365 members. i'm laura ingraham. i'm in tonight for bill o'reilly. please remember the spin stops right here, because we're always looking out for you. >> sean: and tonight in an exclusive interview that you will only see on "hannity," republican vice presidential hopeful congressman paul ryan sounds off on what has become the most divisive campaign in american history from the president's class warfare rhetoric to the white house's repeated attempts to distort the romney/ryan economic plan. we've covered it all. we'll have action right after the interview. i'll also get analysis on the other big story tonight, and that is the refusal of missouri senate candidate todd akin to

end his candidacy following his controversial remarks on abortion and rape. i interviewed him earlier today. we'll have portions coming up later this hour. first i caught up with congressman ryan at a campaign stop in car nagy, pennsylvania. let's take a look. >> congressman, thanks for being with us. >> thanks for having me, sean. >> bill: you knew you were being vetted, you're on the short list, you're called to massachusetts. no one noticed it? >> no i had. a bow hunting hat on, blue jeans, just a t-shirt. i flew to hartford, connecticut, and my 19-year-old son picked me up at the airport and drove me to the house. >> bill: the media was on full vp watch. >> uh-huh. >> bill: you sneak off in the back woods, navigate through the woods to another family member's house. >> yeah. we live in the block i grew up on, and there are a patch of woods between the house i live in now and the house i grew up

in. those are the woods i spent my childhood in, building tree forts, capture the flag, all of that, so i snuck through the woods. >> bill: so "new york times" reporter would be able to keep up with you? >> i'm an outdoorsy guy anyway, i know those woods like the back of my hand, and i flew out to virginia. >> bill: you've been in congress 14 years, at this meeting with governor romney. what are you talking about in terms of him asking you to be his running mate? >> it was one of the most moving conversations i've had with everybody. he told me where he thought the country was headed, how we got to back on track, his life story, what in his heart. he basically said, you share my values, you have the kind of experience i'm going to need to help me fix this country's problems. our experiences complement each other quite well. we affl apply the same principlo the problems of the day. he basically said, let's fix

this country. >> bill: that's how he asked you? >> pretty much, yeah. >> bill: sort of like a proposal? >> yeah. >> bill: and you were ready to go. look, there's been a lot of attacks already against you, but you kind of experienced this beforehand. >> i've been doing this a while. >> bill: paul ryan look-a-like, throwing granny off the cliff. axelrod said your views are dangerous, he said. what is your reaction to that level of activity just on you, then we'll talk about governor romney. >> this is what we expect from president obama these days. this is what you do if you can't run on your record. president obama clearly can't run on his record. all he's offering is more of the same. that's not good. look at the economy. it's stagnating. they'll try to bring the campaign down to little things, distortion, distractions, smear, anger, fear. the country is not going to buy it this time. hope and change?

we're doing attack and blame. the country wants us to get the country on the right track. it's a referendum on the president's failed leadership, but it's a positive vision we're offering about how to get our country back on track. the president, he can't compete with that. he's not offering that. that's why they're doing those types of attacks. >> bill: they're doing these attacks, but do you worry that on some level that they may work? in other words, look, they basically accuse governor romney of being responsible for a woman's cancer death. they've called him a felon. they said he's a tax cheat. president obama himself said their plan is for dirty air and dirty water. >> right. >> bill: and kids with autism and down's syndrome and the elderly will "fend for themselves." >> right. i'm not worried about this at all. people see through this. i represent a congressional district that voted for clinton, gore, dukakis and obama. i'm a conservative. why is that? people are ready to be talked to like adults.

they're ready to have solutions offered to them. they'll see through this. they don't want to be pandered to like children. they don't want all this negative disorganization kin to. when they see how we'll create jobs, have economic growth and opportunity turned back on in america as a contrast to the president's failed record, look at his record, it's tablier. so he can't run on that. he didn't moderate his position. if anything, he went far to the left lately. that's what he's reduced to. i just don't think people will see it. the more he throws of this negative campaigning, i think the less credibility he has. i don't think the country's going to stand for it. >> bill: interesting phenomenon iin your district, a discriminae democratic district, last four presidential races they went democratic, voted for obama by 4%, and 1 in 5 of those obama voters switched down ticket to vote for you. they split their ticket. >> right.

