One More Concern About Paul Ryan

The news has come out that Romney is announcing his running mate later today.  The speculation (for what it is worth) is focusing on Paul Ryan.  So let me tell you a quick story.

I was watching Ryan on television one day and he talked about some great advice he got.  Barney Frank gave Ryan advice to the effect of “be a mile deep, not a mile wide.”  Frank’s advice was that Ryan should focus his energy one area rather than trying to be moderately expert in everything.  It has worked out pretty well.  Ryan is the most articulate congressional Republican on the subjects of entitlement and health care policy.  We are better off that Ryan has turned himself into a principled and hard working legislative specialist.  The Republicans need more like him.  But if Ryan ends up as Romney’s VP choice, he is going to be asked questions on lots of subjects outside his specialty and those questions will start coming at the start of next week at the latest.  It is going to be high scrutiny and high stakes.

This isn’t a cause for despair.  Ryan has been in Washington for a while, so he knows national-level politics.  He is a smart guy who isn’t averse to study.  It is just something to keep in mind.