Geez, Richie, Paul Ryan didn't say he was an avowed supporter of the 9-9-9 plan. What he said (quoted from the article you linked) was, "...Cain’s plan is 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...."

Ryan went on to say that Cain's plan was credible and that he (Ryan) is more of a flat tax kind of guy. Guess what, I'd be in favor of a flat tax too. But it would have to be contained in a tax regime that makes more sense that 9-9-9.

But getting back to your assertion that Ryan is an "avowed supporter" and that such support lends credibility to the plan. It seems to me that what Ryan said was that Cain's plan has been efective in moving the campaign debate away from personalities and towards ideas and that he thought that was a good thing. Seems to me that's a far cry from an endorsement of the plan itself.