Wednesday, August 08, 2007
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Romney Ambushed By Anti-War Activist, Abetted By AP, To No Effect
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Posted by:
Hugh Hewitt at
6:47 PM
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The AP, with lefty bloggers in tow, is trying to make an issue out of an ambush question at a Romney campaign forum today. Rachel Griffiths, a member of the "Quad City Progressive Action for the Common Good" asked the "why are your kids chickenhawks" question: "Thank you so much for being here and asking for our comments and I appreciate your recognizing the Iraq War veteran. My question is how many of your five sons are currently serving in the U.S. military and if none of them are how do they plan to support this war on terrorism by enlisting in our U.S. military? Romney responded:
The good news is that we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it. My sons are all adults and they've made decisions about their careers and they've chosen not to serve in the military and active duty and I respect their decision in that regard. I also respect and value very very highly those who make the decision to serve in the military. And I think we ought to show an outpouring of support just as I suggested, a surge of support for those families and for those individuals who are serving. My niece, for instance, just to tell you what a neighborhood can do and how touching it can be, my niece Misha --living out west-- her husband, I think he got a call on a Tuesday, he's in the National Guard, he got a call on a Tuesday that he was going to be called up and shipped overseas on a Thursday, and they'd just bought a home, they hadn't landscaped it, but the rules in the neighborhood were that unless you got your home landscaped within a year of the time that you bought your home, they began fining you because they didn't want people having mudholes in front of their homes. And she was very worried, and just before the year expired, she woke up one morning and looked out the window and all the neighbors were out there rolling out sod, putting up trees, getting it all done. It is remarkable how we can show our support for our nation.
One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected because they think'd I be a great president (laughter) and my son Josh bought the family Winnibago and has visited 99 counties most of them with his three kids and his wife, and I respect that and all of those and the way they serve this great country.
AP left out both the text of the question and all of the italicized comments. Nice reporting, eh?
The Romney campaign quickly released the YouTube video of the exchange, though given the fundamental inability of the chickenhawk meme to move the average American voter, and the widespread rejection of such logic by the uniformed military, it might have been better to let the "controversy" play out a bit as a way of demonstrating how in the bag the AP is to the anti-war fringe.
A question for lefties in love with this meme: Have you denounced The New Republic's and Private Beauchamp's slanders? Have you talked up the virtues of serving in uniform in time of war? Or do you dispute that we are in a war, and find it convenient to focus on alleged war crimes and other misdeeds of the military? Do you accuse the Administration of fighting for oil, or of misleading us into war? Are you tearing down the military and yet condemning people for not serving in it?
Just wondering.
UPDATE: Jonathan Martin writes:
Said Rachel Griffiths: "He told me the way his son shows support for our military and our nation is to buy a Winnebago and ride across Iowa and help him get elected."
Ouch. No, not "ouch," beacuse Romney didn't say that his son was serving the military by campaigning for him. He said his son was serving the nation by working for him, and it was a laugh line.
Martin should know better than to trust an AP report of an anti-war activist.
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Just to expand a little on the Mission thing: they do get up at 6:00, they study, they don't date; they serve the people of the country they are sent to; they work 6 days a week, have one day off to do laundry; write letters; shop. They call home on Christmas and Mother's Day. They served cleaning up during Katrina; in floods; earthquakes in Central America - you name it. They live in very, very basic conditions. In some countries they have been beat up, stabbed, shot at. Believe me, it's no vacation.
What he said was akward, but as stated many times they are adults. I can't make my grown sons do anything if they don't want to. Good luck with yours if you can make them do what you want. They don't take drugs, drink alcohol, or are dregs of society, they are responsible adults raising families that will be the same. |
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desu you did not answer RC have you dropped your play station and moved out of your mamas basement |
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I would actually like to see more of a military presence in our schools and universities, it is the dangerous disconnect most citizens have with our armed forces that causes them to irresponsibly cheerlead endless wars. They know nothing of the sacrifices of a soldier. Only a small percentage of us are shouldering all the sacrifices in this war, most young/college Republicans are free to live their lives as they would if there was no war.
Anyway recruiters are camped out in our schools and have a strong presence in most suburbs and shopping malls. They are always represented at school career fairs. Do you watch tv? There's a recruiting commercial every other break. Obviously young people are aware the army needs them, they don't enlist because they don't think this war is necessary (like 72% of us).
