master debaters

Paul Ryan Embarrassed to Be a Congressman

Republican vice presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) speaks during an RNC Farewell Victory rally on August 31, 2012 in Lakeland, Florida. A day after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate at the RNC, he and his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) returned to the campaign trail.
Tell me, Mr. Ryan… what good is a phone call… if you’re unable to speak? Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Per an agreement between the campaigns, Paul Ryan and Joe Biden can decide how they would prefer to be addressed by moderator Martha Raddatz at tonight’s debate, and Ryan has chosen to be called “Mr. Ryan” instead of “Congressman Ryan.” It’s not exactly clear why, but Politico’s Maggie Haberman guesses (and we agree) that it’s “almost certainly because of the low approval ratings overall of Congress.” (As John McCain will tell you, over and over again, forever, the only people who approve of Congress these days are paid staffers and blood relatives.) Meanwhile, we hear that Biden has requested that he be referred to as Joetorious B.V.P.

Paul Ryan Will Be ‘Mr. Ryan’ at Debate