romney respects his 5 son's decision NOT to serve in military.

[Philosoraptor]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070808/romney-iowa/

"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."

[DinahMoeHum]

1. Hey, Mittens! Psss psss psss psss psss! Psss psss psss psss psss!

Here, pussy!

And that goes for your boys, too.

:grr:

[Throwing Stones]

2. "One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected ..."

so will they enlist after he loses?

[bryant69]

3. I'm getting the urge to serve my country by beating the shit out of . . .

wait - I'd better not finish that thought.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[rurallib]

4. What arrogance

but what can you expect from Bif, Josh, Chippy, Tag and Doodles. I have no idea what their names are, just what I would like to call them.

[Philosoraptor]

6. I think it's Todd, Snapper, Brad, Skip and Rip.

[Philosoraptor]

14. Or Rip, Roar, Rock, Sock and Pow.

[Mz Pip]

25. Limp, Wimp, Pussy, Puff and Softy

Dad is soooo proud.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Justitia]

5. "But, hey, I'm okay w/sending YOUR kids off to war." Sounds like they have bullshit jobs. -eom

[tularetom]

7. NOBODY's dumb enough to swallow that line of shit

I doubt if he even carries the key polygamist sector talking like that.

[Philosoraptor]

8. Josh risking his life driving a Winnebago across Iowa!

[Submariner]

9. They have Bush/Cheney setting the example for Generation chickenhawk

"We're too rich and perfect to serve our country in uniform."

[Mz Pip]

10. Elitist twits

As if helping their dad get elected comes anywhere near pounding sand in Iraq. Mittens sure has an overblown sense of self importance doesn't he?

He's be a terrible president, a Bush clone (recent clone, but guy's gotta do what he's gotta do), just as arrogant and smarmy. I suspect his sons are just like him.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Philosoraptor]

17. Hey it's dangerous out there in the wilds of Iowa.

[Neecy]

19. that's exactly right

They aren't serving their country, they're serving their father's political ambitions - and he's trying to compare THAT with the sacrifice of our soldiers in Iraq. It's one of the most loathesome things I've heard out of a GOP'rs mouth in a very long time (and as you know, that particular list is quite long).

[Mz Pip]

22. You put this perfectly

I have a visceral dislike of Mitwit; it's similar to what I have with Bush. He is loathesome and he says these things with absolutely no sense of shame or embarrassment.

This war has been going on for 5 years, much longer than Mitten's run for the Presidency. What have the spawn of Mitwit been doing during that time? Not serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, that's for sure. Helping daddy run is a piss poor excuse when they have had 5 years to step up to the plate and do more than just cheerlead this war from the safety of the sidelines.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Neecy]

28. That question should have been asked in the follow-up

Five years is a long time, kids...plenty of time to be sweltering in 125 degree heat and actually serving something other than the cause of political hackery.

No doubt they want daddy in the White House so these young Republican businessmen can reap the whirlwind of cash - just like the Bush family did when Poppy was in office.

I like the word Mitwit, btw...lol

[AlCzervik]

11. hmm, i don't.

[ewoden]

12. Like father like sons, wonder if they "hunt" too

[Philosoraptor]

13. "The Fightin' Romneys", Rip roarin', rockem' sockem freedom fighters!

[Ganja Ninja]

18. They're fighting the battle of ideas here so they won't ...

get their asses shot off over there.

[NNN0LHI]

15. If we had more like them there would be a lot less dead Iraqis n/t

[Philosoraptor]

16. Mostly poor folks join these days for the supposed benefits.

So the rollicking, raucous romneys have no need to enlist and improve their lots in life.

[NNN0LHI]

21. I know a lot of poor people who aren't in the military

Being disadvantaged does not make it alright to go kill other people because of it.

If it did we would all have a bullseye on our back.

Sorry but thats a lame excuse.

Don

[Bitwit1234]

20. I know why they don't enlist..

they don't want to take the chance of being killed. In other words they are as chicken shit as their father.

[Bluebear]

23. An RV tour of Iowa is considered "serving your country" now?

[onenote]

24. I respect their decision too.

I just don't respect (a) Mittens defense of it; (b) Mittens position on the war or (c) his sons support for their dad.

That is all.

[npincus]

26. and I respect my decision not to vote for him.

[Disturbed]

27. The more Mit the Twit speaks the better. He proves that he is

a shallow, vapid opportunist. His five sons could have enlisted in some part of Military since 2001 so his lame excuse doesn't even make sense. I don't expect politicians sons &/or daughters to enlist in the Military so that is not a negative toward him or them. I do expect Pres. candidates to be rational and sane. Do we expect that people running for the Pres. job to at least be logical? I hope that he spends most of his $250 Million on his campaign that he will lose. His chances of being nominated for the Repug choice are slim & none. His claim that Missouri was the Garden of Eden should be enough for the RWing Fundies not to vote for him. Six more months of his stupid comments will sink him.

