# Paul Ryan steals lunch (story) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 7, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111 "2014-03-07T14:57:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/121 "2014-03-13T15:57:25Z")
Mr. Ryan has clarified his remarks. [http://www.crewof42.com/news/paul-ryan-inner-city-comments-had-nothing-to-do-whatsoever-with-race/](http://www.crewof42.com/news/paul-ryan-inner-city-comments-had-nothing-to-do-whatsoever-with-race/) His comments had nothing whatsoever to do with race. So, that’s settled, then. And, furhermore, Mr. Ryan approves of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative. > [@](#): > > …When I asked what Ryan thought of President Obama’s new initiative My Brother’s Keeper, he replied, “I like it. I just sent him a letter on it.” Now, we shouldn’t presume that he is talking about a _missive_, composed, typed, folded, enveloped, stamped. Applying friend **Bricker’s** rigorous deconstructive approach and insights into semiotics, we must concede that he may have only sent “a letter”. Perhaps “T” or “A”. Not both, of course, because he used the singular form. Just as he points out frequently…nay, relentlessly!..we of the left all too often leap to a conclusion based upon the most common interpretation of words, when the actual significance is quite different. A pity, perhaps, that the Counselor chose the law for his career. What a splendid figure he would have made in the fields of semantic theory and deconstructive analysis! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/122 "2014-03-13T16:06:08Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > While denying he had meant anything racial, [Ryan went on:](http://www.crewof42.com/news/paul-ryan-inner-city-comments-had-nothing-to-do-whatsoever-with-race/) > See? Problems in the inner city are because the people there are lazy and shiftless, but problems in rural areas are because of lack of jobs. > > :rolleyes: How does somebody operate in politics this long without learning the [First Law Of Holes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_law_of_holes)? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/123 "2014-03-13T16:11:31Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The oft-quoted phrase that conservatives think liberals have bad ideas, and liberals think conservatives are bad people, comes to mind. Oft-quoted by conservatives to portray liberals as bad people, which makes it ultimately self-negating. And a bad idea. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/124 "2014-03-13T16:46:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Oft-quoted by conservatives to portray liberals as bad people, which makes it ultimately self-negating. > > And a bad idea. 😉 A meta-refutation. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/125 "2014-03-13T16:53:39Z")
Innocent lamb that he is, its a pity Mr. Ryan has no one on his staff who could have pointed out the unfortunate misinterpretation his remarks suggest. Not that he might have seen it himself, as he is so thoroughly post-racial, but perhaps a less evolved person might have noticed. We on the left noticed it right away, which only underscores that widely known truth the liberals are the _real_ racists! We shouldn’t forget the folksy wisdom of the truth that that the person who first notices a release of rectal methane is most likely the one who dispensed it. Only strict and rigorous analysis by a post-racial intellect can reveal the truth of the matter, and we should be appropriately grateful to the Counselor. Could be quite useful, that approach. “No, dearest, my refusal to lower the seat is, properly understood, a testimonial to my respect for your wisdom, intelligence, and observational capacity!” Yeah! That’ll work! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/126 "2014-03-13T16:57:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And, furhermore, Mr. Ryan approves of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative. > > Now, we shouldn’t presume that he is talking about a _missive_, composed, typed, folded, enveloped, stamped. Applying friend **Bricker’s** rigorous deconstructive approach and insights into semiotics, we must concede that he may have only sent “a letter”. Perhaps “T” or “A”. Not both, of course, because he used the singular form. More likely “F” and “U”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/127 "2014-03-13T17:00:43Z")
> **[Paul Ryan: Inner City Poverty Remark Was ‘Inarticulate’](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-ryan-poverty-remark-inarticulate)** > > Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) said Thursday that he wasn’t articulating his point... But wait! There’s more clarification! > [@](#): > > …“After reading the transcript of yesterday morning’s interview, it is clear that I was inarticulate about the point I was trying to make,” he said in a statement… Nothing to see here, move along, you looky-loos! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/128 "2014-03-13T17:01:43Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > More likely “F” and “U”. Much prefer “T” and “A”. But maybe that’s just me… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/129 "2014-03-13T17:02:35Z")