RC, thanks for the psycho analysis. But there is nothing you can call me that hasn't been repeated over and over in the conservative media, which thrives on brainless smears. Just let them keep spooning it in....shhh whats on talk radio today...just let it wash over you so you can memorize the arguments and repeat them word for word. |
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... and I have to agree with Hugh that the AP thing was taken out of context. But having said that, I don't think of driving around in an RV as "service to our nation." That's service to your Dad's campaign. Romney's answer here was clumsy. This is why Team Bush didn't allow these sorts of open forums; Bush is WAY less quick on his feet than Romney, and it would have been over before it began for him...
Hugh saying, "NO! Not Ouch!" is protesting a bit too much. And since he fancies himself a "journalist" at least half the time, a little objectivity (or at least an admission of the fallibility of Romney) would be a welcome change around here.
Making "laugh lines" about service to the country in the middle of a war is stupid, stupid, stupid for any political candidate... If a Democrat had done this, Hugh would be on them like white on rice. |
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Tell ya what, when you grow, put down the play station and move out of your mamas basement than you can comment.
In the mean time men that are much better than you will continue to serve and protect your sorry butt. What this is about is that you yourself are a coward and know it so you are projecting your own fears on others.
You want to see a wuss I will send you a mirror.
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If the liberals here on TH hate chickenhawks so much, why do they continually support the destruction of the ROTC program? It would appear to me that the more ROTC programs there are in high schools and colleges the more people would sign up. The less ROTC programs there are, the more students will look into the private sector.
Liberals should love ROTC programs because it gives students the oppurtunity to take part and further a public service career they may be interested in, such as the military.
When you hate the ROTC, you're basically hating the minor leagues of the military. ROTC helps generate future soldiers who will protect us. |
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I have not been to Iraq because I am a defeatist and want to lose. But college Republicans are brave and want to win, so why not enlist? Are they wusses? Do they want to give the terrorists therapy? |
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you didn't answer the question. Have you been to Iraq.
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I have yet to see statistics to back up your assertion. Are you following the format of the mind suck that is conservative talk radio - keep repeating it every day until people believe it? |
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The vast majority of the the military votes Republican so we are there.
I have been to Iraq, have you? |
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Just like Hewitt and the other TownHall bloggers (NONE OF THEM SERVED THEIR COUNTRY EVEN WHEN WE WERE SO DESPERATE FOR TROOPS WE NEEDED A DRAFT) today's young Republicans follow the same example.
What a bunch of WUSSES and COWARDS. Let's draft all these rich kids. We are going to keep repeating this, college Republicans will be teased and mocked until these young cowards and war cheerleaders shut up and enlist. |
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How many of Thompson's and Rudy's children have served in the military? McCain may be the only candidate (above 5 % in the polls) that the Reps could field if we do not refute the chickenhawk ruse.
Hillary voted for the War, so did Edwards. They were chickenhawks before they flipped.
I suspect that Team Romney will develop a better answer than the one that was jerked out of it's context. |
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Hugh,
If this was a throwaway laugh line, fine. But it still wasn't a very good answer. What he should have said, after talking about the all volunteer military, was "My sons are grown men. I doubt any of the men and women currently serving in the military were forced to do so by their parents. They made the decision themselves, it was not my decision to make. My sons chose to pursue other careers, and I respect their decision. But to think that only those who have served, or have family serving, are allowed to opine on the direction of this country's foreign and defense policies is antithetical to the very nature of democracy." Something along those lines would have been effective and shut the lefty up. |
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...reporting for duty, sir!
Five Iowa warriors present and accounted for!
Hooah!
Has there been anyone even remotely as shallow and unprincipled as the Mitt Flipper? Good lord the man is shameless. I almost hope he does get the GOP nod, just to watch his fan-dance back to the middle.
The guy is so transparently phony it's hilarious. |
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If it matters not what other members of your family do, why is it fine for Romney to babble on about his nephew getting called up?
Hezbollah's diplomacy, a suggestion to cut and run by september, mitt's sons serving America, his on-camera blow up in iowa, it's been an entertaining few weeks. Let's hope Romney keeps it up. |
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The only thing that would have truly set me off about this is if I felt that the Governor thought that his sons standing around listening to his applause lines was like serving on the front lines. Having read the whole thing--I no longer do.
