Charity President Objects To Paul Ryan’s Soup Kitchen Photo Op

IGOR BOBIC 5:29 PM EDT, MONDAY OCTOBER 15, 2012

Brian J. Antal, the president of an Ohio charity for the homeless, is objecting to a photo op staged by the Romney campaign on Saturday that featured vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan washing pots and pans that had already appeared to be clean, Felicia Sonmez of the Washington Post reports:

“We’re a faith-based organization; we are apolitical because the majority of our funding is from private donations,” Antal said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. “It’s strictly in our bylaws not to do it. They showed up there and they did not have permission. They got one of the volunteers to open up the doors.”

He added: “The photo-op they did wasn’t even accurate. He did nothing. He just came in here to get his picture taken at the dining hall.”

Antal was concerned about charity donors who's support may have been swayed given the political nature of the event. The Romney campaign did seek prior permission with a person in charge on-site, but, according to Antal, they did not go through appropriate channels.

“Had they asked for permission, it wouldn’t have been granted. … But I certainly wouldn’t have let him wash clean pans and then take a picture,” Antal told the Post.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/report-charity-president-objects-to-paul-ryans-soup

The Ryan family put on aprons and washed several large pans, though they did not appear to need washing, according to a pool reporter. There also was no one to serve at the soup kitchen, as breakfast had ended.

The sorry charade didn't quite end there. The Washington Post reports that after the dishwashing part of the show was over, reporters were corralled and led back to the press bus.

As Ryan exited the building some minutes later, a small group of people, some of whom appeared to be homeless, seemed to engage Ryan, and the candidate stopped for several moments and spoke with them.

The campaign escorted photographers from the bus for Ryan's exchange, but reporters were not allowed to do so. Ryan's motorcade took off for the airport a few moments later.

http://gawker.com/5951756/all-i-really-need-to-know-about-paul-ryan-i-learned-from-this-soup-kitchen-photo-op