i'm used to that. >> bill: what is your appeal as a conservative, very different vision for obama, how do you explain they vote for obama on the top of the ticket and they vote for paul ryan -- >> i'm not trying to be anybody other than who i actually am. people want candid, refreshing leadership. i've always tried to go with solutions. you know, i've always tried to say, here's how we get our economy growing, get our debt under control. that's what mitt romney is offering. that's what the romney plan is all about, how to get jobs created, how to get this debt and deficit under control, how to revive small businesses so we can create jobs, and how to bring growth and opportunity to society instead of this class warfare, instead of speaking to people like they're stuck in some class or station in life. the president is preying on the darker emotions within people. fear, envy, anxiety. we're trying to go back to the american people with an agenda that's uplifting, that produces economic growth, opportunity,

that gets the american idea back on track before it's too late. >> bill: what's your relationship with president obama? we all got a chance to go back and look at both you and president obama on the healthcare issue. how is that relationship? >> well, we've obviously known each other for some time. we've debated each other fairly vigorously on these issues. i think it's one of mutual respect, but strong principle disagreements on governing philosophy. i think he's basically given us his philosophy here and there on occasion, you know, like i said in roanoke, virginia, if you have a small business, you didn't build that, someone else did. that reveals a philosophy of a leader who believes we ought to have a government-centered society and government-driven economy. that doesn't work. look at any other country that's tried that agenda, it's failed. it's failing in europe. they're in the middle of a debt crisis. the problem we have is all these empty promises that government makes to people become broken promises. in europe, they're cutting people's retirement and health

benefits. that's what we want to avoid from happening. they're raising taxes, entering a recession. that's the kind of economic program president obama has put in place. the largest government and deficits since world war ii, 23 million people struggling to find work. under president obama's policies the poverty rates in this country are the highest they've ever been. nearly 1 in 6 americans are in poverty. it's not working. he obviously knows that, but he hasn't changed his tune. he's offering more of the same. we're offering a very clear break with that and a path to prosperity and opportunity and growth. >> bill: the president at different times, though, said he was going to fix these things. he said he'd cut the deficit in half, create jobs. we have fewer americans working now. >> right. >> >> bill: he talked about a stimulus, shovel-ready jobs. they weren't show shovel-red to quote him. what went wrong? obviously he wouldn't have fought for these programs if he didn't think they'd be successful? what do you think went wrong?

>> i think that's right. he had everything he wanted, except for cap and trade, which was filibustered, now trying to deliver that through the epa and regulations. his first two years, his party controlled government, so he got almost every item on his agenda passed. it failed because the policies don't work. more regulating, more taxing, more borrowing, more spending, that doesn't work. having what i call crony capitalism, where you take money from successful small businesses, spend it in washington on favored industries, on favored individuals, picking winners and losers in the economy, that's not pro-growth economics. that's not entrepreneurial economics. that's not helping small businesses. that's cronyism, that's corporate welfare. it doesn't work. it's never worked. the president is till wedded to it. that's why you have such a failure of leadership. that's why i just don't think people are going to rehire this president, because number one it failed. number two, he's promising more of the same. number three, we're offering a very clear break with that and a path to get back on to prosperity.

>> bill: and later tonight, top republicans, including governor romney are calling on missouri senate candidate todd akin to drop out of the race over his controversial comments about rape. the latest on the controversy still ahead, including my interview, but first more of my exclusive interview with congressman paul ryan, unloading on the president's economic policies, plus lays out his foreign policy credentials since being named as mitt romney's running mate. that's next. >> i've gone to afghanistan and iraq to meet with our troops, to learn from them. obviously i have a lot more experience than barack obama did when he became president. at shell, we believe the world needs a broader mix of energies. that's why we're supplying natural gas to generate cleaner electricity... that has around 50% fewer co2 emissions than coal. and it's also why, with our partner in brazil, shell is producing ethanol - a biofuel made from renewable sugarcane.

