Gregg Segal/TIME
Wait, what? Who thought this was a good idea? TIME magazine's photo gallery of Paul Ryan as gym rat hit the news Oct. 11, the same day as the vice presidential debate
The Republican U.S. representative from Janesville was tapped as Mitt Romney's running mate in August. Thus began an ill-starred campaign in which, among other misrepresentations, Ryan claimed that the closing of Janesville's GM plant was President Obama's fault. (The closure was actually announced on George W. Bush's watch.) Ryan's turn in the national spotlight earned him more than the usual number of Cheap Shot Awards for 2012.
Looking Very Vice Presidential Award: Time magazine's photo gallery of Ryan as a ridiculous-looking gym rat hit the news Oct. 11, the same day as the vice presidential debate. Anybody want to vote for a VP in a backwards baseball hat and a goofy expression? Didn't think so.
Pinocchio Award: "Under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something," said Ryan in describing his marathon-running time to conservative talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt in an interview on Aug. 22.
Runner's World easily connected readers with Ryan's actual time in Duluth's 1990 Grandma's Marathon: 4:01:25. "This man claimed an honor that he never earned," the magazine wrote, saying Ryan diminished the sub-three-hour feat for those who actually achieve it. "It's galling."
Or maybe Ryan is just bad with numbers.
How to Piss Off a Nun: Ryan claimed his severe "Path to Prosperity" budget proposals were informed by his Catholic faith, but the Nuns on the Bus disagreed. They launched a Midwestern road trip targeting districts of House members who voted for the plan. "That budget undermines the whole fabric of our society," said Sister Simone Campbell.