Paul Ryan Stumps for Small Government in West Chester

West Chester resident Bob Gross served in the military.  He’s a former Marine, and he’s tired of the nonsense.

“Where do you begin,” Gross said.  “The country is $6 trillion in debt.  We’re socializing and nationalizing our businesses, and we’re wasting billions on companies like Solyndra that go bankrupt in a couple of days.”

Gross added, “I am tired of the nonsense in Washington.”

Gross echoed the sentiment expressed by who visited the in West Chester Tuesday.

“Government is important to a society,” Ryan said.  “But it is not the nucleus.  The nucleus is ‘we the people.’”

Ryan added, “Government’s job is not to pick winners and losers in the economy.  That job is for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our risk-takers.”

Ryan also said that the Obama adminstration is out-of-touch--that Obama doesn't understand the needs of the American people.

"Remember last time around when Obama said people in states like Pennsylvania cling to their guns and their religion," Ryan said.  "Well as a catholic deer hunter consider me guilty as charged.  That's what freedom really is."

Ryan shared the stage Tuesday afternoon with several southeastern Pennsylvania Republicans including Congressmen Jim Gerlach and Charlie Dent as well as Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello.

“I know you all believe in hope and change like I do because I hope for a change in the White House this November,” Costello said.

Ryan and the other speakers said that this election could define a generation, and that the idea of what America would be in the future was at stake.

“America is not just a place,” Ryan said.  “It is also an idea.”

Ryan added, “The idea of America is that our rights come from nature and God, not government.”

Besides the several thousand Romney supporters that attended the event, there was a small contingent of about 25 protesters at the rally Tuesday.

“As Paul Ryan prepares to roll in here, I’m proud to stand here too,” said West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta.  “Obama and Romney represent two separate visions for seniors, for students and for the poor.”

Congressman Jim Gerlach said that because of his stance on Medicare, the Democrats like to portray Paul Ryan as “the man who would push grandma off a cliff in her wheelchair.”

“By picking Ryan, Romney shows that he is serious about turning the country around,” Gerlach said.

“I want to earn your support,” Ryan said.  “I want to reaffirm our nation’s founding principles so that we can get people back to work.”

“Our duty is to save the American dream for our children,” Ryan added.  “We will not replace the country’s principles.  We will reapply those principles.”

"I like what Romney and Ryan represent," said West Chester resident Bob Whetstone who attended Tuesday’s rally. "Small government, a controlled economy—all the things I'm concerned about."

Ryan did not mention abortion or the much talked about inflammatory comment from Rep. Todd Akin's (R-Mo.) that "legitimate rape" victims rarely get pregnant. The topics were brought up on protesters signs.

Did you attend the rally? What did you think of the speech? Share your thoughts in the comments area below.