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>> bill: welcome back to "hannity." earlier today i hit the campaign trail in the key swing state of pennsylvania, and it was there that i sat down with the republican vice presidential hopeful, and here's more of that exclusive interview. in july 2008, when he was running, he said that george bush took a credit card in the name of our children to the bank of china and the debt is now $9 trillion. that's irresponsible. and he said, that's unpatriotic. >> yeah. >> bill: we're now headed, what, $16 trillion in debt. >> yes. >> bill: how do we really stop the debt from rising? you once told me we had two years to fix it. >> well, that's what experts are telling us. it's clear in my mind that the next president of the united states will really determine what this country's going to be

like for a generation, for a long time. and we will become like europe if we stick with president obama's plan. we don't want to have that. there's three basic things you need. you need people to go back to work, higher take-home pay, jobs and prosperity, economic growth. number two, you got to cut spending. 40 cents of every dollar we spend in government today is borrowed money, half of which comes from countries like china. number three, you have to reform government programs, our entitlement programs. the we with a we propose, if we do it now, you prevent anybody near retirement from having changes or disruptions in their lives, which is very different from what president obama is doing. you reform programs for the next generation so programs are there when we retire. >> bill: i'm a little old. >> you're still a young guy. >> bill: the president, you know, his argument back, what he's been saying on the

campaign, you inherited an economy where they were bleeding 700,000-plus jobs a month. we're still bleeding jobs a month, more people are getting on social security, disability, etc., but we still have hundreds of thousands fewer americans working than when he took office. >> right. >> bill: so what is the best way to get those people working, get people off of food stamps, the 1 in 6 that live in poverty, created an opportunity society for them? how do you do it specifically? >> that's what the romney plan is for a stronger middle-class is all about. i've been on the committee overseeing these laws for a number of years. president obama is weakening the work requirements. where i come from in wisconsin, it was a smashing success. it moved people from welfare to work and the president is moving us back in the opposite direction. we want upper mobility, people to go from welfare to work. so these work requirements, job training benefits in welfare

reformer key to people getting on to lives self sufficiency. we're sitting right outside of pittsburgh. this is a successful father and son that built this business themselves. they have 50 employees. that's the engine of opportunity in america. that's where most of our jobs come from. >> bill: are you sure they built it? >> i'm certain they built it. here's the point, president obama is promising that in january the tax rates on companies like this go up to about 40%. other countries around the world are reducing tax rates on their successful small businesses. canada dropped theirs to 15%. and president obama is saying, knock it up to above 40%. how does a steel manufacturer in pittsburgh compete with canadians who are taxed at less than half the tax rate? and more to the point, all these tax increases the president is promising, they go to more spending. you take all of the obama tax increases, it doesn't even pay for a fifth of his proposed deficit spending.

it's this belief, take more from families, take more from entrepreneurs and successful small businesses, spend it in washington on cronies, and have more and more regulation. it puts a chilling effect on job creation and economic growth. it creates a mountain of uncertainty which makes it impossible for us to create good jobs and higher take-home pay. >> bill: when you came out with your path to prosperity plan and the senate never passed a budget for over three years, which, by the way, by law they're obligated to do. >> that's right. >> bill: you talked about somewhere in the 20-30 range that we would get to a balanced budget. realistically do you think we can get a budget in balance? >> that's what the congressional budget office estimates, which assumes slow economic growth like we've gotten from obama. if we get the economy growing, the whole goal of the romney plan for a stronger middle-class, get the economy

growing, if we do that we budget the balance far faster. we've shown with strong economic growth you can balance this budget far faster. >> bill: and coming up tonight, you'll hear from embattled missouri senate candidate todd akin, but first more of my exclusive sit-down with the republican vice presidential hopeful continues. coming up next, he exposes the truth behind the obama campaign's divisive class warfare rhetoric. >> when you keep raising that top tax rate, you're punishing the successful small businesses, which is where most of our jobs come from. when you hear the president talk class warfare, you think some movie star, you're hitting the successful small businesses, the job creators. ons. like, if you could save hundreds on car insurance by making one simple call, why wouldn't you make that call? see, the only thing i can think of is that you can't get any...

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>> bill: welcome back to "hannity" and my exclusive interview with the man who could be the next vice president of the united states. now, in recent weeks congressman ryan's medicare proposals have been grossly misinterpreted and misrepresented by the left, and tonight he sets the record straight. let's talk about the specific issue of medicare. as soon as you got on the ticket, seems that was the mainline of attack that they had preplanned for you if in fact you were selected. >> right. >> bill: you do have a plan for medicare. mediscare is a big part of the

democratic strategy. granny over the cliff. i mentioned it earlier. >> i'm used to it. >> bill: your mother is on medicare. >> uh-huh. >> bill: especially in states like florida. this is an important issue, because it's going to impact a lot of people. >> right. >> bill: explain your people so people understand it. >> for people like my mom, a florida senior on medicare, you know, in wisconsin people -- >> bill: i heard she's a rock star at the villages. >> she's a snowbird, what we call our wisconsin seniors. it doesn't affect anybody 55 or above.

