Ryan's Address: 'Our Rights Come from Nature and God, Not Government'

The Weekly Standard ^ | 8/11/2012 | Paul Ryan

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Thank you Governor Romney, Ann. I am deeply honored and excited to join you as your running mate.

Mitt Romney is a leader with the skills, the background and the character that our country needs at a crucial time in its history. Following four years of failed leadership, the hopes of our country, which have inspired the world, are growing dim; and they need someone to revive them. Governor Romney is the man for this moment; and he and I share one commitment: we will restore the dreams and greatness of this country.

I want you to meet my family. My wife Janna, our daughter Liza, and our sons, Charlie and Sam.

I am surrounded by the people I love, and I have been asked by Governor Romney to serve the country I love.

Janesville, Wisconsin is where I was born and raised, and I never really left it. It’s our home now.

For the last 14 years, I have proudly represented Wisconsin in Congress. There, I have focused on solving the problems that confront our country, and turning ideas into action; and action into solutions.

I am committed, in heart and mind, to putting that experience to work in a Romney Administration. This is a crucial moment in the life of our nation; and it is absolutely vital that we select the right man to lead America back to prosperity and greatness.

That man is standing next to me. His name is Mitt Romney. And he will be the next president of the United States

My dad died when I was young. He was a good and decent man. I still remember a couple of things he would say that have really stuck with me. "Son you are either part of the problem or part of the solution."

Regrettably, President Obama has become part of the problem,...and Mitt Romney is the solution.

The other thing my dad would say is that every generation of Americans leaves their children better off. That's the American legacy.

Sadly, for the first time in our history, we are on a path which will undo that legacy. That is why we need new leadership to become part of the solution – new leadership to restore prosperity, economic growth, and jobs.

It is our duty to save the American Dream for our children, and theirs.

And I believe there is no person in America who is better prepared – because of his experience; because of the principles he holds; and because of his achievements and excellence in so many different arenas – to lead America at this point in its history.

Let me say a word about the man Mitt Romney will replace. No one disputes President Obama inherited a difficult situation. And, in his first 2 years, with his party in complete control of Washington, he passed nearly every item on his agenda. But that didn’t make things better.

In fact, we find ourselves in a nation facing debt, doubt and despair.

• This is the worst economic recovery in 70 years. Unemployment has been above 8 percent for more than three years, the longest run since the Great Depression. Families are hurting.
• We have the largest deficits and the biggest federal government since WWII.
• Nearly 1 out of 6 Americans are in poverty--the worst rate in a generation. Moms and dads are struggling to make ends meet.

• Household incomes have dropped by more than $4,000 over the past four years.

Whatever the explanations, whatever the excuses, this is a record of failure.

President Obama, and too many like him in Washington, have refused to make difficult decisions because they are more worried about their next election than they are about the next generation. We might have been able to get away with that before, but not now. We’re in a different, and dangerous, moment. We're running out of time -- and we can't afford 4 more years of this.

Politicians from both parties have made empty promises which will soon become broken promises--with painful consequences--if we fail to act now.

I represent a part of America that includes inner cities, rural areas, suburbs and factory towns. Over the years I have seen and heard from a lot from families, from those running small businesses, and from people who are in need. But what I have heard lately troubles me the most. There is something different in their voice and in their words. What I hear from them are diminished dreams, lowered expectations, uncertain futures.

I hear some people say that this is just "the new normal." High unemployment, declining incomes and crushing debt is not a new normal. It's the result of misguided policies. And next January, our economy will begin a comeback with the Romney Plan for a Stronger Middle Class that will lead to more jobs and more take home pay for working Americans.

America is on the wrong track; but Mitt Romney and I will take the right steps, in the right time, to get us back on the right track!

I believe my record of getting things done in Congress will be a very helpful complement to Governor Romney’s executive and private sector success outside Washington. I have worked closely with Republicans as well as Democrats to advance an agenda of economic growth, fiscal discipline, and job creation.

I’m proud to stand with a man who understands what it takes to foster job creation in our economy, someone who knows from experience, that if you have a small business—you did build that.

At Bain Capital, he launched new businesses and he turned around failing ones – companies like Staples, Bright Horizons and Sports Authority, just to name a few. Mitt Romney created jobs and showed he knows how a free economy works.

At the Olympics, he took a failing enterprise and made it the pride of our entire nation.

As governor of Massachusetts, he worked with Democrats and Republicans to balance budgets with no tax increases, lower unemployment, increase income and improve people’s lives.

In all of these things, Mitt Romney has shown himself to be a man of achievement, excellence and integrity.

Janna and I tell Liza, Charlie and Sam that America is a place where, if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead.

We Americans look at one another's success with pride, not resentment, because we know, as more Americans work hard, take risks, and succeed, more people will prosper, our communities will benefit, and individual lives will be improved and uplifted.

But America is more than just a place...it's an idea. It's the only country founded on an idea. Our rights come from nature and God, not government. We promise equal opportunity, not equal outcomes.

This idea is founded on the principles of liberty, freedom, free enterprise, self-determination and government by consent of the governed.

This idea is under assault. So, we have a critical decision to make as a nation.

We are on an unsustainable path that is robbing America of our freedom and security. It doesn't have to be this way.

The commitment Mitt Romney and I make to you is this:

We won't duck the tough issues...we will lead!

We won't blame others...we will take responsibility!

We won't replace our founding principles...we will reapply them!

We will honor you, our fellow citizens, by giving you the right and opportunity to make the choice:

1. What kind of country do we want to have?

2. What kind of people do we want to be? We can turn this thing around. Real solutions can be delivered. But, it will take leadership. And the courage to tell you the truth.

   Mitt Romney is this kind of leader. I'm excited for what lies ahead and I'm thrilled to be a part of America's Comeback Team. And together, we will unite America and get this done.

