Paul Ryan Drank $350 Bottle Of Wine While Calling For Medicare Cuts, Says Ordering It Was 'Stupid'

Talking Points Memo:

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), a leading advocate of shrinking entitlement spending and the architect of the plan to privatize Medicare, spent Tuesday evening sipping $350 wine with two like-minded conservative economists at the swanky Capitol Hill eatery Bistro Bis.

Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo

Comments

[childeharr]

02:08 PM on 07/15/2011

This story has nothing to do with Ryan's preference in wine or the expense of the wine he was drinking. It has everything to do with the complete obtuseness of the congressmen to the real everyday needs of Americans who cannot afford the luxuries that he can afford. Paul Ryan can propose deep spending cuts and simply shrug his shoulders when he is confronted with the question of how seniors will pay the difference, because he has simply never known want. Paul Ryan can crunch numbers and propose "necessary" spending cuts in Medicare, then go home to an expensive house and luxurious food because he has simply never known want. No one begrudges Mr. Ryan his prerogative to eat well and live well. He has every right to do so. However, as an elected official, he also has the obligation to acknowledge the disparities that exist in the incomes of most American citizens. He also has the obligation to acknowledge,as a human being, that it is unnatural for so few to have so much, while so many have so little. To acknowledge this for most-to even see this-requires the simple recollection of want: of a time when you needed something that you could not attain. Mr. Ryan is a great tactician of mathematics, but he has never been obligated to know what it's like to sit at a table and calculate how you will feed many with little means. Paul Ryan has simply never known want.

[Thinkster]

06:19 PM on 07/22/2011

Paul Ryan, along with the rest of the Republicans, have disassociated themselves with the plight of the average American - much easier to avoid pain and consciense.

Business and Corporations are all - especially when your corporate masters demand that you toe the line and deny the populace.

After all - that's all Americans are wanted for in America - indentured servents and cannon fodder.

[Don Stalvino]

12:43 AM on 07/13/2011

Atleast Ryan was spending his own money unlike the FT.

[Bruce H Majors]

09:37 AM on 07/12/2011

It's the usual hypocrisy for Democrats

http://teapartiers.blogspot.com/2011/07/make-that-white-wine-please-they-dont.html

[DocSkull]

10:47 AM on 07/12/2011

You need to be careful about your sources. The blog contains many, many errors.

(1) "A reportedly inebriated Dr. Feinberg" -- she wasn't drunk, Ryan's friends were.

(2) "attacked Rep. Paul Ryan" -- talking to someone isn't an attack and Ryan himself made no accusations about rudeness on the part of the professor, but does discuss the poor behavior of his drunk friends.

(3) "ordered a $350 bottle of wine." Two bottles.

(4) Feinberg apparently manages not only to dine at expensive restaurants" -- according to their online menu, an entree is about $25 bucks. Not too pricey for a birthday dinner. Unless of course you are spending $700 two bottles of the most expensive wine.

(4) "knows (from across a room) what vintage a bottle of wine is and how much it costs!" -- she looked at the wine list on her table.

[airmikee99]

06:38 PM on 07/13/2011

This discussion isn't the proper venue for facts or truth. Please, leave and remove any facts or truth from your possession before returning.

[DocSkull]

11:01 AM on 07/12/2011

*(5)

[DickGranite]

08:13 AM on 07/12/2011

The employees at Bistro Bis thank you Mr Ryan for being one of many successful consumers that enable them to have a job. I'll drink to that.

[DocSkull]

08:33 AM on 07/12/2011

"The employees at Bistro Bis thank you Mr Ryan for being one of many successful consumers that enable them to have a job. I'll drink to that."

What about the employees of the services effected by Ryan's cuts to medicare and social security?

[DickGranite]

10:39 AM on 07/12/2011

The Federal Government is a bubble. Bubbles burst and like ALL bursting bubbles, people lose jobs. We can't save everybody, every day on every thing. This is why we conservatives like a nation of strong individuals and we we teach our children to be independent...up until the time they grow up it seems.

[Thinkster]

06:21 PM on 07/22/2011

Finally - a Republican that helps creates jobs - about time.

[llcoolk50]

07:37 AM on 07/12/2011

First of all the price of the wine was $250 not $350. Ryan didn't order or pay for the wine nor did the taxpayers. The 2 other men with Ryan ordered and paid for the wine. I am assuming that the wine was taxed thus generating revenue. The sale also provided employment for the waitstaff, supplier and winery. That is how capitalism works.
This constant mantra of class warfare by left is wearing thin. The hypocrite that reported this never wrote about Pelosi soaking the US taxpayers for 2 million dollars for 2 yrs of her junkets including over $100,000 for airplane bar tab. Leftists see only what they want to see. acts don't matter to them.

