Their Fathers' Sons
In his lyrical and heartfelt introduction of his running mate, Governor Mitt Romney said one thing that particularly struck me. Romney spoke of Wisconsin Congressman and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's Midwestern background, and how it instilled in him a devotion and love of America. And then Romney said---in a brief biographical note---that Ryan's father had passed away when he was young.
That's when it hit me. The fall contest will be more Obama v. Ryan than Obama v. Romney. Obama and Ryan are the same generation, although Obama is several years older. They're both hip and cool. They're both gym rats. And they're both the intellectual leaders of their movements. The battle will be focused on these two personalities and the ideas and policies for which they stand.
That's why it struck me as incredibly telling that both men also had fathers who left them at an early age. Obama's father checked out and left the family when Barack was just a toddler. He later died in an alcohol-related car crash in Kenya, where he had returned to assist the socialist movement (advocating socialized medicine and a 100 percent tax rate). Ryan's father passed away when he was a teenager.
After losing their fathers, these men chose very different paths. Obama became a stoner, the leader of a dope group nicknamed the "Choom Gang." Later, he copped to doing "a little blow." As he's said himself, he went on to seek out the Marxist professors and students at school, became an Alinskyite, rabble-rousing socialism advocate that went under the euphemism "community organizer," and befriended anti-American radicals such as Bill Ayers, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and Rashid Khalidi. After brief stints in the Illinois State Senate (where he voted "present" much of the time) and the U.S. Senate (where he was classified as the most liberal member, sitting to the left of the only self-described socialist in the chamber, Senator Bernie Sanders), he became president and took the country on a redistributionist joyride, creating a tornado-like path of destruction.
By contrast, when Ryan's father died, teenage Paul became the leader of his family. He took care of his grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, so that his mother could go back to school in order to get a better job. He worked all hours to support his family, even working for Oscar Meyer selling hot dogs and Lunchables. Rumor has it he even drove the Weinermobile. He went on to serve his community as the youngest member of Congress (the year he was elected), rose to prominence for his intellectual rigor and honesty, and became the House Budget Chairman, a position from which he proposed two courageous and honest budgets to save America from fiscal ruin.
So let's see: Both boys faced the trauma of losing a father. One chose to be a professional grievance identifier, trafficking in teaching victimization and cultivating dependency on government. The other chose a path of self-sufficiency for himself, his family, and the nation; a road of self-determination, independence, and freedom -- in other words, the road the Founders so painstakingly gave each one of us.
When Obama speaks of the "fundamental transformation" of the nation, he means remaking America in the image of his father's socialist dreams. When Ryan speaks of "fundamentally restoring" the nation, he means moving America back to the nation of his father, in which individual responsibility, limited government, fiscal sanity, and economic freedom prevailed.
These are the competing visions for America. And they both began with men who disappeared from their sons' lives many years ago, leaving them with their animating spirits. The fate of the country will rest with which path we choose on November 6.
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Apr '12
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
Welcome, Monica!
You have spelled out so clearly the differences between Ryan and Obama. Ryan, a true American wanting to restore America to its past freedoms as visioned by the Founders, Obama, a follower of European thought, an Utopian with the apparent vision of a "changed" America lying in ruins as a result of sentimental, unrealistic thinking.
May the American people see the differences as clearly, and choose for liberty.
Aug '10
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
Obama's path was through a hallway of gifts, assistance , grade inflation , false promotion , and jobs subsidy ( for him and Michelle) .
Ryan's is a shorter ,harder path . We know it as the " school of hard knocks ".
We appreciate your lapidary prose.
May '12
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
David Williamson
That might be a bit of a stretch in Mr Obama's case, as he is simply parroting his mentors. His only originality is in the re-packaging, to hide the original contents. · 6 hours ago
Edited 6 hours ago
You beat me to the punch. Obama is only a poseur. I get the impression he has never seriously thought through his political beliefs. Also, I don't know who would be considered the intellectual leader of today's left (Paul Krugman?); but, any such individual, if honest in their public pronouncements, would be unable to gather more than 20 percent of the vote in a national election. By contrast, a conservative intellectual leader (like Ryan) is capable of winning a clear majority in a national election as long as they also have the political chops.
Jun '12
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
Fantastic post. The comparison could hardly be more stark or telling.
Aug '10
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
I think kids are less hurt by the death of a father than they are by his absence for some other reasons.
Oct '10
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
What David said at #2 and DocJay said at #13.
And Obama plays far more golf than basketball. He's no gym rat.
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
Hi guys! Great to read all of your comments---thank you! I'm thrilled that you found the piece so insightful. I think the fact that these two men chose radically different paths after they faced a similar childhood trauma is fascinating and telling. And it's quite the backdrop for the 2012 battle royale.
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
Amen!
Edited on August 15, 2012 at 4:46amRe: Their Fathers' Sons
Thank you!
Edited on August 15, 2012 at 4:46amRe: Their Fathers' Sons
So interesting. Yes!
Edited on August 15, 2012 at 4:48amRe: Their Fathers' Sons
That's it!
Edited on August 15, 2012 at 4:49amRe: Their Fathers' Sons
The King Prawn
Monica Crowley:
The fall contest will be more Obama v. Ryan than Obama v. Romney.
This raises the question, are we doing it wrong? Why is our headliner being overshadowed by his understudy?
Edited 4 hours ago
Not overshadowed. Enhanced.
Edited on August 15, 2012 at 4:50amRe: Their Fathers' Sons
captainpower
Monica Crowley:
...
That's why it struck me as incredibly telling that both men also had fathers who left them at an early age. Obama's father checked out and left the family when Barack was just a toddler.
...
Ryan's father passed away when he was a teenager.
After losing their fathers, these men chose very different paths.
...
· · 1 hour ago
Based on the results, I'm going to guess Congerssman Paul Ryan's father provided him enough direction in 16 years to last him a lifetime.
Indeed. But so did Obama's father.
Edited on August 15, 2012 at 4:51amRe: Their Fathers' Sons
Thanks. For a moment, after I heard the name "Crowley" announced, I thought it was moi. Just kiddin'. They'd never choose a conservative.
Edited on August 15, 2012 at 4:54amMay '12
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
Monica Crowley
The King Prawn
Monica Crowley:
The fall contest will be more Obama v. Ryan than Obama v. Romney.
This raises the question, are we doing it wrong? Why is our headliner being overshadowed by his understudy?
Edited 4 hours ago
Not overshadowed. Enhanced. · 8 hours ago
Edited 8 hours ago
I am not sure it is a good thing to have so many looking at the wingman for the direction of the flight.
Oct '10
Re: Their Fathers' Sons
Monica Crowley
Thanks. For a moment, after I heard the name "Crowley" announced, I thought it was moi. Just kiddin'. They'd never choose a conservative.
The Crowley the Left would prefer to moderate their debates was named Aleister.