Brooklyn Reacts to Mitt Romney’s VP Candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan

A few hours after the news broke on Saturday — Mitt Romney picked U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to be his Vice Presidential candidate — Brooklyn spoke their mind.

The viewpoints coming from the blue county on the seventh-term congressman, who is also the chairman of the House Budget Committee, ranged from disappointment to confidence.

Glenn P. Nocera, the president of the Brooklyn Young Republicans Club, released a statement in support of Romney’s decision.

“The choice of Ryan will bring excitement to the Conservative base of the Party. We at the Brooklyn Young Republican Club wish Congressman Paul Ryan good luck in his quest to restore America back to economic success,” Nocera wrote.

“Join us this November in making sure President Obama joins the rolls of the current 8.3% unemployed Americans, which have been suffering for the last four years to find any work under the Presidents [sic.] disastrous economic policies. Its [sic.] time for America to become that shining city on top of a hill once again. Please Vote Romney, Ryan 2012 and restore America.” 

Mitt Romney’s campaign made the announcement early Saturday morning and later in the day the Republican duo attended three rallies in Virginia, which is a swing state.

Ryan, who is 42 years old, is a young Vice Presidential candidate and 23 years younger than Romney. The Congressman is the primary author of the Republican Party’s tax and spending cut plan. He also advocates changing the Medicare program, what people call “Obamacare.”

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, D-Brooklyn, , also released a statement on Saturday.

"Mitt Romney has chosen a running mate who is the architect of plan that gives tax cuts to the super-rich and slashes services for working families,” Jeffries wrote in the statement. “Paul Ryan supports decimating education funding, dismantling Medicare and burdening the unemployed.”

Jeffries said that if Ryan—a former speechwriter for Jack Kemp—became vice president, it would not benefit the economy. 

“Given the chance, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will weaken our nation's economy instead of helping to move it forward,” Jeffries wrote. “This decision further confirms that New Yorkers and the country should re-elect Barack Obama as our president."  

A few Brooklyn residents who spoke with Patch echoed Jeffries discontent for the vice presidential candidate.

A Bed-Stuy resident who was in Fort Greene on Saturday said Romney’s running mate will make it easier for Obama to get re-elected. 

“I think it’s great news that Ryan was named the VP candidate because it just means Democrats will win. I don’t think Ryan brings anything new and fresh to the table,” Sidney Morris said. 

A Cobble Hill resident agreed with Morris that Ryan being on the Republican ticket ensures that Obama will have four more years in the White House.

“Ryan is making it an easy road for Obama, but if he wins it says that the majority of our country is shifting towards being more conservative,” Luis Espinoza said. “If he can convince 50 million people to vote for him and Romney, I’ll find out that I don’t know this country as much as I thought I did.”

On Fourth Avenue in Park Slope, one man said that Ryan was an obvious choice.

“Romney is trying to appeal to the conservative base, the fiscal conservatives, because Ryan is a pro-austerity Republican,” Peter Johnson said, who lives in South Slope.

But that said, Johnson thinks that Romney is “shooting himself in the foot” by picking Ryan.

“Ultimately, it’s a dumb choice. It’s a sign of desperation more than anything. In many ways the two have been at odds with what they want for the country,” Johnson said. “Their opposing views will come out in the debates and the pundits will definitely be talking about it.”

Johnson’s friend, An Do, said that Ryan does not have the appeal she thinks a candidate should have.

“Ryan is not that relatable. What has been galvanizing Republicans is the Tea Party and downtrodden people during this economy, not rich businessmen and career politicians,” Do said. “He does not have the folk appeal Romney needs.”

What do you think about Mitt Romney choosing Rep. Paul Ryan to be his vice presidential nominee? Let us know in the comments section below!