Rage Against the Machine: Raging Against Paul Ryan!

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan has cited Rage Against the Machine as one of his favorite bands in a number of interviews.

According to band member Tom Morello, the admiration is far from mutual.

In a blistering Rolling Stone op-ed, Morello absolutely BLASTS Mitt Romney's VP pick as "the embodiment of the machine our music rages against."

• 
• 

Morello compares Ryan's appreciation of RATM to N.J. Gov. Chris Christie's liking for Bruce Springsteen ... or Charles Manson's love for The Beatles.

Painting him as "antithetical" to progress, Morello lambasts the Congressman's "guiding vision of shifting revenue more radically to the one percent."

He goes on to observe that Paul Ryan has plenty of "rage," but claims it's "A rage against women, a rage against immigrants, a rage against workers, a rage against gays, a rage against the poor, a rage against the environment."

Ouch.

The Grammy-winning guitarist has a history of outspoken activism, but he's far from alone in wanting to separate his music from the GOP ticket.

Wednesday, Silversun Pickups tore into Mitt Romney for playing their hit "Panic Switch" at an event ... and joked that the title symbolizes his campaign.

Sorry, Mitt and Paul. There's always Ted Nugent and Dave Mustaine.

Presidential election 2012:

[Photos: WENN.com]