CINCINNATI, OH -- Paul Ryan, an ardent Green Bay Packers fan, blasted NFL replacement referees for their questionable call last night that cost the Packers the game against the Seattle Seahawks.
“I got to start off on something that was really troubling that occurred last night," said the Wisconsin congressman and Republican vice-presidential nominee at the top of his town hall here. "Did you guys watch that Packer game last night? I mean, give me a break. It is time to get the real refs."
But he didn't stop there. Ryan actually tried to draw a line between the replacement refs and President Obama.
"And you know what, it reminds me of President Obama and the economy," he contended. "If you can’t get it right, it is time to get out. I half think these refs work part-time for the Obama administration in the Budget Office. They see the national debt clock staring them in the face. They see a debt crisis, and they just ignore and pretend it didn’t even happen. They are trying to pick the winners and losers, and they don’t even do that very well.”
*** UPDATE *** President Obama tweeted with the personal "BO" signature, meaning it came from him: "NFL fans on both sides of the aisle hope the refs' lockout is settled soon. -bo"
The Obama campaign then also tweeted out that Obama already called for the real refs to come back on a radio show last week.
On WTAM-AM in Cleveland, Obama said, "But one thing I got to say, though, is it just me or do we have to get our regular refs back? ... I can't get involved with it, but I'm just expressing my point of view as a sports fan."