RNC 2012: Paul Ryan Republican convention speech (full text)

Video: Vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan shares about his mom’s small business story and his grandmother’s experience with Medicare. He also addresses millenials who have bleak prospects coupled with large student debt loads, what he sees as the failures of the Obama administration, and what he and Mitt Romney plan to do.

Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) speech to the Republican National Convention on Aug. 29 in Tampa, Fla., as prepared for delivery.

Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored by the support of this convention for vice president of the United States. 

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I accept the duty to help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity – and I know we can do this. 

I accept the calling of my generation to give our children the America that was given to us, with opportunity for the young and security for the old – and I know that we are ready.  

Our nominee is sure ready. His whole life has prepared him for this moment – to meet serious challenges in a serious way, without excuses and idle words.  After four years of getting the run-around, America needs a turnaround, and the man for the job is Governor Mitt Romney. 

I’m the newcomer to the campaign, so let me share a first impression.  I have never seen opponents so silent about their record, and so desperate to keep their power.  

They’ve run out of ideas.  Their moment came and went. Fear and division are all they’ve got left.    

With all their attack ads, the president is just throwing away money – and he’s pretty experienced at that.  You see, some people can’t be dragged down by the usual cheap tactics, because their ability, character, and plain decency are so obvious – and ladies and gentlemen, that is Mitt Romney.   

For my part, your nomination is an unexpected turn.  It certainly came as news to my family, and I’d like you to meet them: My wife Janna, our daughter Liza, and our boys Charlie and Sam.  

The kids are happy to see their grandma, who lives in Florida.  There she is – my Mom, Betty.  

My Dad, a small-town lawyer, was also named Paul.  Until we lost him when I was 16, he was a gentle presence in my life.  I like to think he’d be proud of me and my sister and brothers, because I’m sure proud of him and of where I come from, Janesville, Wisconsin.     

I live on the same block where I grew up.  We belong to the same parish where I was baptized.  Janesville is that kind of place. 

The people of Wisconsin have been good to me.  I’ve tried to live up to their trust.  And now I ask those hardworking men and women, and millions like them across America, to join our cause and get this country working again. 

When Governor Romney asked me to join the ticket, I said, “Let’s get this done” – and that is exactly, what we’re going to do.  

President Barack Obama came to office during an economic crisis, as he has reminded us a time or two.  Those were very tough days, and any fair measure of his record has to take that into account.  My home state voted for President Obama. When he talked about change, many people liked the sound of it, especially in Janesville, where we were about to lose a major factory.  

A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: “I believe that if our government is there to support you … this plant will be here for another hundred years.”  That’s what he said in 2008. 

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