A serious example of Ryan-worship is provided by New York Times “Common Sense” (if only) columnist James B. Stewart. In an April 6 column, Stewart examines Ryan’s plans to cutting tax rates while keeping revenue neutral by closing loopholes. The thing is, Ryan will say how much lower rates will be, but he won’t say which loopholes are going to be touched. Somehow, such obvious deceit doesn’t bother Stewart, who concludes that Ryan will have to eliminate the special treatment for capital gains. Will Ryan admit that? No, he won’t. Does that bother Stewart? No, it doesn’t. Paulie’s so young and cute! He has to be telling the truth!
It gets worse. In a subsequent column, Stewart quotes Ryan as saying ““the social safety net is failing society’s most vulnerable citizens” and is “poised to unravel in the event of a spending-driven debt crisis.” “Does anyone,” exclaims a gob-struck Stewart, “Democrat or Republican, seriously disagree?”
The thing is, Jimbo, as Chait points out, Ryan thinks the safety net is too big, too generous, a “hammock,” where lazy good-for-nothings can snooze away their lives, while liberals are likely to think that the “net” is a tattered fabric that fails millions. Didn’t Stewart know that? Well, yeah, he did, but that wasn’t the point. “I was pointing out that, at least rhetorically, you can find some common ground,” Stewart “explained.” You can find common ground, that is, if you don’t know what you’re talking about. And if you rely on Jimmie B for your “facts,” you won’t know what you’re talking about.
