August 14, 2012 10:48 PM UTC

Paul Ryan Avoids "Personhood," Medicare In Suburban Denver Debut

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #2: NBC News’ Rachel Maddow covers the action Tuesday in great detail:

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UPDATE: Despite the apparently successful pranks described below at today’s Paul Ryan rally, Westword’s Michael Roberts reports on a group of Lakewood High School students who were allegedly denied access to the event under dubious circumstances:

Earlier today, we reported that four students who don’t support Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan were banned from the vice presidential candidate’s Lakewood rally after they were overheard speaking to yours truly; see our complete coverage below…

Jacob Spetzler, an eighteen-year-old rising freshman, got a ticket last night to watch Ryan speak today. He then posted a Facebook status that read, “who else is going to the paul ryan rally? are signs expressing our displeasure in order?”

One of his high school friends, who volunteers for the Romney campaign, apparently saw the status and commented: “just so you know, protesters won’t get in tomorrow.” [Pols emphasis]

And he didn’t–even though someone named “Fertilized Egg” did. Kids are mean, aren’t they?

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FOX 31’s Eli Stokols has the first report up on today’s rally at Lakewood High School featuring newly-minted GOP vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan:

Ryan’s speech, which lasted less than 20 minutes, was a looser version of the five-point plan Romney outlined in Jefferson County two weeks ago, hitting on the five key priorities of a Romney administration: energy independence, education reform, debt reduction, small business outreach and job growth…

Interestingly,  Ryan never sought to frame the argument over his controversial House GOP budget that has, with his selection as Romney’s vice presidential candidate, suddenly become a central issue in the race for the White House.

The Obama campaign is already highlighting how Ryan’s package includes drastic spending cuts to entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, which could cost Romney in a state like Florida.

Increasing the pressure on Ryan in Colorado, the editorial board of the Denver Post, the only remaining metro daily and single-most influential newspaper in the state, published an editorial Monday night calling Ryan a “radical” choice who is “likely to alienate” moderate voters.

By all accounts, Rep. Ryan’s speech at Lakewood High School today was notable mostly for its inoffensive platitudes, and generalized calls for “reigniting the American Dream” and “turning our country around.” As Stokols reports, Ryan made no mention of his controversial budget proposals to privatize Medicare, and no mention of Ryan’s support for banning abortions even in cases of rape and incest–similar to what’s called for in the “Personhood” amendment headed to Colorado’s ballot for the third consecutive election. Ryan may have been able to slip in and out of Colorado without addressing his support for “Personhood” today, but we seriously doubt he’ll be able to skate through to November–this is a state this campaign has to win, after all.

Though as Politico’s Glenn Thrush reports, there were pranksters in the crowd, scoring press on Ryan’s controversial stands without his help:

Someone forwards along a picture of ‘Fertilized Egg’ being admitted to Ryan’s event in Lakewood, Colo.

It’s, of course, a reference to Ryan’s position on fetal personhood – and his support for the  Sanctity of Human Life Act, which defined fertilized eggs as a human being.

We’re kind of shocked that this ticket made it through security, but we’re thinking this is the last time it’s ever going to happen. Meanwhile in the air outside, Raw Story reports:

Members of the Choose Ryan, Lose Choice campaign managed to fly a banner while Ryan was speaking in Lakewood, Colorado. CNBC reporter Eamon Javers tweeted a picture of the banner, which read, “Hey girl, choose me, lose choice – P. Ryan.”

Bottom line: the more you try to dodge the tough questions, the less people let you.