[DocSkull]

08:08 AM on 07/12/2011

"First of all the price of the wine was $250 not $350."

Report consistently say it was $350.

"The 2 other men with Ryan ordered and paid for the wine."

Ryan bought a bottle after he was noticed accepting a gift in excess of $100.

"The hypocrite that reported this never wrote about Pelosi soaking the US taxpayers for 2 million dollars for 2 yrs of her junkets including over $100,000 for airplane bar tab."

That also isn't true. Pelosi's cost were equal to her predecessor and included much, much more than the bar bill.

That's strike three, you're out.

[Thinkster]

06:23 PM on 07/22/2011

So what? - how can you be of the people when you do things like this that throw our plight in our faces - then ask us to do with less - while he makes do with so much more.

Hypocrite.

[JimHuntShow]

03:09 AM on 07/12/2011

Why was this lady in this expensive restaurant, while students at her College are eating Ramen Noodles, and her College is hiking tuition. She should be spreading all that wealth of hers around.

[DocSkull]

08:09 AM on 07/12/2011

"Why was this lady in this expensive restaurant­..."

It was her birthday. Read the darned the articles. Colleges may be hiking tuition, but professors aren't seeing the money.

[RichThomk]

03:49 PM on 07/12/2011

She makes $160,000/year and you say "professors aren't seeing the money". OMG you are clueles s

[Thinkster]

06:24 PM on 07/22/2011

Now you understand when someone says "appearances are everything".

[Thinkster]

06:48 PM on 07/22/2011

Now you understand when someone says "appearances are everything".

I have a better idea - all your favorite corporations defend the outrageous salaries paid to glad-handers that simply take a piece off the top just because they were there - this lady actually educates our (YOUR) young people to take their places in our society.

You are not thinking about what's really important - and those with useful knowledge that might support America and its future must be worth more than those that would simply profit from it.

Or are you really a pirate like them?

[AndyB62]

07:25 PM on 07/11/2011

More evidence that the rich are obsessed with taking away what little the poor have. How does a public employee (Ryan) afford a meal for more than $400? Doesn't matter who you vote for, the game is rigged in favor of the rich.

[DocSkull]

08:58 PM on 07/11/2011

"More evidence that the rich are obsessed with taking away what little the poor have."

They target the small money because they've already taken everything else.

[Thinkster]

06:27 PM on 07/22/2011

The usual response of the conqueror - burned fields. Leave nothing.

[llcoolk50]

09:41 AM on 07/28/2011

Ryan makes $180,000 a yr as a US congressman. He likely has other income from his private sector life. Who are we to pass judgement on what he spends HIS money on?

[Bruce H Majors]

07:18 PM on 07/11/2011

Michelle Obama spends more than that on snacks when she is on vacation. I.e. every other week.

[DocSkull]

07:21 PM on 07/11/2011

"Michelle Obama spends more than that on snacks when she is on vacation. I.e. every other week."

Do you mean the this?
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_michelle_obama_lobster.htm

[medici]

05:41 PM on 07/22/2011

Thanks for your research, Doc. Fanned.

[tuliehowller]

07:17 PM on 07/11/2011

Well, what-da-you-know? Is it really any surprise?

[AndyB62]

07:25 PM on 07/11/2011

NO!

[tuliehowller]

07:45 PM on 07/11/2011

LOL!

[peanutsintexas]

06:19 PM on 07/11/2011

Two stories:

in the first, there is a wealthy or semi-wealthy man who goes out to eat with his friends. They drop a lot of money on dinner and drinks at a swank DC bistro. Covering their dinner is of no concern to this groups pocket book.

in the second story, Michelle Obama goes to a homeless shelter to serve meals for 3 minutes and have her picture taken to be publicized to the world to make it look like she cares. While there, a handful of homeless people pull out their I-phones and other smart phones so that they can get a personal picture with Michelle. Did any of you liberals ask how they pay for their smart phone plans. Where does the bill get mailed to?

[DocSkull]

07:12 PM on 07/11/2011

"Covering their dinner is of no concern to this groups pocket book.'

You left out the fact that Ryan expects others to sacrifice medical care and other necessities so that his hedgefund buddies and he can continue to have thousand dollar dinners.

"Did any of you liberals ask how they pay for their smart phone plans. Where does the bill get mailed to?"

Homeless doesn't mean that one is jobless or not seeking work. A phone is their lifeline to better days. If they don't have a phone, they'll never see the job notice or get the call back to work. The homeless get their mail at the homes of friends, family or rented post box. The working poor eat at shelters because their jobs don't pay enough for food and shelter.

I don't understand your value system. Why do you make excuses for waste and excess, but begrudge others a basic necessity?