   Thank you.

[GBA]

For his first major decision, Romney has done well.

Paul Ryan gets it and can explain it, two aspects notably absent from GOPe and other progressive politicians.

Being used to disappointment, this is the most hope I've allowed myself in months. I'd like to build on that and, finally, I have a reason to.

[itssme]

Do a little research on Paul Ryan....he's solid, articulate, scandal free and a decent man....and damned talented and high energy..with a solid budget plan of action, and he doesn't take no crap from anyone...I recall when Ryan got his opportunity to set oboma straight on this country's finances...does anyone remember exactly when this happened, where oboma tried to shoot Ryan down on Ryan's facts and figures, and Ryan shot right back at oboma with MORE facts and figures, as oboma sat with his hand under his chin and his eyes all slitty and dark? I don't recall if oboma had his FU finger up against his cheek or not, as he stared at and gave the fish eye to Ryan. Priceless and classless.

[MinuteGal]

I let out an exclamation when I heard him say our rights come from nature AND God. He didn't say "nature (God)" or "God (nature)"

I, too, wonder what he means by "nature". To some it means "Gaia" and all that pagan dancing-around-trees-by-moonlight nonsense.

Don't get me wrong...and I'm not a nitpicker. I'm ecstatic over Romney's choice. But "nature" didn't give me any rights, not even the Founders or the Constitution. They flowed to me from the God of the Holy Bible only....and were put into words on parchment by inspired geniuses.

Well, anyhow, I'm celebrating the Veep pick today...and will exercise my God-given right to treat myself to a Dove chocolate ice-cream bar with dark chocolate coating.

Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm......you're toast, Obama......mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm

Leni

[rurgan]

Ryan is awesome:

“But America is more than just a place...it's an idea. It's the only country founded on an idea. Our rights come from nature and God, not government. We promise equal opportunity, not equal outcomes.

This idea is founded on the principles of liberty, freedom, free enterprise, self-determination and government by consent of the governed.

This idea is under assault. So, we have a critical decision to make as a nation.

We are on an unsustainable path that is robbing America of our freedom and security. It doesn't have to be this way

[prov1813man]

Part of the founding documents “ natures law and natures God”

[itssme]

“Whether or not Ryan even MEANS it, he is going to be one VP in a sea of RINO Bipartisans.”

Number one, Ryan is SOLID, scandal free and he has a budget plan of action that Romney states he will support. Ryan's been in Congress for 14 years, he's seasoned and he knows the score...Rino Bipartisans?..it's no news to Ryan. He's a fighter..ask any RINO!

[GBA]

No flames from me. I can only speak to my experience and my experiences with Mormons have all been positive.

I have no experience with their church or their faith, despite being given a stack of Mormon Bibles over the years, so I don't have a comment.

However, working with and for, living next door to and across the street from and being friends with individuals living that faith, I have had nothing but good experiences with high quality, very trustworthy individuals.

Mitt Romney could be like the Mormons I've known or he could be another Harry Reid. I'm crossing my fingers he is the like former and nothing like the latter.

We'll find out in January.

[jeffc]

Do a little research on Paul Ryan.

I'm familiar with who he is, but not up-to-speed on where he stands on important issues (my fault). I've been reading up on him all morning, and watched the video where he schooled Zero on ObammyCare (way cool!!).

I like what he says, the way he says it (like Reagan, he means what he says!) - is it me or where has this guy been "hiding"? I can't blame the "news" media, as I only read them like people read the Sunday funnies. Obviously, I'm not keeping up!

I think Romney made a great pick. Ryan's gonna seriously kick some Demo butt! Man! I hope we can win back the Senate.

[prov1813man]

Sorry, correction. “laws of nature and of natures God”. From the Declaration of Independence.

[Leep]

Ryan slipped under the Rino radar. If he believes what he is saying anyhow. I have no reason to believe he doesn’t.

[Servant of the Cross]

With a Romney/Ryan ticket, the crazy notion expressed by some here that there is no difference between 0bama/Biden and Romney/Ryan just went from far-fetched to preposterous.

[NKP_Vet]

My favorite Paul Ryan voting stance.

Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)

[Ohioan]

I really like this part, near the end:

We won't duck the tough issues...we will lead!

We won't blame others...we will take responsibility!

We won't replace our founding principles...we will reapply them!

The pragmatic difference between American beliefs & principles, and those of the Leftists who have been misleading us for the past twenty years, is that our Founders developed a belief system based upon Experience & Reason, whereas those of the Left are always premised upon cloud borne wish lists, and the base motives, of envy & resentment.

William Flax

[NKP_Vet]

Ryan knew exactly what he was saying............

“Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the liberty of moving and using it at his own will. This is what is called personal liberty, and is given him by the Author of nature, because necessary for his own sustenance.” — Thomas Jefferson: Legal Argument, 1770

[nurees]

JFK would not be welcome in today’s Democratic Party - not liberal enough.

[PapaNew]

JFK would not be welcome in today’s Democratic Party - not liberal enough.

Today's JFK wouldn't have been recognizable as the 1960 JFK. The amoral and anchor-less, Kennedy's were always steadily moving left. Ted Kennedy, whose socialism rivaled Obama, gave us a taste for what JFK would have been like by 1980 much less now.

[dfwgator]

Heck today JFK is to the right of most RINOs.

[GBA]

It just keeps getting better!

[rurgan]

John F. kennedy and the Kennedys were Responsible for the 1965 immigration act that Changed America. It's why we have so many third world immigrants from Mexico, Somalia, Haiti, and countless other third world hell holes. My city is overrun by foreign peoples from all countries. They are taking away our jobs, culture , country , and prosperity .Immigrants vote for Democrats/socialism.

This commie JFK started the destruction