The first video is self-explanatory, but I have transcribed as much of it here as possible because of the poor quality of the audiovisuals. This took place last fall at one of Congressman Rep. Ryan’s “Pay to Play” town hall meetings where he was discussing cutting Senior’s Social Security, and Medicare as a means of debt reduction. As you might imagine, one senior was not pleased.

Ryan: “Most of our debt in the future comes from our entitlement programs.”

Senior citizen: “Hey, (Garbled; Ryan continues to speak). I paid into that for 50 years, my unemployment and my Social Security and my Medicare, and now you’re gonna…” At this point you hear the police who are dragging him out shouting, “on the ground, on the ground”.

Ryan then jokes, “I hope he’s taken his blood-pressure medication”, and the room laughs with him.

Here’s the video:



The 71-year-old senior citizen was obviously unhappy about Ryan’s use of the word “entitlement” when he has paid, as all working people have, for the benefits he receives. It’s apparent that he went to the meeting to voice his opposition to that term being used; a view shared by many.

Ryan has a history of being booed and hissed at Town Hall meetings. He has told folks to leave and he progressed to having them arrested. Here’s a video by Moveon.org showing three other people arrested for asking about jobs at the same gathering:

None of those arrested have yet identified themselves publicly. It’s embarrassment enough that the arrests happened at all…for asking questions of their elected representative.

Rep. Ryan has refused to address his constituents in the past and at this particular meeting, which was held at Klemmer’s Banquet Hall in Milwaukee, Ryan charged $15 to attend. When some who had paid their money stood up and began to question Ryan about the jobless rate and the Bush Tax cuts, they found themselves under arrest.

To make a joke as a senior citizen is being shoved to the ground for vocalizing their concerns and questions to their Congressman Representative reveals much about Ryan’s character. In the last video, he actually waves to the reporters who are shaming him and the police officers for arresting people for no cause.