Mitt Romney’s new right-hand man ignites concerns from women’s groups - Women's Agenda

Mitt Romney’s new right-hand man ignites concerns from women’s groups

Since Saturday’s announcement that US Congressman Paul Ryan will run alongside Mitt Romney as the Republican vice-presidential candidate, there has been much speculation as to what exactly Ryan adds to Romney’s campaign.

But in contrast to positive talk amongst supporters surrounding Ryan’s leadership on fiscal and budgetary issues – he produced the controversial “Path to Prosperity” budgetary framework to counter that of President Barack Obama’s 2011 and 2012 budgets – his selection as vice president has been met with disappointment amongst American women voters and US women’s groups.

According to The Nation, American women are the losers under the conservative Catholic’s budgetary plans, with Romney already struggling to attract the female vote over Obama.

While Rupert Murdoch voiced his support for Ryan on Twitter, labelling him an “almost perfect choice”, the National Organization for Women said: “Women should beware because they are the targets or the disproportionate casualties in virtually every policy Romney and Ryan propose.”

Ryan, a Wisconsin father of three, plans to cut Medicaid by more than 20% over the next decade – a move claimed to hurt the elderly and women the most – while women will also lose out under Ryan’s proposed changes to social security and Medicare.

But while Ryan’s budgetary plans have been labelled as a major blow to the financial stability of many American women, his appointment as vice president has been flagged as an even more devastating setback for the future of women because of his conservative views with respect to abortion and the rights of women.

Ryan has voted against gay marriage, gay adoption and moves to liberalise abortion laws. He also voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay act, which supports equal pay for women.

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