Entries in Halloween (2)
Six Days from Election Day, Paul Ryan Pauses to Trick or Treat with Kids
Liza Ryan trick-or-treating on Halloween as Katy Perry in Janesville, Wisc., Oct. 31, 2012. (Pool Photo)(JANESVILLE, Wis.) -- Paul Ryan combined the campaign trail with dad duty Wednesday evening, taking his three young children trick or treating on Halloween using the same route he and his brothers took as children in their hometown.
His 10-year-old daughter, Liza, was dressed as singer Katy Perry, while Ryan's 9-year-old son Charlie was the Unknown Phantom, and 7-year-old Sam was the Grim Reaper.
Liza - -dressed as a G-rated version of the famous Obama supporter who recently performed at a fundraiser for the president -- wore the performer's signature blue hair, a rainbow headband and outfit to match inspired from the pop singer's always-colorful wardrobe.
Charlie got into the spirit and dressed as a frightful ghoul wearing a red cape and black mask, while his brother Sam wore a white skeleton's mask, and a black cape. He couldn't hold his candy and the Grim's Reaper's scythe, so his dad and GOP vice presidential candidate was stuck toting it.
Four years ago, Sarah Palin also celebrated Halloween with her young children, taking them trick or treating on the campaign trail in Harrisburg, Pa. Daughter Piper dressed as a snow princess.
Ryan, who was costume-less, was dressed in his Wisconsin Badger Red North Face jacket with matching hat, while his wife Janna wore a witch's hat. Ryan had niece Zaydee May, dressed as a butterfly, in toe with her mom Zoe, who are both visiting from China. Zoe is married to Ryan's older brother Stan who was recently on the campaign trail with the Wisconsin congressman.
The group trick or treated on Jefferson Avenue, where Ryan and his two brothers used to ask for treats themselves.
"This was the route I did when I was kid. I did this route every day, every Halloween when I was a kid. And the kids do the same one," Ryan told reporters who were invited to cover part of the festivities.
The only talk of politics was when a reporter asked Ryan about recent polls that show him down in Wisconsin, but he wouldn't answer, saying, "We're not doing questions."
A new poll out Wednesday from Marquette University Law School shows a lead for the president in Wisconsin with Obama at 51 percent to Romney with 43 percent.
The latest ABC News/Washington Post Tracking poll out Wednesday has the race tied nationally, with both Romney and Obama at 49 percent support.
Usually the Ryan kids are in school and off the campaign trail, but when they are out they tend to lighten the mood of the campaign when they travel with their parents.
The outgoing trio love to orange bowl on the plane and advise over the intercom when the campaign plane is about to land.
The youngest, Sam, even came back and visited with reporters who cover his father's campaign day in and day out earlier this month. After a few questions from the inquisitive press, Ryan's spokesperson came back with a smile on his face and jokingly ended the back and forth with an "OK, last question."
Sam is also the Ryan who could be seen sitting in Joe Biden's seat with a huge smile on his face after his dad finished his final debate against his opponent.
Of course, it wasn't just the family getting into the spirit of things Wednesday evening.
Ryan's personal aide, Jake Kastan, proved to be incredibly loyal and went beyond the call of duty dressing in a yellow chicken costume for the three kids, who affectionately call him "chicken butt."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 11:28PM by Carmen Cox Permalink
tagged Campaign, Halloween, Paul Ryan, Trick or Treat, Wisconsin in 2012 Election, Politics General, Republican Party
Republican Group Under Fire for Email Featuring Obama Shot in Head
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- A Halloween-themed email from the Loudoun County, Va., Republican Committee was swiftly condemned by conservative and liberal groups Monday for featuring an image of a ghoulish-looking President Obama with a bullet hole through his head.
The message, with the subject line "Halloween 2011," invites supporters to a community parade where "we are going to vanquish the zombies with clear thinking conservative principles and a truckload of Republican candy." It also features a caricature of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a jack-o-lantern and cartoons of zombies.
The email was first reported by the blog Too Conservative, which said the group had gone "way too far" and should be reported to the U.S. Secret Service.
Mark Sell, chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee, explained that the email was a "light-hearted attempt to inject satire humor into the Halloween holiday."
"Apparently, some individuals have interpreted an image of Barack Obama that appeared within the email as intending to portray the President as a victim of a violent crime. Nothing could be further from the truth," Sell said in a statement. "We deeply and sincerely apologize to the President and anyone who viewed the image if that was the impression that was left."
Still, condemnation from Democrats and state and national Republicans has been swift and harsh.
Virginia GOP Chairman Pat Mullins called the image "disgusting" and condemned its use "in the strongest possible terms."
"We are in the process of contacting those responsible for the image to demand that they cease using it and immediately issue an apology," Mullins said.
A Republican National Committee spokesman said the type of imagery in the Loudoun County GOP email "has no place in politics."
The Secret Service told ABC News the agency is aware of the incident but offered no further details.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 12:21AM by Carmen Cox Permalink
tagged Email, Halloween, President Obama, Republicans in POTUS, Politics General, Republican Party