It is always easy to send other people and their children into harm's way when your own backside is not in the crossfire. We have a two "valiant" armchair warriors in charge of the country - the president and the vice president. The former hid among the Texas National Guards and the latter requested five deferments and had "other priorities" during the Vietnam war. Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney too didn't serve in Vietnam. He supported the invasion of Iraq and is in favor of Bush's military surge for "victory." His macho stance notwithstanding, Romney now joins Bush - Cheney on the roster of cowardly chicken hawks.
Romney has five sons aged 26 - 37, none of whom have served in the military. When asked why his sons did not choose to enlist, Romney replied, "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." Honestly, that is what he said. Romney also added, "The good news is that we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it." Someone ought to tell the multimillionaire businessman / governor that what is voluntary for the privileged may not be so voluntary for those with fewer options in life.
(I should add here that I have nothing against the younger Romney men not enlisting in the armed forces. Not doing so, does not reflect on their abilities or their integrity. Military service is not the only indicator of a person's qualification to serve or lead. What irritated me in this story is Papa Romney's self serving and arrogant explanation.)
BETTENDORF, Iowa - Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday defended his five sons' decision not to enlist in the military, saying they're showing their support for the country by "helping me get elected."
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.
"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."
Does that mean that everyone who is working hard to not get Romney elected is being unpatriotic?
Posted by: gawker | August 12, 2007 at 06:15 PM