Let's be honest here. I'm an O-4 (currently a reservist-I guess that makes me a novus chickenhawk) who was flying over Iraq before Iraq became cool. In the 90s everybody knew that all the hip cats were getting more money (and chicks) doing the dot-com thing. Well, okay, that was then. I don't blame Mitt Romney because his sons did what the rest of America did. Nor do I think that not having served has cut out your rights to have a say on the great issues of the Republic.
So, this "elite kids don't serve" is not going to affect who I vote for. If the Governor is the GOP candidate, he is the man I vote for.
But elite kids--know thee well this. That was then, this is now. Times have changed. There is a tremendous amount of difference between me saying you should be able to have a say without having served--and me saying that you are going to be one of my leaders despite having not served.
Any twentysomething not answering his country's call today is not doing anything wrong, per se. He also ain't doing much of anything right, and will not have my support 20-30 years from now when he gets ready for his big closeup. This ain't the 90s anymore, and geopolitics is going to be a part of our lives for the rest of our lives.
Folks who aspire to the national stage are going to have to serve in something bigger than themselves--and that is not to mean some elected political job as a 25 year old hot and ready to be the next William Jefferson Clinton. It means military, State Department Defence Department, maybe Peace Corps, etc. I'm almost ready to give Romney's sons a pass based on the missionary thing, but gosh wouldn't it would be real great if they joined the Reserves?
And I kinda liked what Greg said. |
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" soothsayer writes: Thursday, August, 09, 2007 12:18 AM
Neocon paranoia lives on
My favorite part was how romney compared serving in the US armed forces with helping your neighbors with yardwork. Way to support the troops!"
I'll parse this out so its easier for you to read:
"my niece Misha --living out west-- her husband, I think he got a call on a Tuesday, he's in the National Guard, he got a call on a Tuesday that he was going to be called up and shipped overseas on a Thursday"
ok got that part? now...
"and they'd just bought a home, they hadn't landscaped it, but the rules in the neighborhood were that unless you got your home landscaped within a year of the time that you bought your home, they began fining you because they didn't want people having mudholes in front of their homes."
ok last part now...
"And she was very worried, and just before the year expired, she woke up one morning and looked out the window and all the neighbors were out there rolling out sod, putting up trees, getting it all done. It is remarkable how we can show our support for our nation."
Now, if those people did not do something to help support the troops by helping out that military family...then what exactly do you consider support for the troops?
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Soothsayer wrote;
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"A two year mission in France?
Where I come from thats called a long vacation."
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Soothsayer, when someone "goes away for two years" where you come from, it's because that person has been sent to prison.
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I agree that this story is not a big deal. It would be nice to have some intellectual honesty though. I remember this blog completely overreacting to an similar failed joke by the regrettable Mr. Kerry. Is that part of why Mr. Hewitt is so keen to identify bias--as long as everyone admits he is biased, no one (him included) has to try to be fair? |
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Did you serve in the military? |
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Noah:
Our obligations are not conterminous with our legal liabilities.
Fergus
Since you seem to be offended by the word kids, I presume children as well, what word do you suggest we use to refer to Romney's offspring?
Greg Marquez
goyomarquez@earthlink.net
http://www.ivchristiancenter.com
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Where do you come from??? When was the last time you spent your vacation getting up at 6:00am every day, studying french, holding street meetings, teaching congregations, knocking on doors, etc. Vacation? Right. |
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Romeny's son's Craig, Josh, Matt, Tagg and Ben apparently range in age from 26 to 37. They all have voluntarily (and no doubt like their father) enthusiastically served two year missions for their church. They are all married with children. They have all attended to their education (at least four years.). They graduate high school at 18 add two years for a mission and four or more years for college. They are not afraid of self-less service. There is no draft and thus no affirmative citizen’s obligation. If there was an affirmative obligation, they would embrace it. What is the beef? |
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When you compare this to Obama's recent "gaffe," this shows you that the republicans don't stand a chance in 2008. Freddy and Rudy have just as many problems. |
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Can you ever admit Romney is human and makes mistakes? The comment was only a joke and I was not personally offended, but it was dumb. Working on a campaign is obviously not the same as fighting in a war. Mitt stuck his foot in his mouth (hey it happens to the best of them).
But here is a perfect example of Hugh Hewitt Double Standards. If a Democrat candidate said something like that you would do multiple posts on the subject, crying out on how it slandered the troops. When Romney does it you declare how the MSM is biased.