part d or medicare advantage. we're here in pennsylvania. under obamacare, 38% of the seniors who have chosen medicare advantage plan, 38% of seniors in this state, chose medicare advantage. almost half of them are going to lose it within five years under obamacare. obamacare takes $716 billion from today's medicare beneficiaries and use it to spend on obamacare. i remember hearing how people hated the raid of the social security trust fund for all those years. now obamacare does that to medicare. it treats it like a piggy bank

for obamacare. then what president obama does, he puts this board of 15 bureaucrats that he appoints unelected, unaccountable, and every year they have to cut medicare for current seniors. you know, medicare providers, which will clearly lead to denied care for current seniors. what they don't tell you is obamacare damages medicare for current seniors and still doesn't save it for the next generation. we preserve it for current seniors and preserve it for the next generation. >> bill: $716 billion is what the president took from medicare? >> that's right. >> bill: governor romney had a blackboard, and he said all of that money is going to be restored. should there be some specific dollar cuts to medicare to get to the point where you preserve it and not allow it to go bankrupt? >> the point we've been making all along is if you put reforms in place that kick in in 10 years for my generation, that gives us the ability to cash flow medicare for the current

generation. it gives you the ability to guarantee medicare. it remains intact as it is now known, for everybody on medicare, and everybody who's within 10 years of going on medicare. that way you don't have to do all these things that president obama is doing. all the cuts to services, the cuts to medicare advantage. medicare itself is telling us 1 outs of 6 hospitals and nursing homes will go out of business because of obamacare in the near future. we're saying stop that from happening, restore medicare solvsolvency, and reform it fore younger generation. >> bill: greece in particular, spain, portugal, ireland, you know, europe in general, promises made that are not being kept. >> exactly. >> bill: austerity measures now being implemented. do you think that could happen to america? >> oh, yes. that's where we're headed. >> bill: explain what that worst case scenario is. >> what's going on around the

world are politicians from all different political parties, made a lot of empty promises to voters to get re-elected for decades, and those empty promises, when a debt crisis hits, becomes broken promises with painful consequences. so europe is in the middle of cutting health retirement benefits for current seniors, cranking up taxes, high double-digit unemployment for young people, and they're in recession. they'll basically have a lost generation. that's what happen to us if we stay on the president's plan. so what mitt romney and i are saying is, it's still not too late to get this right. it's not too late to get this economy growing again, to keep our commitment to our current seniors. so what we're trying to do is prevent and preempt europeanlike aausterity. we want growth and commitment that people organized their retirement around. if we get this fixed fast we can do that. if we stick with the obama plan, go with more of the same, we'll simply wind up just like europe

with broken promises. >> bill: and coming up next, the congressman says he's ready to go one-on-one with vice president joe biden in a debate, adding that he has no plans to shy away from foreign policy issues when that happens. >> you know, i've had to vote to send men and women to war on more than one occasion. i've been to those funerals. i've talked to the widows and wives and parents. enefits package... oahhh! [ male announcer ] it made a big splash with the employees. [ duck yelling ] [ male announcer ] find out more at... [ duck ] aflac! [ male announcer ] ...forbusiness.com. ♪ ha ha!

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>> bill: welcome back to "hannity." here now is the conclusion of my improve interview with governor romney's running mate congressman paul ryan. one of the main attack lines that the president and his campaign are using is class warfare. >> uh-huh. >> bill: there are currently, what, six different specific tax brackets, you wanted to reduce them to two, 10% and 25%. explain how reforming the tax code would help people. and also explain it through the prism or the narrative that this is, you know, republicans only helping rich people. >> yeah. so let's take a look at the

current code. the people who use write-offs, loops holes and deductions are people in the top tax bracket, meaning more of their income is sheltered from taxation. you take away the loopholes and more of their income is subject to taxation, which allows us to lower everybody's tax rates across the board. it's a fair, simple, competitive system. we're here in the steel manufacturing fabricating business. this business is paying the individual tax rate, just like 80% of all businesses in america do. when you keep raising that top tax rate, you're punishing those successful small businesses, which is where most of our jobs come from. so when you hear the president say class warfare, you know, you think aaron rodgers or prince fielder, or some movie star, you're actually hitting the successful small businesses, the job creators. so we're saying, get rid of the loopholes, lower everybody's rates, a fair, simpler system that creates economic growth. >> bill: it seems that the country's going to have a pretty important decision to make,

