Romney and sons: chickenhawks all
Question of Sons’ Choices Dogs Romney Campaign
By MICHAEL LUO
New York Times
Mitt Romney has been asked before on the campaign trail if his sons have served in the military, and he usually has dispatched the question easily enough.
But an awkward response last week in Iowa, in which Mr. Romney said in part that “one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected,” forced him several days later to say he misspoke and injected a discordant note into his otherwise triumphant few days after he won the state’s Republican straw poll.
It has also threatened to put a chink in what has been widely viewed as a major asset in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination: his crowded family portrait, which includes five successful adult sons who have been a prominent part of his campaign.
The fact that none have served in the armed forces is a potentially sensitive point, given how badly stretched the nation’s military has become with the conflict in Iraq and the nearly unanimous support for the war on the part of the Republican candidates.
An opponent of the war raised the issue again with Mr. Romney last week at a forum in eastern Iowa. Although his campaign said Mr. Romney’s remarks were taken out of context, his response to the pointed question drew potshots because of his mention of what his sons were doing in his campaign, including that his son Josh had driven a Winnebago to all of the state’s 99 counties.
Mr. Romney said later in an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that he had not meant to equate military service with his sons’ campaign work.
(Continued here.)
By MICHAEL LUO
New York Times
Mitt Romney has been asked before on the campaign trail if his sons have served in the military, and he usually has dispatched the question easily enough.
But an awkward response last week in Iowa, in which Mr. Romney said in part that “one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected,” forced him several days later to say he misspoke and injected a discordant note into his otherwise triumphant few days after he won the state’s Republican straw poll.
It has also threatened to put a chink in what has been widely viewed as a major asset in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination: his crowded family portrait, which includes five successful adult sons who have been a prominent part of his campaign.
The fact that none have served in the armed forces is a potentially sensitive point, given how badly stretched the nation’s military has become with the conflict in Iraq and the nearly unanimous support for the war on the part of the Republican candidates.
An opponent of the war raised the issue again with Mr. Romney last week at a forum in eastern Iowa. Although his campaign said Mr. Romney’s remarks were taken out of context, his response to the pointed question drew potshots because of his mention of what his sons were doing in his campaign, including that his son Josh had driven a Winnebago to all of the state’s 99 counties.
Mr. Romney said later in an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that he had not meant to equate military service with his sons’ campaign work.
(Continued here.)
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1 Comments:
The question that I would ask Tagg, 37, Matt, 35, Josh, 31, Ben, 29, and Craig Romney,26 is : What was your reaction to the terrorist’s attack of 9/11/2001 ? Did it affect your life goals ?
For some 9/11 changed everything. I think of Paul Rieckoff who rushed to the Twin Towers to help save people. Rieckoff gave up a Wall Street career to go “active” in the Army and serve in Iraq. Rieckoff is now out of active duty … but still serves our country as Executive Director and Founder of IAVA (Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America). I don’t know if Rieckoff’s father is alive, but if he was running for President and said that his son was serving America by canvassing the cornfields of Iowa in a Winnebago, “showing support for our country (by) helping me get elected because they think I’d be a great president.” – well, I’ld vote for Paul Rieckoff’s father.
As far as the Romney boys, they've had six years to decide how they want to serve and waiting until now to drive a Winnebago is not very impressive.
Apparently from the results link of the Iowa Straw Poll, Republicans don’t care if your son serves in the military … or if you did.
John McCain – a vet and father of an active duty soldier – 10th place.
Duncan Hunter a vet and father of an active duty soldier – 9th place.
Rudy Giuliani received deferments as a student and law clerk finished 8th.
Fred Thompson received a deferment because he had children finished 7th.
Tommy Thompson was in the Army Reserves and finished 6th.
Ron Paul served as an Air Force surgeon and finished 5th.
Tom Tancredo failed his physical exam and finished 4th.
Sam Brownback (3rd) and Mike Huckabee (2nd) had not yet turned 18 by the time the draft was discontinued in 1973 and never volunteered.
As we know the winner, Mr. Republican Romney served in France on a religious mission.
If the Iowa Straw Poll holds true to the eventual nomination, we likely will be electing a new Commander-in-Chief who will have to learn how to salute just to be able to get off Air Force One.
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