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Where I come from thats called a long vacation. |
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My favorite part was how romney compared serving in the US armed forces with helping your neighbors with yardwork. Way to support the troops! |
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If I were to ask Hillary "Since your husband is a serial sex offender and rapist, do you think he should be registered as such?" Would that be considered a loaded question.
Or, I served in the military and I have a friend that did a tour at the White House. According to him you are one of the most vial people has ever met. What is your response to him. Would that be a loaded question.
Finally, using some of the stated logic, since I have been to Iraq, those of you how have not are not aloud to voice an opinion. Works for me because I am tired of listening to people that have never been there. |
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rae writes: Wednesday, August, 08, 2007 11:21 PM
Legitimate question
"Hey it's a great question and one we should ask every pro-war chickenhawk. I do it regularly here. Why isn't MKH in Iraq? Ben Shapiro? Mitt's sons have no excuse and it speaks volumes to Americans that if this war is sooooo very important, why aren't these full of shite GOP candidates sending their kids over to help the cause?"
Again, I ask: One of Rudi's daughters is an Obama supporter. Should Rudi "send" her to Iraq?
Given she's an adult, how can he force her to go to Iraq?
If Rudi can't force her, because she's an adult capable of making her own choices, then how can he and the other GOP candidates "send" their kids to Iraq????
Answer the effing question, rae, instead of befouling this site with your inanities!!
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Your comment that "Romney never had to fight for a d. thing in his whole life" is uniformed.
First off - a 2 year voluntary mission for his church in France was no peice of cake. Just ask anyone who has done it. It turns boys into men real fast.
And I suppose you somehow believe he did not fight for the enormous business success he has acheived. Or that he was handed the simultaneous business and law degrees from Harvard - with honors no less.
I could go on. Romney has no doubt met with his fair share of difficulty and disappointment in his life, just like the rest of us. He has been able to acheive great personal, family and business success - I doubt that any of it was handed on a platter.
I'm also tired of the "plastic" charge. Romney is articulate, bright and thinks fast. Some people just seem to have a need to find fault where there is none.
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This is the kind of thing that just drives me nuts - that signature ineptitude among GOP candidates and activists alike in marshalling arguments and really nailing the opposition to the wall when they're walking around with a largish target plastered across their shirt...
We've all heard this same criticism from leftists, and so, presumably, has Romney - but you'd never know it.
According to the leftwing "chickenhawk" concept, nobody who has not served in the military has any business being President, voting for war in Congress, or even speaking in favor of war.
Well there are hundreds of thousands of professions open to Americans, and unfortunately government has its legislative fingers in every one of them. So why aren't Romney and all the other GOP victims of this leftwing smear doing the obvious: *Drawing some analogies*
Should a candidate have to operate a medical practice for a number of years before he can make a proposition on health care?
Must a candidate become a C.P.A. before he can speak on taxation?
A blue collar grunt before he can speak on unions?
A builder before he can propose deregulation of the construction and real estate trades?
So why the demand for military service?
This leftwing tactic boils down to: the classic schoolyard ad hominem, just an elaborate rephrasing of "Romney is a Big Bad Meanie!"
But instead of nailing them on that illogic, he goes off on a silly story about Winnebagos and campaign support. In so doing, he comes across as evasive and shallow.
Arrggghh. |
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They aren't kids. They are adults, who get to make up their own minds about things.
They aren't kids.
Is this really that difficult of a concept? |
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I believe in everything you just said. The problem is Romney can not explain it well and holding his sons campaigning up as some kind of service to the country comes off poorly. In going for the laugh he bungles everything he just said. He needs a KISS(keep it simple) editor in his brain. He could have said just the first paragraph about choice and then followed with his nieces story and come out great. He overreached. But I have noticed this before. He is too practiced, too polished. In this exchange he answered correctly and then it was like he remembered the bit about his sons and tried to tack it on for a joke (strange joke, unfunny joke) and blows the whole skit. It comes across as insincere.
dirLie |
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Josh Marshall argues that Romney "ad lib pablum is so mindless, inane and self-serving that such an unfortunate incident was bound to occur sooner or later." That sounds right. Obviously, he does not think service to his campaign is on the same moral plane as service in Iraq.
