VP Choice Passes Nugent’s Second Amendment Litmus Test

Conservative rocker Ted Nugent says in an exclusive interview with Newsmax that you can tell a lot about the kind of vice president Paul Ryan would make by the fact that he lists bowhunting as one of life’s great passions.

“He’s an addicted bowhunter. He loves the mystical flight of the arrow,” explained Nugent, who was taking a break from his concert tour on Saturday at a lakeside log cabin in Michigan. “I defy you to come up with a person that has a more spiritual relationship with the pulse that drives Paul Ryan’s life than me.”

Unlike other forms of hunting, Nugent, a fellow bowhunter, said the sport imposes the “ultimate challenge and discipline” on hunters if they want to be successful.

“Killing a deer with a bow and arrow is borderline impossible because the animals are so wary and the bow and arrow is such a short-range weapon,” said Nugent, who is also on the board of the National Rifle Association, in an exclusive interview.

“This kind of discipline is just what America needs in leadership and I know it appears to be a huge leap from what some consider recreational activities,” he said. “Paul and I could go to the grocery store if we wanted to, but we have chosen this original primal pursuit of game with a self-limiting weapon. And that says volumes for what drives this man to do the right thing in spite of political correctness.”

In a wide-ranging interview with Newsmax.TV earlier this week, Nugent predicted that the Romney campaign was ready to go into high gear and start attacking President Barack Obama. He described the campaign as “pumping gas” and “preparing to ignite some increased heat,” the start of which could be Saturday’s announcement of Romney’s running mate ahead of the Republican National Convention at the end of the month.

“This is what I mentioned to you, how everyone’s waiting for him to turn up the heat,” said the best-selling author and platinum recording artist. “I think Paul Ryan — he just turned up the heat.”

Nugent also has a relationship with Ryan’s home town of Janesville, Wis., which has been the birthsite of rare white buffalos, considered a significant spiritual event by some American Indian tribes. Nugent recorded a song called “Great White Buffalo,” which is also the name of his concert tour.

“My song, ‘Fred Bear’ has been the number one requested song in Wisconsin for 26 years in a row,” he said. “I hold the attendance record at pretty much every county fair and the state fair of Wisconsin.”

Another clue that Ryan is a dedicated public servant may lie in the timing of the presidential election. It coincides with Wisconsin’s best bowhunting season.

“Paul Ryan just gave up the only 2012 rut that he will ever have access to, to do the right thing for America,” Nugent added. “And though that may be dismissed and pooh-poohed by the non bowhunters amongst us, believe me as his blood brother, I know that he has given up his entire 2012 hunting season.”