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Ryan compares NFL refs to officials in Obama budget office
Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan on Tuesday compared the NFL's replacement referees to Obama administration officials.
Ryan, a Wisconsin lawmaker and Green Bay Packer fan, knocked Obama over the missed call by the replacement refs that cost Ryan's team a victory on Monday Night Football.
"I half think these refs work part time for the Obama administration in the Budget Office," the Wisconsin lawmaker said.
Ryan was referencing a controversial touchdown at the end of the Packers game against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. Seattle was given a touchdown on a Hail Mary pass in the final seconds of the game, despite videos showing the pass apparently intercepted by a Green Bay player. The call was made by one of the NFL's replacement referees; the normal officiating crews have been locked out by football owners as part of a labor dispute.
Ryan has frequently referenced his Packers loyalty on the campaign trail — occasionally donning a Green Bay polo shirt — and the controversial call is dominating headlines in swing-state Wisconsin.
Later, Ryan again referenced the game while encouraging voters to turn out in large numbers for he and his running mate.
"Unlike the Seattle Seahawks last night, we want to deserve this victory ... because we want a mandate to fix Washington and get this debt under control," Ryan said.
Ironically, some Democrats have used the labor dispute to knock Ryan, who supported Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) in his efforts to restrict bargaining rights for public-sector unions in the state.
Walker also called for the return of the regular referees on Twitter Tuesday.
—This story was posted at 12:06 p.m. and updated at 2:13 p.m.
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