No 'fake' good deed goes unpunished - Paul Ryan's charity begins at photo ops
By: Cahir O'Doherty | Published Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 8:31 AM | Updated Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 8:31 AM
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| Atlas scrubbed, or no 'fake ' good deed goes unpublished |
Brian J. Antal, the president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society is a volunteer worker. He receives no pay or national recognition for the good work he does, week after week.
I've been thinking about him off and on all week because he found himself reluctantly catapulted into the national spotlight last week by the uninvited visit of GOP Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan.
Hijack, would have been a more accurate word. In the Romney/Ryan's campaign's desperation to lull the public into forgetting that they're two pomaded multimillionaire's out to gut the New Deal to pay for unnecessary tax cuts for the super rich, they decided to 'soften' Ryan's public persona with a bit of charitable malarkey, shot live on camera.
Ryan, as we know, invited himself to wash the already clean dishes of the St. Vincent De Paul Society's soup kitchen. That took some heart - or stones, as Bill Clinton likes to say. But Mahoning County is in Ohio and there is no stone that Ryan plans to leave unturned, or photo opportunity abandoned, regardless of the cost to others, in that state.
Ryan came into the soup kitchen without permission on Monday and 'did nothing,' Antal told the press. He was not at the soup kitchen when Ryan visited and would have turned him away had he known - the bylaws of the society expressly forbid political grandstanding of that nature.
But no fake 'good deed' goes unpunished though. The Society has been hemorrhaging donations since the story broke. The losses have been big. 'It appears to be a substantial amount,' Antal said. 'You can rest assured there has been a substantial backlash.'
Antal said that the campaign had 'ramrodded their way' inside for their charity on stilts performance.
But aren't mid-westerners famously repulsed by people who make a great show of their own charity? Isn't making a great show of your charity a contradiction in terms anyhow?
Antal want Ryan to go away and to take all the damage he has done with him. It's too late for that, but not too late for an apology that will doubtless never come. Ryan has made it clear he knows what's good for the nations poor and he certainly knows what's good for himself.
But this story deserves to be told over and over because it mirrors the main weakness of the Romney campaign itself: they make shameless gestures toward the middle class to lure them into voting for them.
But before you turn around you'll find that you're strapped for cash and they haven't left you with a forwarding address or an explanation.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.anglo-norman | Oct 23, 2012, 05:56 PM EDT
But it's great altogethe when Obama drinks a pint of guinness, shure thats not a fake deed.
BrianO | Oct 23, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
@Oftiz, you would know more than I, the googled article was from the Washington post which gave a different take on the above article, just get tired of the heavily anti ryan/romney headlines that are not nearly as sinister as they would have people believe.
Ofitz | Oct 23, 2012, 05:14 AM EDT
Briano-- big surprise, googling Ryan explained it away. (By the way, I have no faith in Irish Cental's accurate reporting.) What I saw on tv was a man in a sparkling clean dry apron picking up a clean pan and rinsing it out in a clean sink. Heving been a volunteer at many events, volunteers are not authorized to allow film crews on a site, especially one such as this, where some of the people may not have wanted to be filmed. And no legitimate campaign just shows up at a site. They know they are supposed to go through channels and speak to authorized people first. Like it or not, there is a chain of command that hasto be followed.
conorsmom | Oct 22, 2012, 10:20 PM EDT
Hey Tom Mo- The first lady doesn't wear $650 sneakers, you must be thinking about Ann. I think she wears them while on her HORSE!
olovely | Oct 22, 2012, 05:41 PM EDT
Housing starts in September surged to their fastest pace in four years, up 15 percent over August, far exceeding the experts’ predictions. The 7.8 percent unemployment rate is the lowest in four years. Consumer confidence is at a five-year high.Whoever wins will get the credit and reap the benefit. It'll be Obama.
shredder | Oct 22, 2012, 05:04 PM EDT
This whole article is a crock. I'll be unsubscribing to Irish Central. Anyone foolish enough to buy into the o'bama scam is not worthy to take up my time. Since 96% of Ireland says they would vote for O'Bama I can only attribute your facination with the man to the fact that misery loves company..Ireland's broke, U.S. is going broke. You are welcome to him, lock, stock and barrel.
