is a road Paul Ryan built himself, without our help. If you think so, make him own it. Drop a few coins in Mr Zerban's ActBlue bucket.
No letup; no breathers; no mercy. The Reaganomics stops here.