Herald: Mitt backs war, but his boys are safe at home

[paineinthearse]

The Herald? Very interesting article, could the tide be turning? Vote this up, share this chickenhawk news with DU nation-wide.


Gov. Mitt Romney shares dinner duties with sons Ben, Craig, Tagga and his wife Ann. (Staff photo by Ted Fitzgerald)

http://news.bostonherald.com/localPolitics/view.bg?articleid=99837&format=&page=1

Mitt backs war, but his boys are safe at home
By Maggie Mulvihill
Saturday, August 27, 2005 - Updated: 09:19 AM EST

Gov. Mitt Romney, who has comforted the grieving loved ones of soldiers killed in Iraq and promoted National Guard recruitment, yesterday said he has not urged his own sons to enlist - and isn't sure whether they would. The Herald posed the question as Romney - a potential 2008 White House contender and backer of President Bush's Iraq policy -was honored by the Massachusetts National Guard after he signed a bill extending pay for state workers on active duty. ``No, I have not urged my own children to enlist.I don't know the status of my childrens' potentially enlisting in the Guard and Reserve,`` Romney said, his voice tinged with anger.

Massachusetts residents can enlist in the National Guard up to age 39.Romney's five sons range in age from 24 to 35. Neither the Romney children nor the governor have served in the military, Romney spokeswoman Julie Teer said. More than 1,100 guardsmen and women from Massachusetts are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, a guard spokeswoman said.According to federal statistics, 28 Massachusetts soldiers have been killed so far.

``I don't think you should be so `rah-rah' for a war that you aren't willing to send your own family members to,'' said Rose Gonzalez, 30, of Somerville, whose mother, a state employee, was deployed to Iraq in January.``If he thinks the war is so just and so important and we shouldn't pull out, then he should encourage his own sons to go.`` Nancy Lessin, a spokeswoman for Military Families Speak Out, said if Romney aspires to be president he should consider the sacrifice made by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the father of four sons all of whom enlisted in World War II. ``This is just one more politician who is willing to risk the lives of our loved ones and celebrate sending them off into a war that we never should have in,'' Lessin said.

<snip>

A growing number of Republicans have begun to voice concern over the mounting American deaths, but Romney has been a stalwart backer of Bush's position, which is to remain in Iraq until a stable democracy is in place - even if it takes years.

[indepat]

1. I too don't think one should be "rah-rah" for a war one is not willing to

send their progeny to serve.

[chelsea0011]

2. Privilege has it's advantages.

Generally, I don't think fathers and mothers should speak for sons and daughters about their choices. But we have been sold this war in Iraq from a group of lies for invasion to we need to fight then there to avoid fighting them here(terrorism). If they are going to take the position of this illegal and immoral war as being the utmost importance then questions as to why family members aren't enlisting is fair game. They want a war of it being fought by others why we stay safe. It's your war. Show you mean it.

[Ian David]

3. See related threads

Press Wants to Know if Pro-War Officials Will Send Their Own Kids to War
Topic started by IanDB1 on Aug-29-05 10:34 AM (14 replies)
Last modified by hughee99 on Aug-29-05 01:29 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2043211

Mitt backs war, but his boys are safe at home
Topic started by hadrons on Aug-27-05 03:13 PM (8 replies)
Last modified by newyawker99 on Aug-28-05 01:10 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2040064


"Chickenhawks: the other right meat" & "Children of chickenhawks" - Salon
Topic started by SheWhoMustBeObeyed on Aug-29-05 02:40 PM (5 replies)
Last modified by merbex on Aug-29-05 03:18 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4497158

[paineinthearse]

5. Thanks, Ian

This may be the neocon's Achilles heel.

[autorank]

4. This is what Paul Hackett, D OH was talking about when he ran in the 2nd

District. He said Republicans who won't go or don't encourage their kids to go are "chickenhawks." He almost won that election and he carried the most rural parts of Ohio's 2nd in the 2005 special election that he almost won (well "won" like we win all close elections...haha).

Of course Hackett can say this because he's a Major in the reserve and served a tour, volunteered in Iraq. He thinks the war was based on lies and that we should get out very soon.

Maybe Mittens should talk to Maj. Hackett D, OH.

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. Recommended. This is how you see the hypocrisy of their pro-war posturing

This needs to be publicized widely in Massachusetts. Also, good ole Mitt is being positioned as a strong contender in national pollitics - a VP or even SCOTUS candidate perhaps. We Massachusetts residents need to expose him for what he is: another tool of the Bush cabal.

As you note, it's surprising and encouraging to see this in the more right-wing Boston paper, the Herald.

[sniffa]

8. he's aLso stiLL in cLose contact with rove

advising him on his presidentiaL run. he shouLd be caLLed on that too. x(

another nomination.

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. oops - typo - Mitt is being pushed for POTUS not SCOTUS

:blush:

[welshTerrier2]

7. "his voice tinged with anger" - RECOMMENDED !!!

oh, i just love that ...

it just screams out "i'm an elitist hypocrite ... how dare you ask me a question like that" ...

the truth is, that very question should be asked of anyone who condones the madness in Iraq ... put up or shut up, Mitt ...

actually, just shut up ...

[merbex]

13. And as the old cheer goes: Hit him again HARDER, HARDER

This is where the whole bunch(the entire Repug Party) is vulnerable

The Democrats who voted for this need to stand up now and say "I was DELIBERATELY LIED TO. If I could vote again,knowing what I know now,I WOULD NOT BACK THIS INVASION INTO A SOVEREIGN NATION WHICH IN NO WAY WAS AN IMMINENT THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES."

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. Mitt, Bush & Republican voters GO SPREAD DEMOCRACY WITH YOUR OWN FAMILIES!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

11. Yes Mitt- What exactly IS the noble cause?????

I want every politician to answer this question!

And just how far are they willing to go?

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. WaPo: Military's recruitment problems extend to weathy pro-war GOPs

so our dear Mitt and his boys are in company - maybe not in GOOD company, but that's one of the prices of being a GOP these days. Great perks, though...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/19/AR2005081900815.html?referrer=email

Military's Recruiting Troubles Extend to Affluent War Supporters

By Terry M. Neal
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Monday, August 22, 2005; 8:00 AM

There was an eye-opening article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette a few days ago that explored the increasing difficulty the military is having recruiting young people to enlist. As has been well reported in many newspapers, including The Washington Post, the Army and Marines are having a particularly tough time meeting recruitment objectives, in part because of Americans' concern about the war in Iraq.

(snip)

The writer of the Post-Gazette article, Jack Kelly, explored this question in his story that ran on Aug. 11. Kelly wrote of a Marine recruiter, Staff Sgt. Jason Rivera, who went to an affluent suburb outside of Pittsburgh to follow up with a young man who had expressed interest in enlisting. He pulled up to a house with American flags displayed in the yard. The mother came to the door in an American flag T-shirt and openly declared her support for the troops.

But she made it clear that her support only went so far.

"Military service isn't for our son," she told Rivera. "It isn't for our kind of people."

(snip)

[midnight armadillo]

14. They phrased the question wrong

The proper way to ask would be: "Smilin' Mitt, you say the war in Iraq is a worthy cause. Would you sacrifice the lives of your sons for success there?" Better than asking about enlistment - it goes to the heart of the matter.

[AllyCat]

15. Posted this in GD.

Figured you all had this here already!