Critics say VP Candidate Paul Ryan’s Catholicism Undermined by Atheist Philosopher

on August 13, 2012

by Andrew Walker

Photo Credit: The Atlantic Wire

With Paul Ryan announced as Mitt Romney’s running mate for Vice-President on Saturday, many are speculating about the role that Ryan’s Catholic faith will play out in the election. Ryan’s Catholicism could well be the necessary linchpin in consolidating the GOP’s social conservative segment, a constituency that has offered tepid endorsement of Governor Romney up to this point. Ryan possesses potent social conservative credentials with his strong pro-life record and his defense of traditional marriage. What could  give social conservatives concern, however, is Ryan’s sanguine comments and lifelong fascination with the atheist philosopher Ayn Rand. Rand was a proponent of “Objectivism,” a philosophy accused of lacking compassion, being insensitive and condemnatory of the poor.

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  1. Comment by Dan on August 13, 2012 at 6:35 pm

    I have no issue with Ryan’s budget proposals except that they won’t balance the budget in my reasonably anticipated lifetime. However, his continued fascination (he apparently referenced John Galt yesterday) with Ayn Rand is past disturbing, it is disgusting. I live in a state that Romney will carry anyway, but this choice has done nothing to make me willing to go to the trouble to vote for him. Rubio, Christie or Jeb Bush would have.

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