almost -- you have two competing visions for the country. >> very much so. >> bill: how do you describe their vision from your perspective? do you think obama wants trillion dollar deficits every year? he obviously signed them into law. he's spending the money. versus what? first year will you have a trillion dollar deficit? >> i wouldn't say what he wants. it's what we're getting. >> bill: what we're getting. >> we're getting broken promises on deficits, broken promises on jobs, broken promises on bringing people together in this country. we're not going to do that. we're going to get this deficit under control. we've shown through various budgets we've offered we can get this deficit down fast, get the size of government back down to where it's historically been very quickly so we don't have the biggest government we've had since world war ii, which is a world war posture. we're showing it's not too late to get the american idea revived, to get bacto work, get people back on the ladder of life. look, when i was a kid growing up in janeville, wisconsin, just like anybody growing up in a

middle income family, i worked at mcdonald's, waited tables, did all of that stuff, i sold oscar mayer meat products, and they let me drive it once. it never occurred to me that i was fixed in some station in life, that i had a limit to my life and my opportunity. i was an american pursuing my version of the american dream. what president obama is doing, he's dividing people in this country. he's speaking to people as if they're stuck in their current station in life, and only the government is here to help them cope with it. it's dyer and cynical. it's not the american ideal. we'll reject that and give the country a clear choice of two futures. do you want the opportunity society with the safety net, a prosperous society where you can make the most of your life, or do you want president obama's failed agenda, a cradle-to-welfare state, this ends up in a recession, lower take-home pay and less jobs,

it's that clear. >> bill: you're known as the guy that knows the numbers in washington. let's talk about foreign policy. you see what's happening in the middle east, north africa, you see the rise of the muslim brotherhood now apparently uniting with iran, very dangerous meeting coming up. >> right. >> bill: iran just in the last week has

these what i call reckless, irresponsible defense cuts, as a result of the president's failed leadership, are weakening our resolve and weakening our national security and national defense at a time when it's very important that we get back to the peace through strength doctrine. we have an unquestionable advantage in the military. that's why i helped write and pass the bill to prevent those irresponsible defense cuts from passing, to replace those spending cuts with other spending cuts that ought to occur in government. i agree with mitt romney. we need to strengthen our resolve with our allies, like israel. we need to make sure that our adversaries respect us and understand us clearly. that's not the case today. we need to get back to the peace through strength doctrine by having a strong military.

>> bill: would you support israel if they deem it necessary for the national security to take out -- >> israel has every right to protect their national security interests in iran, and iran's nuclear capability, is annex 10ial threat to israel and our national security. the last thing we want is an arms race in the middle east. the president's lack of leadership on this issue, his lack of courageous moral support for israel during this time has brought us to where we are. going to the u.n. and saying that the beginning of negotiations must start with the '67 borders undercuts our ally. his references to netanyahu with the french president undercuts our allies. i think that's done more to distance the peace process and done more to embolden countries like iran than anything else. >> bill: all right. your counterpart is a guy by the name of joe biden. he recently had -- well, is you might say his latest gaffe. they want to put y'all back in chains.

your thoughts about biden? you ready to debate him? what did you think of those remarks? >> i enjoy debate. it's what we do in congress. southeast so to me i love spirited debates about ideas. i've known joe a long time. we get along personally quite well. i'm looking forward to debating joe on our different visions for the future. with respect to the things he says, these are the things people say when they've run out of ideas and solutions. these are things that people say when they have a terrible track record they can't run on, when they're not offering anything new, and when they're trying to knock this campaign down into the gutter of smear and fear, anger and frustration. that's what you get. we're not going to fall for that. i don't think the people of this country are going to fall for that. i think they want to see us get back on top as america. we'll do that. >> bill: last question. as you look at the -- electoral map, florida, an important state. ohio. wisconsin is in play, do you believe? >> oh, yeah, absolutely. >> bill: iowa, new hampshire, nevada, colorado, new mexico,

