Forerunner Mitt Romney declared his presidential running partner to be Paul Ryan, a U.S representative for Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district, on Aug. 11, 2012. This means that if Romney is elected to be the president of the United States, Ryan will subsequently become the vice president of the United States. Although Ryan served as a U.S representative since 1999 and is very knowledgeable about the current United States policies, different backgrounds and philosophy may create conflict between Ryan and Romney.
The first and the most quintessential difference between these two men is the way they identify themselves. According to the Los Angeles Times, Romney defines himself as a problem-solver because of his prior business experiences with the Bain Capital, which he co-found. Ryan, on the other hand, identifies himself as a thinker who stays consistent with his political philosophy. Unlike Romney, who had prior exposure to business, Ryan only worked in the office since 1999. The different mindset between the two running partners may lead to a more substantial clash later on.
Another difference between the two is their religions. Romney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, colloquially known as Mormonism. Ryan, by contrast, is a Roman Catholic and is a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church. The two religions differ from the very essence of their beliefs; Mormonism was found by Joseph Smith in the late 1800’s in the United States, while Roman Catholicism dates back to the 2nd century. While Roman Catholicism values structure and divinity, Mormonism values proselytization and spirituality. Such differences may be irreconcilable when Romney and Ryan discuss about religious diversity.
But there are some similarities between them that may aid in their quest to win the election. One such similarity is their shrewd awareness of economic policies. Ryan serves as the chair of the House Budget Committee and regularly submits plan proposal. In March 2012, he introduced a budget proposal called “The Path to Prosperity: A Blueprint for American Renewal” in response to Obama’s 2013 budget plan. Ryan, similarly, knows how to regulate money due to his prior experiences with the Bain Capital. When the two collaborate, the current economic recession could hugely alleviate.
No one knows for sure what the duo can bring to the United States. But before Romney and Ryan start contributing, they must reconcile their differences first.
