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Special Report
My Long-Lost Paul Ryan Interview
The future VP nominee talked about his faith and the difference between be-ers and do-ers.
(Page 2 of 2)
We have a study group here in Washington among conservative Catholic politicians called the St. Thomas More study group. We have guest speakers who come in to meet with us about once or twice a month.… So the example that St. Thomas More set is one that many of us here in Congress are not only trying to emulate but try to learn about… trying to respect, trying to study and trying to have the example set out for us. So it’s something that many of us have in the front of our minds as an example of how we ought to conduct ourselves while serving in office.
We asked Ryan what he prays for. He said:
I pray for my family, to be a good husband to my wife to be a good father to my children. And then I pray to keep my principles intact. That in my daily life, as a member of Congress, that I follow God will, and that I follow His consistent principles. That’s what I pray for, and to have the strength to do that. There are a lot of pressures in every job. There are tremendous pressures in this job as a member of Congress, especially in these times. And so I just pray for the strength to be consistent, to follow God’s principles as I know them to be.
Ryan concluded our interview by distinguishing between the two kinds of people who run for office. The primary dividing line, he said, is not between Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals or Catholics and non-Catholics, but instead between what he called “be-ers” and “do-ers.” Using a formulation that helps explain Ryan’s subsequent political rise and offers a forecast of Ryan’s future, win or lose, he said:
Some people run for office because they want to be a congressman or be a senator, or to be a governor. And then there are people who run for office because they want to do something. And they want to act on certain convictions and principles, and advance a cause.
We unfortunately have a lot of be-ers in Congress, a lot of be-ers in government. Do-ers are the people who actually advance society, make a difference. And that’s the covenant that we as elected officials have with our constituents, where we tell our constituents who we are, what we believe and what we will do. That’s the covenant we have with our constituents. And when in office, we have the obligation, the moral authority, to act on that covenant.
About the Author
Daniel Allott is a writer in Washington, D.C.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (13) | Leave a comment
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Jack in Wi| 8.29.12 @ 6:38AM
This is an intresting article. I like Paul Ryan and as a local boy hope he does well. I am glad he mentioned subsidiarity, which should the basis for any kind of conservative governance. I hope Mitt Romney knows what the word means. I doubt it. As for Ayn Rand, I picked up a couple of her books many years ago and could never get into them. For me she was a lousey novelist. I tried but I just could not come close finishing them.
TLP| 8.29.12 @ 5:19PM
He's not Joe Biden.
That's good enough for me.
Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.29.12 @ 9:00PM
Jack, Ayn Rand was a great thinker;
but a terrible writer; cardboard characters,
Hollywood dialogue...remember, she was involved in cinema when she lived in Russia
a hundred years ago.
Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.29.12 @ 9:05PM
... "Thomas More, English martyr and patron of politicians"
And inspirer of a 5-star play and film. I read the play, it is as good as the film.
Von Mises Jr| 8.29.12 @ 6:46AM
Paul Ryan displays the philosophical and economic views of Ayn Rand's "Objectivism" in that one filters everything through active cognition and volition. She explains it as always having the light switch "ON" when attempting to fit new experiences into our worldview. Because she was an atheist, does not detract from this thinking that was also shared by Mises, Hayek, Tocqueville and Burke.
At the same time, because Ryan accepts the religiosity of St. Thomas More does not follow that he accepts his ideas in "Utopia."
If one is to understand Ryan in context, he accepts the best each has to offer and rejects the least useful.
Butch| 8.29.12 @ 5:16PM
Exactly, Mises. One can be influenced by Rand's individualism and reject the atheism. All the best thinkers accept the best and reject the worst in most philosophers. I think it's actually amusing the way some are trying to make Ayn Rand and her atheism an issue.
The Avenger| 8.29.12 @ 7:41AM
Paul Ryan is a breath of fresh air in the cesspool of Washington D.C. I pray that he is elected as our Vice-President so that he can continue to lead the country where it needs to go.
RCV| 8.29.12 @ 12:06PM
Well, for a guy steadfast in his analysis of the human life issue, he's sure taken up Mitt Romney's endorsement of various exceptions to a ban on abortion pretty easily. I guess he's starting to understand Jack Kennedy's perspective a little better.
Butch| 8.29.12 @ 5:20PM
Right on, feller: he should be as principled in his direction as Obama is in his, all the way to strongly opposing medical attention being given to babies born alive as a result of a "botched" abortion. Now THAT's principle! You agree, of course, right?
John II| 8.30.12 @ 12:29AM
"At the same time, because Ryan accepts the religiosity of St. Thomas More does not follow that he accepts his ideas in 'Utopia.'"
Er, slight emendation, Vonnie. More's "Utopia," which I had to study rather closely some 45 years ago when I was a just a wee undergraduate, is a satire. Logically, one would conclude therefore that Ryan does indeed agree with More's "Utopia."
"No-place" (that's what "Utopia" means in Greek) on Earth is precisely where the Progressive vision will be realized--except, that is, for those western Progressives who regard North Korea and Cuba and Iran as realizations of their perfect social order.
You must think more concretely, Vonnie, in honor of your nom de internet. There's a wonderful story of Ludwig von Mises at a dinner with Ayn Rand. In response to a cutting remark the blunt-spoken von Mises directed to her, Rand burst out in tears and complained, "You treat me as if I'm just a foolish little girl!"
To which von Mises replied in his thick German accent: "Dat's EKZACTLY vhat you are!"
And now back to "Grand Hotel" (1932), in which Wallace Beery does a plausible imitation of Ludwig von Mises.
Nick| 8.30.12 @ 12:54AM
John II,
That's what I thought! I was sure that I had read that before, in some magazine years ago, since I've never read "Utopia" myself.
This is why I was confused when I heard Mark Levin discuss his book "Ameritopia" on some show. It came across as though Mr. Levin thought St. Thomas More was advocating a utopian society. I also haven't gotten to "Ameritopia." Yet. So, I don't know for sure if that is the point of the book.
But, thanks for clearing that up for me, John. My memory isn't that bad. Yet.
Carroll | 9.4.12 @ 3:44AM
"I really don't worry about alienating non-Catholics because when I talk about how I, as a Catholic politician, conduct myself in office, consistent with Catholic principles, I talk about our founders, I talk about our Constitution, I talk about the Declaration of Independence, the fact that our country was founded on the belief that we are free to express our religion in the public square," he said.