Ryan tells 8th graders: 'This war was mismanaged.'

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, 1st District, spoke to a group of about 60 7th and 8th graders at the 21st Century Preparatory School Monday, explaining what a Congressman does: "I get to help people with their problems. Helping people is cool."

Except for an overuse of the word "cool" -- "One of the cool things about being in Congress is that people return your phone calls." -- Ryan was clear and direct, and told the kids he is most proud of of his healthcare bill that extended insurance to 4.5 million people, and "working to rescue the economy and create jobs in 2003."

The kids' questions ranged from basic to profound. Some of the Q&A included:

Q: "Have you ever been in the President's office?" A: "Yes, all the time."

Q: "Are you pro-choice?" A: "No, I'm not a supporter of abortion. All life is precious."

Q: "Do you support gay marriage?" A: "No, marriage is between a man and a woman."

Q: "Are you for the war?" A: "For three years this war was really mismanaged. The new team (Gen. David Petraeus and Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno) has basically undone all the damage that has been done. The faster you train the Iraqis, the sooner you can bring our troops home... I'm very frustrated with the way the war was managed for the first three years." (Alas, none of the students asked him who was responsible for that.)

Q: "Who do you prefer, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?" A: "I'd probably prefer Hillary. From my perspective, on the issues of terrorism and foreign policy, she is more trustworthy in keeping us safe. I have five times the experience of Barack Obama. It's important to have a steady hand. They're the same on domestic policy. Obama is a nice guy; a friendly guy; tall and skinny like me."

Asked what he'd work on if he were elected President, Ryan cited four issues:
1. "Globalization: I'm worried about China and India. We're at risk." 2. "Pay off the debt that you will have to pay." 3. "Fix our entitlement programs: healthcare and retirement." 4. "Foreign policy: This president has to make the world a safe place."

Ryan also gave the kids some advice he said he wished he'd had at their age. "I went with emotion; if someone didn't agree with me, I wasn't nice to him. You've got to respect other people's opinion. If people don't agree with you, respect them. There's not enough civility today."

He also told the kids, "I hope you appreciate this headstart you have. Most people your age don't have the opportunity you have in life." He asked the kids what they want to be when they grow up, and heard a variety of answers: pediatrician, architect, cosmetologist, lawyer, software game designer, doctor, politician, geologist, pilot. "You can do all that," he told them, "while in many countries girls can't even go to school. In most countries you don't even have a chance." In India, for example, he said one-third of the people live on $1 a day, two-thirds live on about $2, "and a few are very wealthy."

Only one answer brought gasps from his young audience. Q: "How much do you earn as a Congressman?" A: "$165,000 a year."

It takes a lot to shock an 8th grader.