What I want to know is how Romney could be "ambushed" at an "Ask Mitt Anything" forum. Doesn't 'anything' mean 'anything'? Where are those "police officers" when you need them?! |
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Let's try to boil things down, shall we:
* anti-war "moonbats" claim to "support the troops", but they don't serve in the military.
* moonbats claim that pro-war "wingnuts" HAVE TO "support the troops" by serving in the military.
IOW if you are FOR the war you MUST VOLUNTEER for military service to "support the troops",
but if you are AGAINST the war you "support the troops" by NOT VOLUNTEERING for military service.
Bullwinkle: "Im SOOOO.... conFUSED!"
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dirLie,
While difficult and painful, the military combat is but one part of the fight in this war we are engaged in. Another aspect is the fight against those who would destroy the war. I consider that the hardest struggle of all, and one we very well may lose. If electing their father will save the war and be the best thing of the country, their stopping everything in their lives to get him elected is a very patriotic service, and also a front on the war.
Besides, he wasn't directly comparing both as equal service. He merely said they are both forms of service to the country. |
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The same stupid, misleading argument:
"It does come across bad."
No, it really doesn't. Not unless you are predisposed to see it that way.
"Here're the children of the super rich, super connected, not even thinking about joining the military..."
How do you know? How can you be certain that they didn't even THINK about joining the military?
You gave yourself away here, Ace; this is not rational debate, this is you trying to spin the situation the way you see it.
But when you make nonsensical statements like that, you undercut yourself severely. Moving on:
" ...while their dad calls for sending other people's kids off to war."
Other people's KIDS, really?
This is the same B.S. meme you Leftists keep trying to purvey, and it remains no less a lie every time it gets repeated.
These are not KIDS being sent to fight. These are ADULTS, who, as adults, VOLUNTEERED to be in the military.
Not kids. Adults.
"And it is, to at least some extent, a window into what Romney really values."
Here at last you say something true; this situation IS a window into what Romney values: namely, the right of adults to make their own decisions about the course of their lives.
Why is this a value that Leftists have so much difficulty empathizing with?
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Hugh,
Are you serious? I listened to this on your show and Romney sounds stupid on this. He starts out good but really, his sons driving around the country in a Winnebago serves the country like troops in Iraq? Either he has no sense of humor, a very strange sense of humor or he really believes this. Once again he comes off lame and plastic sounding. I am not arguing the lefty righty thing here, just the total lack of self awareness this guy has. It is not presidential. It is like he has lived in an isolated bubble all of his life and no one has had the courage to play him a tape of himself sounding like a moron and saying hey man you sound like a moron, think before you speak...
dirL |
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I would be more worried about a Commander in Chief that has a child in the military. Concern over sending a child into harms way could cripple the decision process in waging a necessary war.
Besides I believe one of Romney's sons is a Doctor, after serving in combat in Afghanistan I would be more afraid of cutting up someone on the operating table than I ever was in combat. I have immense respect for medical professionals who have so many lives in their hands on a daily basis. |
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Greg wrote: "I'm a supporter of the Iraq war. I'm teaching my son, he's 17, that he has an obligation to serve his country and that he should give a few years to the military."
Sorry, Greg, but your reasoning is, with all due respect, erroneous and illogical.
Your son does NOT have an "obligation to serve his country". He has an obligation to pay his taxes, obey the law, serve as a juror when called, etc. IOW he has an obligation to be a good citizen, but he doesn't "owe" his country time in "service", unless the country, not you, decides he does.
The day he turns 18 he is free to reject your teaching, and in doing so he is no less a good citizen or a man. He has the facts on his side.
From your own words you seem to conflate "service" with "service in the military". But our military does not need or want every 18-26 year old (or anyone older, for that matter) to sign up. These days they are looking for those with brains and specific skills, not just healthy bodies, to volunteer.
If your son were to volunteer for military service and be rejected for some reason, would you think less of him as a man, a citizen, a son? If you were a pacifist Quaker would you recommend military service for your son?
Now, you may say your kid should "serve" in some other capacity. Many outlets exist to "serve", including engaging in private charitable work. Government "service" organizations exist, but few Americans would agree that "serving one's country" calls exclusively for military or government service, especially in the federal government.
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S've asked before, and I'll ask again: according to stories posted on Drudge, one of Rudi's daughters is an Obama supporter, and (of course) Obama is against the war.
so, to those who taunt war supporters with the question "why don't those war-supporting GOP presidential candidates send their kids to Iraq", I ask:
Should Rudi "send" his anti-war daughter to Iraq?