EamonnDublin | Oct 22, 2012, 04:19 PM EDT
"OLovely" - I actually get my news from various sources. I read, inwardly digest, and form my own overall conclusions. I fear you, on the other hand, get your news from a one-sided source, swallow it hungrily, and regurgitate it all over the pages of Irish Central. Go easy on it man, it really makes quite a mess. Éamonn, Dublin.
Scrivner | Oct 22, 2012, 03:42 PM EDT
Olovely, GM was "saved" if you don't count the small investors who lost big when Obama's people took over, or the thousands who worked at Pontiac, Saturn & Oldsmobile dealers. Great way to eliminate debt--just tell 'em to stuff it (I should try it with Visa & MasterCharge, LOL). Because GM bonds and stock lost value so preciptiously it helped destroy bankers' balance sheets which caused the regulators to demand injections of funds because of the write offs. So banks that had lent out money; to businesses to hire and expand had to cancel and call in those loans. Since everybody was doing it, these companies could not refi and that helped make the banks which ere not "too big to fail" collapse. So, instead of an orderly (but messy) Chapter 11 bankruptcy where people know the rules, we had Super Hero acting like he was playing a video game.
BrianO | Oct 22, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT
Olovely, if 10 jobs are created and 12 jobs are lost what is the gain. some will say "I created 10 jobs", some will say "12 jobs have been lost" when the reality is net jobs which would be a net loss. That's the simple explanation of Obama's first 4 years a net loss.
olovely | Oct 22, 2012, 12:41 PM EDT
I don't know where you get your news from Eamonn in Dublin? Is it direct from Rupert Murdoch? Obama save General Motors and has put millions to work after the George W Bush era recession and banking collapses almost wrecked American capitalism. Romney just wants to do the same, except harder and meaner. Romney is going to lose.
EamonnDublin | Oct 22, 2012, 11:38 AM EDT
"OLovely" - When you say you "can't wait for the economic boom in his second term", does that mean that it's already too late for you? You can't wait because you have already gone bust? Well, rest assured you are in good company. Obama's failure has wrecked the lives of millions. Éamonn, Dublin.
BrianO | Oct 22, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT
Headline should read "fake story about fake narrative used again by Cahir."
olovely | Oct 22, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
The economy is up, employment is up, house prices are rising, millions have health insurance for the first time, Osama Bin Laden is dead, Don't Ask Don't Tell is history and women must now receive equal pay with men. That's a record of achievement and I can't wait for the economic boom in his second term.
Opoets99 | Oct 22, 2012, 09:56 AM EDT
Obama is a FRAUD His record is a failure: Obama: "we tried our plan and it worked". 7/252012 The results: 23 million unemployed 43 straight months of 8 % unemployment 45 million on food stamps Black poverty at record highs The middle class has lost 40% of its net worth under Obama Black youth unemployment over 50% Hispanic unemployment at 11.3% Food prices up 15% under Obama Gas prices doubled under Obama Obama has the worst job creation record since 1945 (BLS) Obama recovery the worst in 75 years Median household income $4,300 declines under Obama Average family health insurance up $1,500 under Obama Added $6 trillion to our debt...more than all Prezs. Combined Presided over only US credit downgrade If it worked, how come so many Americans are hurting? Vote Obama the Fraud out in Nov
EamonnDublin | Oct 22, 2012, 05:03 AM EDT
Ah shure, lads, COME ON!! Ryan wasn't even THERE. He was in Vegas for a few days break. The guy doing the washing up is a homeless man, made up to look like Ryan. They gave him $2 for an hour's work. Then those nasty Republicans beat him up for a few hours, just for fun. But ..... enter Obama (O'Batman) to the rescue. He kills all those evil rich people - with no help whatsoever from Navy SEALS, and takes all the poor in the palms of his hands and shepherds them to the rich paradise. What a MAN! Is he GOD? Yes, I think He must be GOD. (With apologies to Marvel Comics) And anyone else who is "offended" by cartoon characters. Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
BrianO | Oct 22, 2012, 01:07 AM EDT
Just googled ryan and st vincent to get the real story of what happened. Appears a ryan representative ask permission of the volenteer in charge of the place before entering, actually washed dirty dishes, and wanted to show his support for their volunteerism. It appears Mr.Antul was not there and his comments were second hand, Mr Antul also said that he would not have welcomed any political person to the shelter had he been there.
