The backstory is that the House Republicans, under Speaker Paul Ryan, passed a tax reform bill last night which was unanimously opposed by their political opponents.
The few times I have read anything of Paul Ryan, which has not been often, he has seemed to me be to be reasonably intelligent and reasonably principled. I thought it reflected well on him a few years ago when he stepped up as Speaker when no one else in the party would do so given the difficult and poisonous issues to be addressed. So generally a positive impression, but only superficial knowledge.
The twitter exchange starts out with this tweet.
Like it or not, big day for @SpeakerRyan. The former waiter at Tortilla Coast, located in the shadows of the U.S. Capitol, today oversees passage of a bill he's wanted his entire career.
— Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) December 19, 2017
Marks the passage of a major legislation and implies something of a rags-to-riches story for Ryan.
Ken Tremendous is having none of that.
Ah yes, the inspiring tale of a man born into significant wealth, who married into more wealth, then grew up to orchestrate a massive robbery of poor people to give himself and his friends yet greater wealth. A real "riches to unfathomable riches" story. https://t.co/A3idScYdVl
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) December 19, 2017
OK, not rags-to-riches but born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Is that right?
James Hasson is having none of Ken Tremendous's nonsense.
By that you mean a man who was flipping burgers at McDonald's at 15, found his father lying dead in bed of heart attack at 16, then took care of his Grandmother with Alzheimer's until he was 18 while his mom went back to school, and worked his way through college as a salesman? https://t.co/r7Clp1laUs
— James Hasson (@JamesHasson20) December 20, 2017
So rags-to-riches with personal tragedy or is it silver spoon scion? Without the bickering and posturing of twitter, I would not have bothered, but this irreconcilable representation of Ryan warranted a visit to Wikipedia - Paul Ryan.
Tremendous and Hasson are both cherry picking and both are correct with their foundation facts.
The real story is that Ryan was not born in poverty and on the wrong side of the tracks. He was the fourth child in a well-established and successful family, as asserted by Ken Tremendous. Privileged and wealthy might cover it. But apparently he also had a strong work ethic from an early age. In addition, the family was marked by tragedy as described by James Hasson. Tragedy which Ryan apparently took in his stride, doing all the honorable and dutiful things one would hope for from a good son. So a child of good fortune, marked by set-backs, straightened circumstances, and tragedy, but overcoming through hard work, diligence and moral behavior.
Interesting. I would not have known save for a twitter contradiction.
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