That’s okay, we’ve been treated to a most entertaining explanation here already. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/130 "2014-03-13T17:06:46Z")
> [@](#): > > “After reading the transcript of yesterday morning’s interview, it is clear that I was inarticulate about the point I was trying to make,” he said in a statement… Well, that’s all right then, as long as you aren’t thinking of applying for a job that requires you to represent the country on the world stage or anything like that… ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/131 "2014-03-13T18:02:43Z")
> [@](#): > > “After reading the transcript of yesterday morning’s interview, it is clear that I was inarticulate about the point I was trying to make,” he said in a statement… > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Well, that’s all right then, as long as you aren’t thinking of applying for a job that requires you to represent the country on the world stage or anything like that… I think you’re not applying that standard uniformly. Unless you felt that Senator Obama deserved a similar comment when he said in 2008 that “I’ve now been in fifty seven states. I think one left to go.” Did you? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/132 "2014-03-13T18:09:46Z")
I win a bet I made with myself that someone would mention the “57 states” remark. Because those are directly comparable. Woohoo! Ice cream for me! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/133 "2014-03-13T18:12:10Z")
Every poker hand is a 5-of-a-Kind with you, **Bricker** , isn’t it, since your whole deck is comprised entirely of Liberal Hypocrisy cards. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/134 "2014-03-13T18:13:31Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I think you’re not applying that standard uniformly. > > Unless you felt that Senator Obama deserved a similar comment when he said in 2008 that “I’ve now been in fifty seven states. I think one left to go.” > > Did you? Is it your contention that Ryan has been missing a bunch of sleep? Also, Obama’s is a slip of the tongue, he said fifty instead of forty. In that he was planning to go to all 48 contiguous states. > **[FACT CHECK: Did Barack Obama Say He Had Visited 57 (Islamic) States?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/57-states/)** > > Did Barack Obama say that he had visited 'fifty-seven states'? This doesn’t rise to the level of Ryan’s _balls in mouth disease_. Also, post 107. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/135 "2014-03-13T18:40:11Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Mr. Ryan has clarified his remarks. > > [http://www.crewof42.com/news/paul-ryan-inner-city-comments-had-nothing-to-do-whatsoever-with-race/](http://www.crewof42.com/news/paul-ryan-inner-city-comments-had-nothing-to-do-whatsoever-with-race/) [Oh, yes, about that . . .](http://www.salon.com/2014/03/13/paul_ryans_worthless_attempt_to_save_face_why_hes_still_an_overrated_fraud/) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/136 "2014-03-13T18:48:20Z")
As far as what Ryan said, he shouldn’t just be criticized for using the phrase “inner city poor” and implying that they are lazy; he should be criticized for [citing an expert](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/easy-to-be-misunderstood-when-you-cite-experts-who-say-blacks-are-inferior-to-whites) who is best known for pushing the view that black people are intrinsically genetically less intelligent than white people. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/137 "2014-03-13T19:41:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > That is, in a truly color-blind, post-racial society, we simply don’t acknowledge the power of past stereotypes, because we’re past that. Pretending we are n a color-blind, post-racial society is part of the ruse in which those stereotypes no longer have power is part of the ruse. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/138 "2014-03-13T20:27:31Z")
… which shows the ridiculous claim that we are no longer a racial society to be just another dogwhistle, this one targeted at those who wish to continue to practice racism without taking responsibility for it or even acknowledging it. The kicker is that it is also, or even mainly, intended to reassure the persons \*making \*the claim that \*they themselves \*are not supporting racism. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/139 "2014-03-13T23:27:01Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > So how can either of us assert “basic ethics” when we don’t share a fundamental agreement on the underlying truths Well, I _tried_ to point out how you and I shared some underlying truths, and that they might be relevant here, but you rather emphatically didn’t want to talk about it. So now you’re complaining that this discussion of right and wrong is handicapped by a lack of shared truths. As our presumably shared Truth said: [QUOTE=Jesus of Nazareth] To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111/140 "2014-03-14T01:37:12Z")
The original Aramaic renders to “So, kids these days! The snotty attitude, the clothes, the hair. And you call _that_ music?..” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-steals-lunch-story/683111.md?page=8)