eiriamach | Oct 22, 2012, 12:25 AM EDT
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matt. 6:3-4) Or call in the photojournalists for a nice spread in the newspapers, TV soundbites, and You Tube videos, and maybe gullible voters will reward you-- your choice.
Tom Mo | Oct 21, 2012, 09:57 PM EDT
They just wanted to take photos of the Prima Donna in her 650 dollar sneakers with their new free i phone cameras. They could care less about the soup. Wake up man for Chrissake.
Tom Mo | Oct 21, 2012, 09:37 PM EDT
Hey Cahir. Nothing wrong, of course, with first Lady Michelle Obama serving food at a food kitchen while wearing $650 dollar sneakers. And,get thishavibg the recipients of the soup taking pictures with their cel phones. Google it. Asstard!
Frosty38 | Oct 21, 2012, 09:32 PM EDT
Remember when the Pres work painting and i think a soup kitchen did he get this much attn?
olovely | Oct 21, 2012, 09:01 PM EDT
I do all my dish washing in a spotless Brooks Brothers shirt and tie and a gleaming white apron. Why's everyone saying this is 'fake'?
GerryMaine | Oct 21, 2012, 08:58 PM EDT
Spare me, BigDaddy. You're ridiculous.
BigDaddy | Oct 21, 2012, 06:57 PM EDT
Gerry, I will save the sarcasm and go straight to the facts. If you did Google DiLulio, you will have seen that he also told the truth about some Republicans and was forced to recant, just like Antal was, after someone explained to him the cost of telling the truth. Now I could care less if you believe the truth; I am used to talking to conservative apologists for a dozen years now. But the fact that you would resort to looking so stupid in public just to avoid talking about the truth is very telling.
GerryMaine | Oct 21, 2012, 06:51 PM EDT
I googled John Dilulio and found nothing related to St Vinc.de Paul and Paul Ryan.. or doing dirty dishes.
shuvonn | Oct 21, 2012, 06:36 PM EDT
This is not about who has done this before this is about the fact that Ryan did this and some of you just cannot admit it even when faced with facts that is more disturbing than anything else!!
BigDaddy | Oct 21, 2012, 06:33 PM EDT
Piper, I would bet Obama has had his share of "photo ops" but how many times ahs the person been forced to recant after they told the story of what happened? Do you have any stories about such a thing? And the question you should be asking is "Why is it that Republicans cannot look human"? We know what happened, why the fuss over clean or dirty trays? Why can't Ryan be like other politicians? Why must people PAY for telling the truth about a politician?
BigDaddy | Oct 21, 2012, 06:29 PM EDT
Gerry, how is it that you only understand what has happened since Antal first told his story. He told the truth and was forced to retract the truth due to pressure exerted by "benefactors". If you had any ambition, YOU would have Googled John DiLulio and then you would have known what I was referring to. You read the part that says he washed dirty trays (as if that matters) and you are willing to look foolish in public. Why? Why would anyone argue against reality in public?
