Mary, I've made mistakes

September 19, 2018

Mary -- 

On Monday, Paul Ryan's super PAC launched an attack ad against me and announced they'd spend $1.5 million to keep the hits coming until Election Day. 

I've been honest about the mistakes I've made in the past, and I always knew they would come up when I ran for office, but it's tough watching the truth get twisted around into a bunch of misleading cheap shots. And I'll be honest -- it really stings to think my mom and my son are seeing these lies about me on television. 

But then Paul Ryan launched another attack ad this week, one that sank to a new low. They're exploiting political differences in my family and trying to claim that I hate cops. 

My dad was a cop. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a cop just like my dad. Later, I joined the military and served in the Army. I was going to be a cop when I got out, but I found my calling as an ironworker. My brother is a cop -- and while he is a Republican who voted for Donald Trump and Scott Walker, I respect him just as I respect the heck out of anyone who serves our country or communities with honor and integrity. 

But if someone unjustly or unethically causes harm to another person, I'll speak out. It doesn't matter to me if the wrongdoer is a cop, a politician, or if it's the President of the United States. 

In Paul Ryan's latest ad, he claims I'm a cop-hater because I criticized Scott Walker's Capitol police force for harassing a disabled veteran activist exercising her constitutional right to free speech at Wisconsin's State Capitol. 

This is what Paul Ryan does. He misleads. He lies. He slanders. He'll do anything and everything he can to make sure the Koch Brothers and his lobbyist friends keep their power in Washington. 

So while Paul Ryan is busy attacking the pension funds and Social Security benefits that actually help police officers, along with all working people, I'm going to keep fighting back. With honesty and integrity. 

So please, if you can, stand with this movement to build a bigger table for everyone by chipping in $5 now.

In solidarity, 

Randy Bryce
@IronStache