Paul Ryan and Art Laffer Endorse Cain’s 9-9-9 Plan (Updated- Ryan’s Office Says Comments not an Endorsement)

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Caller, House Budget Committee Chairman, Paul Ryan said  he “loves” Cain’s 9-9-9- plan because it’s “a good starting point for debate, and shows the GOP presidential campaign season has entered into a more advanced stage where ideas — not just personalities — have come to the forefront.”

“We need more bold ideas like this because it is specific and credible,” Ryan said. “I’m more of a flat-tax kind of a guy.”

The budget chairman went on to say that ideas like Cain’s plan could help shape the debate over tax reform moving into 2013.

“It’s great to see such bold ideas,” Ryan told TheDC.

When asked for comment, Cain’s campaign staff  expressed appreciation for the unexpected endorsement.

UPDATE: The Correspondence Committee contacted Paul Ryan’s Washington Office for clarification on Ryan’s support for Cain’s 9-9-9 plan.

@corrcomm: I called his office, and asked the staffer if Ryan was endorsing the 999 plan. He answered “No.”

It appears that what he endorses is the fact that Cain has offered a bold plan that gets people talking. Not quite the same thing, but still a positive development.

This comes on the heels of Art Laffer’s endorsement, yesterday: Godfather of Supply-Side Economics Supports Cain’s ‘9-9-9’ Plan:

The Godfather of supply-side economics, Arthur Laffer, has given Herman Cain​’s signature “9-9-9” economic plan a critical boost, even as it has come under heavy fire from his GOP presidential competitors

The famed economist told HUMAN EVENTS that the proposal was pro-growth and would create the proper conditions for America’s economy to expand and thrive again.

“Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan would be a vast improvement over the current tax system and a boon to the U.S. economy,” Laffer told HUMAN EVENTS in a statement. “The goal of supply-side tax reform is always a broadening of the tax base and lowering of marginal tax rates.”

Added Laffer: “Mr. Cain’s plan is simple, transparent, neutral with respect to capital and labor, and savings and consumption, and also greatly decreases the hidden costs of tax compliance. There is no doubt that economic growth would surge upon implementation of 9-9-9.”

Laffer also said that “such a system provides the least avenues to avoid paying taxes, yet also maintains the strongest incentives for work effort, production, and investment.”

Two economic heavy hitters in two days endorsing -saying nice things about- his 9-9-9 plan gives Cain’s campaign a nice bump at a time when the wind was already at his sails.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview, yesterday, with Steve Gill,  Cain mentioned Paul Ryan, as well as Jim DeMint as possible VP picks. He also made a point of saying there would be a place at some point for Newt Gingrich to assist him because he brings “so much knowledge and insight to this whole process and to the problems we face in this country.”

Just a thought – whomever the VP nominee is, his role will be the attaaaack dog in the campaign. I’m not sure the mild mannered, congenial, and cerebral Ryan has it in him to fill that role. DeMint, maybe.

What I want to see is someone who will not be afraid to ruthlessly go after Obama on his many, many weak spots.

Another big endorsement for Cain via: The Hill: Barbour says he would vote for Cain if primary was held today

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Thursday that if the election were today, he and his wife would vote for Herman Cain.

“He is likable. He does not give you the impression that he is full of himself, but rather than he is a straight-talkin’ person who, will tell you, he call it like he sees them. He’s not trying to sugar coat anything and at the same time he is not trying to be shrill and a chest beater. He’s a straight talker and I think that makes him very, very attractive to people,” Barbour said on the Laura Ingraham Show.

UPDATE:

Ace on the Barbour endorsement/support/seal of approval/seal of endorsement:

Barbour doesn’t endorse him himself, but comes close to doing so, and in any event stamps him with his Seal of Approval (even if not his Seal of Endorsement).

It had been thought that Barbour would endorse Perry, so this something Team Perry doesn’t want to hear.

The 9-9-9 plan picks up some support from policy experts.

When a guy says he would vote for the candidate, isn’t that an endorsement?!

Maybe I need to wait until the person specifically says the words, “I endorse” rather than assuming they endorse even after they’ve said they “love” something or will vote for someone. Because you know what happens to people who ass-ume.

Hat tip: Charles B.

Linked by Michelle Malkin in Buzzworthy, thanks!