PiperMac52 | Oct 21, 2012, 06:21 PM EDT
Jeez, it's called politics my friend and I know Obama has never taken advantage of a photo OP disguised as a good deed!
seanomelb | Oct 21, 2012, 05:58 PM EDT
Ryan needs to put some soap in his mouth to wash the bullsh#t away.
pilib04 | Oct 21, 2012, 05:33 PM EDT
This has been all over Ohio. "Lyin" Ryan actually washed trays that were already cleaned and put away. This man is beneath contempt.
jamthecat | Oct 21, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT
This was so stupid and obvious a gambit, you have to wonder at Ryan's supposed intelligence. The idiots who support him don't care if he even thinks about a soup kitchen, let alone goes to one. He could spit in the pope's face and they'd find an excuse for it. And those who see through is lies and hypocrisy wouldn't be bought out by a photo-op showing him a perfectly clean shirt scrubbing what is obviously a very clean pan. What is wrong with this man? Is he really that insulated from reality?
hollabackgurl | Oct 21, 2012, 03:22 PM EDT
There isn't anyone who doesn't think Pual Ryan used the St. Vincent De Paul Society to make him look like he cares about the plight of the poor. But we know the truth is he wants to gut every social protection they enjoy. Some Catholic.
rsr | Oct 21, 2012, 03:02 PM EDT
Its amazing how unbiased the media is these days. Maybe if the reporter took his head out of his ass, he might witness some truth!
GerryMaine | Oct 21, 2012, 02:46 PM EDT
Big Daddy: You can read about it yourself if you choose. Google: Ryan dirty dishes Antal. O'Doherty is stupid, lazy, a liar, or simply a Democrat shill.
BigDaddy | Oct 21, 2012, 02:36 PM EDT
Gerry, using your own logic, how do you know that Ryan DID wash dirty dishes since you weren't there either?
borefield | Oct 21, 2012, 02:10 PM EDT
Cahir, I thought you got fired! Aaw, I just woke up. It was a good dream gone bad. You write such tripe and lies.
GerryMaine | Oct 21, 2012, 02:02 PM EDT
Frosty38: Do yourself a favor and google: ryan dirty dishes antal. This story is bogus. Maine is heavily Democratic now and will vote for Obama.
Frosty38 | Oct 21, 2012, 01:30 PM EDT
because you are from Maine you show republican side I know I'm married to one from Maine and we go back and forth on the elections and if you read the piece he DID NOT do dirty dishes
GerryMaine | Oct 21, 2012, 01:09 PM EDT
oh wait.. you've only told Antal's side. You freakin' liars! Antal wasn't there and Ryan DID wash dirty dishes. Antal is hardcore Democrat and did everything he could to diss Ryan. If donations are down, it's because Antal is liar.. just like you!
Nicomax | Oct 21, 2012, 01:08 PM EDT
Rule #1-Never show up at a food pantry or kitchen dressed like you are auditioning for a role on 'Mad Men'. Our local food pantry accepts modest donations from the Dept. of Agricultural which mandates NO political advocacy. Politicians are allowed only if they meet the income qualification for a weekly distribution.
Frosty38 | Oct 21, 2012, 12:21 PM EDT
That is soooooo true of his German side . He does not claim that side he wants to be IRISH
TomDem55 | Oct 21, 2012, 12:08 PM EDT
Well spoken (er typed) BigDaddy, and to Liammurf, if by nothing you mean the St. Vincent DePaul Society food kitchen has now due to the acts of VP candidate Ryan suffered a massive drop off of donations? Facts are HARD Things
BigDaddy | Oct 21, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT
Does anyone remember John DiLulio? He was the head of Duhbya's Faith Based Initiative, a former professor from the University of Pennsylvania. When he outed the Bush team for what they were, he was forced to retract his claims that they were strictly politically motivated and unconcerned with policy. Or the bar manager in Texas who busted the Bush daughter for underage drinking? Her personal information was put on the Internet by "true believers" after she did her job under the law. The point being that, in America since the turn of the century, you do not speak the truth about the elite class without a lesson in B.F. Skinner. Speak the truth, expect to suffer. Or the whistle blowers that were punished under Bush for exposing the corruption associated with the Iraq invasion. Either people who support these criminals are too stupid to understand or they are being paid to ignore reality and act offended when someone points out that corporate America is unconcerned with the law. If they are the former, you can do nothing and if the latter is true, you can do nothing. But it should show any logical thinker that there is no "liberal media". If there were why would they ignore the illegalities engaged in by the RNC concerning voter registration? Who has seen extended coverage of the fraud committed by the GOP on TV? Wouldn't you expect this from a liberal media rather than a story about some dope sneaking into a soup kitchen to make his followers believe he isn't the guy he appears to be? Use you head people...those of you who can, I mean.