Or does his daughter, being "of age" and thus legally capable of making her own decisions, have the right to decide for herself to join a volunteer army?
And if Rudi's daughter has that right, then don't the other "kids" of the candidates have the same right, IRRESPECTIVE of their fathers' positions?
Just askin', is all...
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Wow. 5 sons and not a one of them served in the military. This at the very least indicates that serving in the military wasn't considered a very important thing in the Romney household.
They all went on two year missions for their church? Quite admirable on a personal level, but what have they done admirably for their country? Perhaps the same parents who taught them they had an obligation to serve their church never taught them they had an obligation to serve their country. I wonder why not?
I'm a supporter of the Iraq war. I'm teaching my son, he's 17, that he has an obligation to serve his country and that he should give a few years to the military. And I'm a pastor. I'd be jumping for joy if my son wanted to go on a two year mission trip but I'm not teaching him that he has an obligation to do that. So while my son Jeremiah is off serving his country the Romney kids are going to be off serving what? The Romney family?
It does come across bad. Here're the children of the super rich, super connected, not even thinking about joining the military while their dad calls for sending other people's kids off to war. And it is, to at least some extent, a window into what Romney really values.
Greg Marquez
goyomarquez@earthlink.net
http://www.ivchristiancenter.com
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So, unless your kids are in the military, you can't have a say? Oh, then, I'll look for miss Chelsea to sign her name on the dotted line. (maybe go into the Marines like Mom had once pondered upon). Or the Edwards kids. The dodd kids?
Romney's sons served honorable LDS missions. They served the people they were working with. They also were unpaid in this 2 years of 'service'. My nephew just went into the mission home today, and will be serving the people of the Phillippines. If when he gets out, he gets home he wants a military career, God Bless him. He's an adult, and can make up his own mind.
BTW.... I'm a Navy vet.
Da Qween has spoken |
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Hugh has got it wrong when he says the meme that the elite's kids are not involved in fighting the war is not being picked by ordinary voters. Even supporters of the war (I'm not, I think it's going to wreck the Republican party for a generation)who I come in contact with are very much aware this is being carried by lower and middle income Americans. In fact my barber was only sounding off on the subject a few days ago. The consensus in the shop was he was dead right, if all these senators and Bush had their kids out there this would be over in a week was the consensus. Believe me folks are noticing. I'm bound to say Hugh is always railing against elitists but he's an archetypal one himself. And the Beauchamp comment really demonstrates just how out of touch he is. No one other than a few junkies like us has ever heard of this guy and is unlikely to unless the military have done something stupid to shut this controversy down. Whether Romney meant it or not this is how it's going to be reported and his handling of it was shall we say clumsy, he must of anticipated something like it. It is actually an interesting sidebar to this issue and that is why are the children of the elite of this country underepresented in our armed forces. Just about everywhere else, Britain, Germany, France, etc. have officer corps dominated by the traditional landed and commercial upper classes but not here. |
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Off-topic, but is your name a reference to The Kalevala? |
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Romney one day in Time Mag:
The closest he has ever come to a personal religious crisis, he recalls, was when he was in college and considering whether to go off on a mission, as his grandfather, father and brother had done. Mitt was deeply in love with Ann, his high school sweetheart and future wife, and couldn’t bear to spend more than two years away from her. He says he also felt guilty about the draft deferment he would get for it, when other young men his age were heading for Vietnam.
Romney one day in Boston Herald:
Romney, however, acknowledged he did not have any desire to serve in the military during his college and missionary days, especially after he married and became a father. ‘I was not planning on signing up for the military,’ he said. ‘It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam, but nor did I take any actions to remove myself from the pool of young men who were eligible for the draft. If drafted, I would have been happy to serve, and if I didn’t get drafted I was happy to be with my wife and new child. |
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What this encounter obviously demonstrates is that the Left has no concept of a free society. If somebody makes the decision to serve their country, all men of good will will applaud them for it. If they had the obligation to serve their country, the country wouldn't be worth serving. All 5 of Mitt's sons chose to serve God for two years. They are all married and either successful or solidly on the road to success. I wish all of the young men in America had turned out as well...it would be a better country. |
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and hugh spends his (whole?) show doing damage control HAHA. This isn't a left wing consperacy. Right wing blogs are hitting romney hard too.
hotair.com for example. some lesser known blogs too. keep 'em coming if you have more. |
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"If one works for an advocacy organization"....that's a text book definition of the AP. Thanks. Hope Google picks that up.
