A tale of two Congressmen

This is one time that Brian Christianson, my conservative counterpart on WisOpinion, and I are on the same wave length. Christianson, on his Free Will blog, salutes Rep. Paul Ryan for having the courage to stand up and face the voters on an issue even at some political risk.

Ryan, who's been outspoken on the Social Security issue and has authored a bill to allow private accounts, debated someone who's well-versed on the issue -- and who strongly disagrees with him -- in Janesville this week.

A crowd reported at 600 people turned out to listen to Ryan and Dean Barker, co-director of a think tank and author of a book on Social Security. The turnout itself is amazing, but Ryan's willingness to participate, knowing that many in the audience disagreed with him, was refreshing.

Christianson writes:

Paul Ryan continues to demonstrate why voters in the First District respect him; Paul will not duck and hide in Washington.

Forget the Republican–Democrat label for a moment. Voters want politicians who act less like used car salesmen hustling a deal, and more like doctors offering a diagnosis; Give it to me straight, Doc, how much time do I have left?

It was very informative…this is what democracy is all about I definitely came away with a better understanding of the whole issue The ability to tell us what we don’t really want to hear is the signature of a politician who puts people ahead of Party; ho puts people ahead of career.

Personally, I hope Paul never runs for statewide office. He has more to offer than that. Paul has the integrity and intellectual honesty to change the U.S. House of Representatives and with it, to build a GOP Generation of future leaders.

Christianson doesn't make the obvious comparison with another Wisconsin Republican who's in Congress. I guess he just teed it up for me.

Mark Green, the man who would be governor, has spent the last six months trying to duck the Social Security issue. He brushes off questions, acts like he doesn't know anything about the issue, and has repeatedly refused to attend town meetings -- or even organize an event of his own -- to discuss and defend his stand on Social Security. Can you imagine Green debating in front of 600 people when he won't even answer a reporter's question on the issue?

Everything that Christianson says about Ryan reflects negatively on Green. If Ryan puts people ahead of career, Green puts career ahead of people. I don't believe you are required to sell your soul or compromise your principles to run for statewide office. But Mark Green certainly has.