Romney: Sons Serve Country By Campaigning
Presidential Hopeful Defends His Five Sons' Lack Of Military Service
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Photo
Republican presidential hopeful former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a visit to the Wilton Candy Kitchen in Wilton, Iowa, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Romney, who did not serve in Vietnam due to his Mormon missionary work and a high draft lottery number, was asked the question by an anti-war activist after a speech in which he called for "a surge of support" for U.S. forces in Iraq.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, also saluted a uniformed soldier in the crowd and called for donations to military support organizations. Last week, he donated $25,000 to seven such organizations.
"The good news is that we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it," Romney told some 200 people gathered in an abbey near the Mississippi River that had been converted into a hotel. "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."
He added: "One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."
Romney's five sons range in age from 37 to 26 and have worked as real estate developers, sports marketers and advertising executives. They are now actively campaigning for their father and have a "Five Brothers" blog on Romney's campaign Web site.
Romney noted that his middle son, 36-year-old Josh, was completing a recreational vehicle tour of all 99 Iowa counties on Wednesday and said, "I respect that and respect all those and the way they serve this great country."
The woman who asked the question, Rachel Griffiths, 41, of Milan, Ill., identified herself as a member of Quad City Progressive Action for the Common Good, as well as the sister of an Army major who had served in Iraq.
"Of course not," Griffiths said when asked if she was satisfied with Romney's answer. "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."
The town-hall-style meeting was the first of eight events scheduled for Romney just three days before the Iowa Straw Poll, a nonbinding beauty contest among the Republican presidential contenders.
In the days leading up it, Romney is airing a new television ad in the state in which he encourages supporters to attend the event, portrays himself as an outsider to Washington and takes swipes at both Republicans and Democrats there.
"Washington politicians in both parties have proven they can't control spending, and they won't control our borders," Romney says in the ad. "I will, but I need your help to do it."
While former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who is considering a campaign are not participating, Romney has been actively organizing with the aim of gaining momentum into January's Iowa caucuses, which kick off the presidential nominating process.
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See all 102 CommentsLet's give them the Medal of Honor.
Sounds like Cheney saying he had "other priorities", right up until the time he gets the chance to send other people's kids off to die. The republicans have become the party that talks big about war and national security, but wimps out when it comes to putting their as*ses on the line. They've become the party of war cheerleaders and cowardly *******. Gutless chicken-hawks the lot of them.
They're serving the country valiantly by partying into the night.
Posted by mudrose at 03:03 PM : Aug 08, 2007
Because, unlike Bush, he has a brain. Bush isn't unqualified to be president because he's a coward (even though he is), but because he's an ignorant idiot.
Mitt Romney must NOT be elected president.
Oh I don't know. I think I could get behind the whole having several wives idea.....
Read, listen...turn off Fox...think for yourself!!!!!
Posted by mudrose
CHICKENHAWK is a political epithet used to criticize a politicians and public figures who strongly supports a war or other military action, but has never personally been in a war, especially if that person actively avoided military service when of draft age.
Hillary, Chelsea, Obama, Edwards are not war mongers. They are cheerleaders for bush's war. On the other hand, bush, cheny, rove, krystal, fred thompson, mitt romney--let's face it, just about EVERY rethug you can name---all did everything but put on a dress to avoid military service. They are all cowards and hypocrites and you are a moron.
Sounds good to me. I mean after all, how serious should we take someone who doesn't sense an obligation, and aren't willing to lay it on the line, to preserve and defend their own freedom? Yes indeed it should be a prerequisite!!!
None of them received serial deferments and turned around to cheerlead for a phony war that has killed hundres of those kids who had the guts and heart to serve. There is a difference...
If you like that weasel Bush, you'll love Romney.
Posted by ozi
Tell that to Bushboy, don't tell it to me. They attacked Kerry for his service. He was swift boated because of his service. When he threw those medals out and spit on everyone. It was okay for him to spit on everyone, but nobody could spit on him. No sir. Not on Kerry, not.
So we have another wise American parent who is not keen to waste his children's lives? LOL
Who would want a coward who drank much tequila and dodged the war zone to now be sending their children off to mindlessly surrender lives/limbs in a wasteful war?
Moreover, the guy doesn't believe in war. So why would he want to sacrifice the lives of his children for something he himself does not believe in? That would be stupid.
If you like that weasel Bush, you'll love Romney.
Posted by hober_mallow
Hissssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
Good point, which I overlooked in my previous post.
For supporting a war that is destroy young Americans, and in which he wouldn't fight or have his children fight, is as hypocritical a mindset as that of the present lunatic leader; but what can one expect from the deceptive christians except the usual devilishness. LOL
Go Ron Paul!
ronpaul2008.com
HOPE for America
That really IS the least they could do...
So out of touch; so stupid; so wealthy; so safe.
Not getting my vote . . .
Posted by mudrose at 03:40 PM : Aug 08, 2007
How many Americans were killed in Kosovo?
How many were killed by a blue dress?
He shouldn't have said a word, his response is is just plain stupid.
Which means they don't have real jobs because they don't have to work. What an elitest, out-of -touch comment to make. But then again, we're talking Mitt Romney here.
Tell that to the poor sob over there in the sh%t...Good God!
Please, give us a break.
Posted by magoo2u1 at 04:14 PM : Aug 08, 2007
All of his responses have been stupid.
Sometimes I wonder if he knows what planet he's on...
That's what Geo.Bush did. He actually got out of his National Guard military committment by joining the campaign committee of some southern politician....or so they say.
Please, give us a break.
Posted by mike71067 at 04:16 PM : Aug 08, 2007
No - this is just plain stupid!!
This is the best that he could come up with?
And he is suppose to be presidential caliber material!!!
Why do you say Romney doesn't "believe" in war? It's not a religious belief. What do you mean?
ZEITGEISTmovie.com.
Only the Poor fight The War.
SCREW YOU RICH LYING SON OF A ***.
How many were killed by a blue dress?
Posted by IOWEIGN
How many were killed by someone who didn't pay attention. Well, let's see, WTC I, Embassy attacks, the USS Cole, to name a few. Blue dresses kill. It's called dereliction of duty. Maybe if Willie was more watchful instead of being a figurehead, so to speak. You don't get a pass you azz.
Posted by frb01 at 04:30 PM : Aug 08, 2007
ROFLMAO!!
I agree. But this story is about the candidate's stupid insensitive and ridiculous response regarding their decision not to enlist. It's not a story about his kids' decisions.
Posted by mudrose at 04:36 PM : Aug 08, 2007
What a loon. Get over it they got got a blowy joby from someone other than his wife while the ocuntry prospered, all of this trama and deluisonl belief that dresses kill people, told ya they havve meds for that PPD now. What a loon. Get over it Bill got a blowy joby from someone other than his wife while the country prospered, all of this trauma and delusional belief that dresses kill people, told ya they have meds for that PPD now. Flipper Romney is going no where, he sons can make their own choice but serving in his campaign is not serving America in anyway and any comparison of service to our soldiers is arrogant stupidity.
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