liammurf | Oct 21, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT
If nothing else the Congressman brought attention to "your soup kitchen". Sorry that a Dem can not see the value it that. I'll be looking forward to seeing BHO stoping by. He is such a generous charity man. I think this is "bull S---" where is your charity?
TomDem55 | Oct 21, 2012, 11:12 AM EDT
By welfare, of course you mean corporate welfare, surely you are against that......GE, Boeing,and a host of fortune 500 companies pay no Federal income tax, so if corporations are people, how do I get to be one of those people??? So you enjoy paying oil companies in tax subsidies? Socialism, really we HAVE corporate socialism !!!
shuvonn | Oct 21, 2012, 11:03 AM EDT
yes tom/peggy lets talk denial, this is not about WHO is better at photo ops, this is about you and the rabid republicans inability to admit that what Ryan did was wrong. Obama lost the first debate, but at least democrats can admit that. Obama won hands down the second one but many cannot accept that just like you cannot or are unwilling to accept that what Ryan did was WRONG and this is Not about whether Obama or anyone else engages in such actions this is about what is wrong here and not using the libya attack ( don't forget that the republican congress reduced the budget for the improvement and security of world wide embassies by nearly 300 million dollars in the last year) what fails here is your weak lies and attempts to use for cheap political gain when bush did not even refer to the 9/11 attacks as terrorism. SO make all the lame attempts you want to but you got NOTHING as usual...
Blackduck | Oct 21, 2012, 11:01 AM EDT
Cahair; You seem to be in the pocket of the party that is destroying my country. The party of socialism, Welfare, the party that is doing its best to, destroy the military, atheists, the Clown Biden who always seems to have his foot in his mouth, and what is the most important our failed president!
TomDem55 | Oct 21, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT
Simple, Ryan and his people used the church and the St. Vincent Depaul society as a prop. The article is factually true, and facts are stubborn things! As for the tragedy in Libya, we're you all quick to criticize former pres Bush on the first 9/11? I wager not. Ask the Nuns on the bus what they think of this guy Ryan Tom
tom/peggy | Oct 21, 2012, 10:41 AM EDT
Ryan is an amateur compared to Obama when it comes to photo opportunities. So a campaign stop photo op is more important that the murder of an Ambassador and three other brave Americans. Let's talk about anything other than our failed Presidents record.
shuvonn | Oct 21, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT
I see the state of denial is fully populated here :-) Yes, Ryan may not be the first one to get caught but he was caught.... admit that and maybe we can get back to real debate....
Tom Mo | Oct 21, 2012, 10:03 AM EDT
Vitriol drips from O'Doherty's hit piece on Paul Ryan. Get a life Cahir. Ever try bartending?
tom/peggy | Oct 21, 2012, 09:57 AM EDT
WOW is this the first time a politician has done this? What an incredible news story. BTW are you ever going to do a column on the four Americans including the Ambassador were murdered in Libya?
BrianO | Oct 21, 2012, 09:45 AM EDT
I wonder how many ambassadors were assassinated in this driveby washing, or navy seals or other American citizens. obama uses their flag draped coffins as a photo op, denies the truth and demands your vote.
torbreezy | Oct 21, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
Is this a "corroborated" news story or one more in a series of "hit pieces" concocted by the author for advancing an agenda?