Paul Ryan: Obama Sowing Class Warfare

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan says President Barack Obama is sowing class warfare with his economic proposals. In a speech at the Heritage Foundation, Ryan specifically cited Obama’s idea to increase taxes on the wealthy as a way to reduce the budget deficit, The Hill reports.

Instead of "appealing to the hope and optimism that were hallmarks of his first campaign, [President Obama] has launched his second campaign by preying on the emotions of fear, envy and resentment," Ryan said. “This has the potential to be just as damaging as his misguided policies. Sowing social unrest and class resentment makes America weaker, not stronger."

Ryan criticized Obama’s recent travels in which he has promoted his jobs plan and other economic policies while bashing Republicans for their opposition to his ideas.

"Instead of working with us on these common-sense reforms, the president is barnstorming swing states, pushing a divisive message that pits one group of Americans against another on the basis of class," Ryan said.

"He is going from town to town impugning the motives of Republicans, setting up straw men and scapegoats and engaging in intellectually lazy arguments as he tries to build support for punitive tax hikes on job creators."