Instead of discussing the points of Paul Ryan’s convention speech, many are focusing on his mention of the Janesville GM plant and the alleged lie he told.

In the spirit of defending a fellow Wisconsinite, let’s look at what he said and assess it line by line.

What Paul Ryan said:
“President Barack Obama came to office during an economic crisis, as he has reminded us a time or two. Those were very tough days, and any fair measure of his record has to take that into account. My home state voted for President Obama. When he talked about change, many people liked the sound of it, especially in Janesville, where we were about to lose a major factory.

A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: “I believe that if our government is there to support you … this plant will be here for another hundred years.” That’s what he said in 2008.

Well, as it turned out, that plant didn’t last another year. It is locked up and empty to this day. And that’s how it is in so many towns today, where the recovery that was promised is nowhere in sight.”

Truth:
+Obama did come to office during a crisis.
+He has reminded us of that.
+They were tough days.
+Americans do take that into account (check polling data).
+Wisconsin did vote for Obama.
+People did like the sound of change – in Janesville, too.
+They were about to lose the GM factory, and the timeframe to which he was referring was when Bush was President.
+Guys Ryan went to high school with did work at that GM plant.
+Obama did say that at the plant.
+The year he said it was 2008 – which means Bush was President then.
+The plant didn’t last another year.
+It is locked up and empty to this day.
+It is like that in many towns today.

The only debatable sentence is if the promised recovery is “nowhere in sight.”

And to his point with regards to what Obama said that day – the government DID support GM with a bailout, and the plant is still closed.

My question? Where in this is Paul Ryan lying?

– My name is Jon Friesch, and I think we should listen to people with an open mind.