[dumosumo]

07:19 PM on 07/11/2011

Regarding the oft repeated cell phone story: It was one guy, not a handful of people. One guy was shown taking a picture with a cell phone. Was he homeless? Was he a volunteer? Did he have some other business there? I don't know - and neither do you.

[NY Guy]

06:13 PM on 07/11/2011

Obama can gas up Air Force One to go see a Broadway show, but Ryan cannot buy a bottle of wine at dinner.

[DocSkull]

07:17 PM on 07/11/2011

"Obama can gas up Air Force One to go see a Broadway show, but Ryan cannot buy a bottle of wine at dinner."

Ryan can buy all the $350 bottles of wine he wants, but he has to accept that it runs directly counter to his rhetoric of austerity.

Whether the president flies to NYC to see a show or to Texas to cut brush, the leader of the free world needs to have some fun.

[RichThomk]

03:51 PM on 07/12/2011

"the leader of the free world needs to have some fun. "

At taxpayer's expense? At least Bryan didn't stick the citizens of the country with his tab.

[Thinkster]

06:32 PM on 07/22/2011

Obama is the President of your country, fool.

He works 24/7/365 - you try that for a bit - if he gets a show - that's cool.

[garymc8]

05:41 PM on 07/11/2011

Probably wants a tax cut for buyers of overpriced wine, too

[larmarch5]

04:58 PM on 07/11/2011

Turns out the wine was ordered by a Hedge Fund manager named Asness. I assume HIS is his first name.

[Ladybug50]

06:32 PM on 07/11/2011

That title would make him a "Royal pain in the Asness".

[Thinkster]

06:32 PM on 07/22/2011

Oh yeah!!

[FreelanceWriter]

04:48 PM on 07/11/2011

FACTS about this incident:
1) Paul Ryan did NOT order the wine - one of his dinner companions did.
2) They paid for it out of THEIR pockets.

Speaking as an Independent voter, what is the Left's grip about this? What, Progressives now believe that people can't spend THEIR OWN MONEY as they choose? And how does ANY of this tie into Medicare in ANY way? Because there's obviously a BIG DIFFERENCE between someone reaching into their own wallet and paying for something privately (whether it's wine, a TV, a house, or whatever) versus a flat-broke government paying TOO much for TOO many services that it CANNOT afford any longer, all because the boneheads in Washington spent TOO many years OVER promising things to people.

Better yet, where was all this moral outrage on the Left over politicians spending when John Edwards was having FOUR HUNDRED DOLLAR HAIRCUTS? Or when Michelle Obama was giving a speech to people about needing to tighten their belts at home while wearing a pair of EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLAR shoes? Or when John Kerry was pointing a "holier than thou" finger at John and Cindy McCain for owning several homes (because of her family's wealth) -- all while Kerry himself owns several homes and, in fact, is married to a woman worth over 3/4 of a BILLION dollars?

(crickets chirping)
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Gotta love that political hypocrisy...

[DocSkull]

05:22 PM on 07/11/2011

"Paul Ryan did NOT order the wine - one of his dinner companions did."

Ryan is proposing economic policy for the United States. How can he do a good job if he can't navigate dinner with friends without being stuck with an exorbitant bill? Aren't people in the financial sector going to do the same thing?

[dax49]

05:53 PM on 07/11/2011

If you don't understand people's "gripe"- you are a true republican-and a lousy American!

[AndyB62]

07:32 PM on 07/11/2011

The poor are oh so annoying with their desires to eat and have a place to live and earn a wage that allows them to be healthy. They're always hurting rich peoples' feelings by pointing out that a single meal in a posh restaurant equals their monthly food budget.

[reviewingthesituation]

04:38 PM on 07/11/2011

Dumb as sled tracks! He offers to pay for wine he doesn't know the cost of? Clearly, he doesn't have to worry about the cost of things like the rest of us do. But what will do Ryan in is if/when it becomes apparent he lied: that the two men really are lobbyists or influence-pimps of some kind. Will Ryan then claim that he was so dumb he didn't know the two "economists" were on a special-interest payroll?

This is the equivalent of Edwards' $400 haircut. Worse. Edwards' stylist wasn't trying to sell out his country.

We've got to stop treating congressmen like little lords. Military personnel must serve 20 years before being able to claim a pension. Why should it be any different for congressmen?

[DocSkull]

05:07 PM on 07/11/2011

"This is the equivalent of Edwards' $400 haircut."

At least the next morning Edwards still had a nice haircut.

[dax49]

05:55 PM on 07/11/2011

And Edwards was wealthy before he took office- we are paying this guy way too much if he can buy $350.00 bottles of wine-and he had no intention of paying for it until he was caught!!