WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Paul Ryan is making poverty a signature issue as he tries to broaden his appeal ahead of a possible presidential run in 2016. But in being more vocal about the issue, he’s had to defend himself and his message against allegations of racism.

At issue are comments the 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate made during an interview last week on a conservative radio talk show in which he said, “We have got this tailspin of culture, in our inner cities in particular, of men not working and just generations of men not even thinking about working or learning to value the culture of work.”