Romney friends describe his faith and compassion

Pam Finlayson from California addresses the audience at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., on August 30, 2012 on the final day of the Republican National Convention (RNC).

/ STAN HONDA/AFP/GettyImages

(CBS News) TAMPA, Fla. -- In an effort to show a more personal side of Mitt Romney, friends and members of his church took to the stage at the Republican convention to tell stories about how Romney affected their lives.

Ted and Pat Oparowsky of New Hampshire told the story of their son, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 14 in 1979.

"You cannot measure a man's character based on words he utters before adoring crowds during happy times. The true measure of a man is revealed in his actions during times of trouble. The quiet hospital room of a dying boy, with no cameras and no reporters - that is the time to make an assessment," Ted Oparowsky said.

Pat Oparowsky went on to describe how Romney visited their son during his cancer treatments and how the two "developed a loving friendship."

On one visit, she said, their son, David, "knowing Mitt had gone to law school at Harvard, asked Mitt if he would help him write a will. He had some prized possessions he wanted to make sure were given to his closest friends and family."

"The next time Mitt went to the hospital, he was equipped with his yellow legal pad and pen. Together, they made David's will. That is a task that no child should ever have to do. But it gave David peace of mind."

"How many men do you know would take the time out of their busy lives to visit a terminally ill 14 year old and help him settle his affairs?" Pat Oparowsky asked.

She then said that her son helped plan his own funeral and that he wanted Romney to deliver the eulogy. "Mitt was there to honor that request. We will be ever grateful to Mitt for his love and concern," she said.

Grant Bennett, who served as an assistant pastor to Romney at the Mormon church in Belmont, Mass., highlighted Romney's faith and service in their church. He discussed how Romney would regularly meet with churchgoers who were in need.

"For one or two evenings each week and several hours every weekend -- week after week and year after year -- he met with those seeking help with the burdens of real life, burdens we all face at one time or another: unemployment, sickness, financial distress, loneliness," said Bennett.

"Mitt's response to those who came was compassion in all its beautiful varieties: He had a listening ear and a helping hand," he continued. "Drawing on the skills and resources of those in our congregation, Mitt provided food and housing, rides to the doctor and companions to sit with those who were ill. He shoveled snow and raked leaves for the elderly; he took down tables and swept the floors at church dinners."

"Mitt taught faith in God, personal integrity, self-reliance and service to our fellow men. And Mitt did what he challenged us to do. He led by example."

His friends' testimonials come on the heels of a recent CBS News poll that showed an empathy gap between Romney and President Obama.

Only 41 percent of Americans said Romney understands their needs and problems, compared to 54 percent who feel Mr. Obama understands their needs and problems.

Full coverage of the 2012 Republican National Convention

Pam Finlayson of California, also a Mormon, discussed how Romney helped her and her husband after their daughter Kate was born prematurely.

"During the many months Kate was hospitalized, the Romneys often cared for our two-year old son, Peter," she said, adding that when Thanksgiving came and Kate was heading for surgery, "I opened my door to find Mitt and his boys, arms loaded with a Thanksgiving feast."

"When I called to thank Ann, she sweetly confessed it had been Mitt's idea, that most of the cooking and chopping had been done by him."

"When the world looks at Mitt Romney, they see him as the founder of a successful business, the leader of the Olympics, or a Governor," Finlayson added.

"When I see Mitt, I know him to be a loving father, man of faith and caring and compassionate friend."

[Deej83]

Mormon Bishops are not paid, they are volunteer. We have a man running for office who has given his life to service and more money to charity than most people will even make. In addition, his company, Bain, saved failing businesses and expanded them with an 80% success rate, and all the opposition can do is point to the 20% that failed. The worst example they can find is a steel plant that was saved by Bain for years before it failed during the failure of the entire United States steel industry. The worst the opposition can find on Romney is that he bullied a guy in high school 30 years ago.
Meanwhile, we don't even know what Obama's grades were in college, and Obama wants us to give more money to government to be our brother's keeper, while his own brother nearly dies in a hut in Kenya. Before you lecture America about the rich needing to care for their poor brothers, Obama should have at least dipped into his millions in book sales to pay for his own brother's medical treatment. Before Obama complained about anyone's business acumen, maybe he should have made sure Solyndra and Ecotality and other failing solar companies used a trillion tax dollars effectively instead of shipping overseas and going bankrupt. The choice is amazingly clear.

[abi_jah]

Dare I mention -- we have here a little girl born prematurely, dare I mention the nation's number one supporter of infanticide in Illinois. Barack Obama was the leader in the state of Illinois for making sure that if a baby survived an abortion, that a new doctor be brought in to finish the job. That's what Obama's known for. And in his party, he, too, is a hero. He's a hero for a different reason. Woman intended the abortion, by God, bring a doctor in here, if the first one botches it, we're gonna bring another one in to finish the job, take the pressure off the original doctor and off the mother.
And has Obama tried to help his own brother living in a hut when the brother George Obama, needed money for medical needs. No...his brother, George Obama had to turn to conservative Dinesh D'Souza to help him out. So while Obama is filthy rich, living it up, his wife Michelle runs around in $7000 outfits, Obama couldn't be bothered to help a poor relative. That shows me that Obama is a man without a soul, without character and without decency.
That's what M. Luther King taught us: to judge a person by his character not the color of his skin. Obama has no character, no integrity....an empty suit.

[JSperry100]

It always amazes me how many liberals are comment Trolls. I suppose they have a lot of time on their hands with liberal arts degrees.

[RollotheNorman]

Never mind Willard's faith, by any measure of Christian doctrine is completely heretical. How's that hanging with you evangelical's?

Willard's compassion will be on full display just as soon as he is sworn in. You can trust him for it.

Willard's ability to govern is show by the ~19% lead that Obama enjoys over him in the state Willard was governor of, MA.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/ma/massachusetts_romney_vs_obama-1804.html

[Kallenprice]

Your disdain is clear by your use of the name Willard. But, are you really bragging about a 19% lead over Mitt in a state that is 85% democrat??? Too funny.

[commercial-pilot]

this is the kind of president America needs. We are finished with the dope head, Marxist who never had a job in his life.

[Eco99]

Yeah I would rather have a fascist any day ... LOL

[retmw1]

What compassion, he made millions eliminating American jobs and stealing pension funds. Then hiding his money offshore instead of investing in the U.S.

[Eco99]

I'm sure his school mate felt Mitt's compassion when he was being held down and his hair cut off.

[abi_jah]

High school prank vs high school drugs choom gang. I'd take the HS prank.