pennsylvania. as you look at all those states, the swing states, the ones that will define this election and the winner, what your thoughts? >> well, first of all, these are states that senior citizens want to know that they're not going to have their medicare raided. they want to know that the promises that were made to them, that they organized their retirements around are going to be kept. they're small business states, where most people get their jobs from successful small businesses, and they want a commander in chief who is championing small business, not demeaning success. so i really believe that -- you know, wisconsin -- i come from the midwest. i'm a midwest guy. i went to college in ohio. this is where i come from. it's my firm belief that people are sick of these failed policies. they saw president obama position himself as one thing in 2008 and now he's an entirely different kind of a candidate. and they want leadership. we're offering it. i think they're going to vote for it. >> bill: all right. your kids and wife having a good time? >> they're doing fine. >> bill: looks like they're having fun on the stage. >> they like it. >> bill: congressman, thank you

so much for your time. >> thanks. >> sean: coming up next, democrats are trying to tie top republicans to the controversial comments made by missouri candidate todd akin. i spoke to the congressman earlier today. we'll play some of that interview. dana perino and stuart varney weigh-in coming up next. follow the wings. [ male announcer ] research suggests cell health plays a key role throughout our lives. one a day men's 50+ is a complete multi-vitamin designed for men's health concerns as we age. it has more of 7 antioxidants to support cell health. one a day men's 50+. [ male announcer ] to hold a patent that has changed the modern world... would define you as an innovator.

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>> sean: tonight you heard exclusively from republican vice presidential hopeful paul ryan. here with reaction to that interview, stuart varney from the fox business network and the cohost of "the five" dana perino. the other big story of the day, missouri candidate todd akin, calls for him to step down following his controversial comments about rape and abortion, echoing loudly among top republicans, burr h, but hes he's not dropping out. earlier today i interviewed him. here's what he had to say.

do you think your political interests are above the party. they think you running is going to hurt the party. have you thought about that? >> well, i think you're not accurately characterizing what i've just said to you, okay? because my interest is about america. my interest is about standing in principle and doing what's right. my interest in this race has nothing to do with me. it has to do with who we are as a nation. and i believe that the message that's going to pull americans together and get us out of trouble has to be a big one. i don't see any harm in my continuing to take that message to the people of the state of missouri. >> sean: are you seasoning that -- >> i think it will help room. i think it's going to help the republican party. >> when you ask, is there anybody who has called you to encourage you to stay in the race, he had to say no.

what i like about the republican response is that it was swift, immediate, and everybody came to the same right conclusion immediately, except for him. he seems delusional. >> sean: he made a terrible mistake. i accept his apology. i think he misspoke. i hate the double standard, stuart, because based on this standard biden should be out. >> right. >> sean: i question is, i asked him this, if this means claire mccaskill wins, and let's say it's a tighter race we think, that might be the 51st vote, we don't appeal obamacare. >> what's at stake is control of the united states senate, which means prosperity for america in the future. do we have it or do we not have it? it's all about the presidential election, too. if you lose two or three points in missouri, that could affect the presidential election. so my question to you is, you interviewed the man, what, 40 minutes? why is he staying in this? he knows the stakes. he knows what he's done.

but he says i'm going to do what's right. >> i don't think he knows the stakes. it occurred to me just a few minutes ago, it's probably the consultants also driving him, maybe his family as well, saying but the political consultants love to get paid, and i'm sure they're telling him, you can weather this storm, it will be okay, but it's not the right thing to do. he says he wants to do the right thing for america. step back, reassess, get out of -- >> sean: here's my fear. i view the conservative movement is more important than any one person. if it was me and i thought i could potentially hurt mitt romney and paul ryan and defeating obama, i would step aside. that's what i would do. i think the double standard is unfair. 77 days, they're going to try to hammer this and ignore all of the -- >> massive diversion. >> sean: we're not talking about the economy. >> no, exactly. now we've got paul ryan in the vice presidential spot, the veepstakes, he's right in there, refocusing attention on the economy, and president obama's appalling economic record, and

now we're distracted by this gentleman out of missouri will not get out of the way. >> sean: what do you say -- a lot of conservatives, reading their emails to me, and twitter. i'm torn, because they're right on the one hand. there is this double standard. on the other hand, they say we're caving in. >> isn't it great that the right has standards and we hold people to that account? there was a wonderful piece about what how todd akin said really should make the pro-life movement mad, because he victimized the woman. they forgot to talk about the child. and the rights and the protection that people who are pro-life believe happens at conception through to the birth. not everyone agrees with that, but todd akin basically undercut all of those arguments. >> liberals can say what they

