Paul Ryan shows his empathy by washing already-clean dishes during soup kitchen photo-op

Paul Ryan shows his empathy by washing already-clean dishes during soup kitchen photo-op

In the wake of Rep. Paul Ryan's embarrassing soup kitchen photo-op last week, the organization that runs the facility tells The Huffington Post that donors have begun pulling their money out of the Youngstown, Ohio charity. Ryan may have suffered a few late-night jokes, but the fallout for the soup kitchen appears to be far more bruising. Brian J. Antal, president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society, confirmed that donors have begun an exodus in protest over Ryan's embarrassment. The monetary losses have been big. "It appears to be a substantial amount," Antal said. "You can rest assured there has been a substantial backlash."

Ryan supporters have now targeted Antal and his soup kitchen, Antal said, including making hundreds of angry phone calls. Some members of Antal's volunteer staff have had to endure the barrage as well, he said. "The sad part is a lot of [the callers] want to hide behind anonymity," he said, adding that if someone leaves their name and number he has tried to return their call. In addition to phone calls, people have posted a few choice words on the charity's Facebook wall, including statements like "I hope you lose your tax [sic] emempt status," Anyone who is thinking about donations to you should think twice" and "Shame on you Brian Antal!"

This is really awful In addition to the financial backlash from angry Republicans, the charity has been the target of angry phone calls and Facebook postings.These people would do well to remember that Paul Ryan is the one who invited himself to the soup kitchen for a photo-op. Paul Ryan is the one who washed clean dishes in the hopes of scoring political points. And if Republicans are made about it, they've got no one to blame but Paul Ryan. The last thing in the world they should do is take it out on the charity—and the homeless and hungry people who depend on it.

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