BTW, I'm a FredMan |
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Hugh chew out that Leftie with the "chicken hawk" argument, and I cheered out loud!
I have been longing for people to call these posers on their nonsense.
And speaking of people who are called to be heroes, I believe some people just have the natural inborn impulse to risk their lives to protect others.
We see it in our soldiers, in our cops, and in our firefighters.
And we all saw it in Minnesota this week when that very young camp counselor went into motion to save all the kids in that bus on the collapsed bridge.
When I heard him interviewed, he had that quiet humility of a real hero. He didn't stop to think of the risk, he just acted.
Thank God for our wonderful American boys who hear the calling to serve! |
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all Democrats need to be taken "in context" when you read about them from the AP, NYT etc.
When it comes to GOP, news from the same media sources, Mittster is always quoted out of context, followed by Guiliani and Thompson. Oh I forget - McCain is always quoted in context when it comes to Immigration etc., but is always quoted out of context when it comes to the Iraq war by the media |
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fair game for questions regardless of who asks?
War is ugly and harsh, with ups and downs.
We sent troops into a foreign country. Our kids are risking their lives every day.
We should ask EVERY question of our elected officials and wanna-be presidents. If this
guy wants to be Prez, he's gonna have a lot more
harder questions than this...
And if Romney wasn't prepared for this question, his
dumb answer wouldn't need your 'he was ambushed!'
crybaby response. Hugh, sometimes your politics-and-party-loyalty-first gets so blazingly transparent. |
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Mitt's example wasn't meant as an exact prallel. Any non-hack can understand the point he is making--there is more than one way to serve. Relax a bit and get a clue. |
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Why is it an ambush for a citizen to ask a candidate for President a question? Is "ambush" opposed to "softball"? If one works for an advocacy organization, it doesn't make it an ambush to ask a question on a topic that group works on. Nor is it an ambush for a Democrat to ask a Republican candidate a question -- even if it is a "gotcha" question. These guys (and gal) are running to be everyone's PRESIDENT -- they should have to face all the citizens.
Now, the question is silly, to a large degree, and I don't think one can hold this against Romney (no more, I might add, than one should hold the bad behavior of family against a candidate). But what matters, if anything, is his weak answer -- candidates need to be more graceful and not set up such terrible sound-bites. |
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How many kids of military age actually do serve in the military?
Do 75% of them serve? or is it 50% that choose to serve? Or is it 25% that choose to serve? Or is it less.
Is that really a profound question? Is it really a deal breaker? If someone's kids haven't served in the military, they aren't worthy to run for office?
What percentage of elected officials have kids that serve in the military? I'd like to know.
Do we ask all potential leaders that question before we vote for them?
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Don't leave out Liz Mair, who is apparently as staunch a Republican as can be found.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/08/more-2008-liz-m.html
)And no, Sully bashers, he has guest bloggers this week, so it's not his writings that are linked)
Reacting negatively to yet another Romney "gaffe" is hardly a "lefty" phenomena, as it becomes more and more apparent that this is a guy who is not ready for the national stage. Promoters can keep putting lipstick on that pig, but it's lips are getting a bit of a caked-on look. |
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I'm not even a Mitt backer, but Professor Bainbridge is beginning to look a lot like Ahab with that silly dog story. Disagreeing on the issues is one thing, but his monomania on this tangential point is less than convincing. I sincerely hope he isn't using Andrew Sullivan as his blogging lodestar. |
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When I began reading the AP story this morning, I was very annoyed with Romney. However, by the time I reached the end, AP's "damning" quotes seemed a little too "perfect" for their media template. I was wondering what the real story was -- thanks for filling us in.
Jon, http://exurbanleague.com |
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How about what a principled "rightie" has to say:
"I'm not saying his kids should have served. I'm saying that to equate serving in the military with helping out in a political campaign is the sort of thing only a guy dumb enough to strap his dog to the roof of his station wagon for a 12 hour trip would say. It's incredibly demeaning to those who serve to compare the heroism of those who serve in Iraq (whatever one makes of the cause) to stuffing envelopes in Ames or whatever Mitt's kids are doing."
---Professor Stephen Bainbridge
Ouch. That has to hurt. |
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