like, do what they like. i would like to see this conservative resign, get out of the pay, because he did something terribly wrong, disgraced his party and -- >> sean: let me play devil's advocate in this sense. when they accuse romney of killing a woman, felon, dirty air and water. the democrats can say anything. >> remember last week we talked about -- >> so why doesn't this conservative stand on principle and get out of the way? do the right thing? >> conservatives do the right thing. >> sean: democrats circle the wagons. >> last tuesday when we were here, we talked about vice president biden's comments of putting y'all back in chains. for some reason president obama has kept this weird distance. he doesn't seem to own anything that vice president biden says, his own vice president. somehow now the media is trying to hold governor romney to account for something that a senate candidate said in missouri. >> sean: i want your reaction to the paul ryan interview when we get back.

we'll also play one more comment of congressman akin when we get back. a lot more with dana and stuart right here on "hannity." thanks for being with us. [ ding ] oh, that's helpful! well, our company does that, too. actually, we invented that. it's like a sauna in here. helping you save, even if it's not with us -- now, that's progressive! call or click today. no mas pantalones! it's something you're born with. and inspires the things you choose to do. you do what you do... because it matters. at hp we don't just believe in the power of technology. we believe in the power of people when technology works for you. to dream. to create.

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>> sean: we continue now with stuart varney and dana perino. i got to spend about 40 minutes with paul ryan today. then i watched him give his speech. what's your reaction to paul

ryan? >> what did you think? >> sean: you want my real answer? >> yeah. >> what stood out to me, he didn't need any prep, he didn't need -- this is second nature to him. and he knows those numbers better -- if he gets interviewed by anybody in the media, they want to talk numbers, they're dead. >> if you did a dna test of paul ryan, under the microscope you would see in every cell, he knows all the budget, entitlement reform. it was sincere. i loved that you ask him about how romney asked him to be vice president. it was like a marriage proposal. the answer i thought was very -- it's moving, but it tells you a lot about romney, that he chose him for the right reason, not because of a political gain, but because he thought he was the right person for the job. >> sean: watching them together, they just fit. >> like me and stuart. >> thank you. >> sean: you got to say it the right way. >> the chemistry is amazing. >> stuart and i actually. >> oh, sorry. that is brutal! >> that was rough.

i'm i can'they've tried to demon the worst possible way. it's not going to stick. the guy is a nice guy, he's talking to you like a regular guy. you liked him, didn't you? >> well, i've known him for a long time. i already liked him. i already thought he would be a good choice. i'm glad because he's right, we could lose a generation. >> yes. >> that was a great question that you asked him, how was he going to counter the attacks and arguments. i didn't realize it was by this much. he's in a congressional district that he consistently wins by 63% or so, which is a huge margin, but this is a district that voted for clinton, gore, dukakis and obama. >> sean: obama by four points. he got one out of every four obama voters in his district to split the ticket. >> i think it's great for the

republican party as well, a major generational shift. >> sean: how do you vote for obama, then paul ryan? >> he said people want candid, refreshing leadership. exactly correct. we want our economy to grow. exactly right on. we got to get our debt under control. very simple language. >> sean: it was refreshing to talk substance, because the country is in a serious position. all right, one more question on congressman akin. >> okay. >> sean: back to my interview with him earlier today. >> if this becomes a big enough distraction that you lose this race, and it hurts mitt romney and paul ryan in missouri, how are you going to feel the day after election day? >> well, obviously terrible. if i thought that were going to happen, then i would get out of the race if i thought that were going to be the case, but, you know, the interesting thing is in the political world a lot of people make decisions based on politics and not on principle.

a lot of time the politics of the day look one way and yet when you stand on principle things turn out differently. i've found that for years, sean, in politics. >> sean: this will africa, impact, the race in missouri? >> i guess it's hard to say. amazingly today, polls that they did, show he was still ahead of mccaskill, which might you a little bit about -- >> sean: one poll by nine points. >> she's in dire straits as well. she's not beloved in missouri. i guess if you have the choice between the two, maybe you stay at home. that could hurt romney and ryan, you don't turn out to vote for president. >> if he stays in, he could lose missouri, and that could have a profound effect. >> for romney. >> for romney. i think he would lose a senate seat, which could have been picked up by the republicans, and that does great damage to taking over the senate. if that happens, you've got a real problem, because you can never repeal