[Johonny]

29. I agree sort of

Sure I respect all those that serve this great country, and not just by military service alone. There are a lot of ways to serve society. However we are at war. A war he supports. It's really hard to respect pro-war Hawks, who refuse to serve the military. It's hard to imagine that as passionate as he is to "win" this war, and as passionate as his sons are to serve America, that not one of them felt the calling to serve militarily. One just might conclude their passion for either the war or America is not as great as they talk it up to be...

[BlooInBloo]

30. I'm comfortable with cowards not serving too. Look at all the help gw was.

[DaveJ]

31. Their actual professions hardly seem critical here at home either

No offense intended toward anyone here, but they all work as "real estate developers, sports marketers and advertising executives." Not exactly professions necessary to keep this country running. Yet they basically think their family should control the military.

[Philosoraptor]

32. .................

[Faux pas]

33. The rich are different from you and I....

they believe only poor folk should serve in the military and die for their country.

:grr: :mad: :nuke:

[Marr]

34. Uh... isn't that incredibly insulting to the troops...?

To say that a bunch of healthy young men helping to further their own father's political ambitions is akin to the sacrifice a soldier makes for his country? The military is hurting for recruits, their father is pro-war, and they support him. Their actions speak of moral cowardice, and their father's words speak of deep arrogance.

[Binka]

35. Ben Is Going To Kick Mitt's Ass For Saying This

He told me today he will chase this asshole down and pound his head in. Watch out Mittens after he knocks you out he is gonna highjack your little Mittlette's RV and mow the rest of your clan over!

[Donald Ian Rankin]

36. Good for him! This is one issue most DUers are very, very wrong on.

The idea that believing that a war is a good idea places one under an obligation to fight is *exactly* the same as the widely-toted conservative talking point that those who opposed the war in Iraq should go and live under Saddam's regime.

And the idea that being related to a politician places one under any kind of obligation is a very bad one indeed.


Moreover, the loved ones of Presidents and similar *shouldn't* get involved in conflicts over which their relatives exercise control, because they will hinder their relative's ability to be objective. Imagine what would happen if Romney became president while one of his sons was serving in Iraq.


The idea that there's something hypocritical about believing a war is a good idea but not fighting in it makes as much sense as believing that people who use coal but don't mine it themselves are hypocrites.


I've never said this before, and I doubt I'll often say it again, but on this issue Romney is quite right - the US has a volunteer army, and there's nothing immoral about not volunteering, whether or not you support the war.

[Bluebear]

38. On this Romney is QUITE WRONG.

They do not want to serve, fine and dandy.

However.

Saying that your sons driving around the Iowa countryside to get you eleted President is equal to "serving their country" is beyond pathetic.

Let's ask those on their fourth tour of duty if they wouldn't like to come home and drive Mitt's campaign-mobile for a season, since that is considered equal to military service in this man's eyes.

[Ganja Ninja]

39. Nobody's calling them immoral.

Sure they have every right to refuse military service. But we have every right to criticize them for supporting a war they aren't willing to serve in. It's called hypocrisy.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

41. No, it isn't hypocritical.

That's exactly what I was saying - there's nothing hypocritical about supporting a war but not being willing to join the army.

Dafur, Sierra Leone, Kosovo.


Supporting *conscription* but not being willing to join the army is hypocritical.

[Ganja Ninja]

42. "there's nothing hypocritical about supporting a war ..."

"but not being willing to join the army."

Well I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I also might point out that there is conscription going on right now. They call it "stop loss". That's where your refused a discharge even though your enlistment is up. You're forced to keep serving while other hypocrites who could take your place in combat campaign for their father. Conscription by another name but conscription none the less.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

45. Three questions, then.

1) Has there, in your lifetime, been a war you were in favour of fighting - Kosovo? Sierra Leone?

2) Did you, and everyone you know who agreed with you, serve in the military during it?

3) Do you consider those who did not do so to be hypocrites?

If, as I suspect, the answers are yes, no, and no, then surely my case is proved?

[Ganja Ninja]

46. This isn't about just any war.

Granted there are some wars that have to be fought. This war in Iraq is the wrong war in the wrong place against the wrong enemy. The questions you pose are red herrings. Kosovo and Sierra Leone are different circumstances. The army was not stretched to the breaking point the way ours is in Iraq. Enlisted men and women were not forced to stay in the army and in combat for multiple years. We weren't taking casualties the way we are in Iraq. We weren't sending amputees back into the fight they were first maimed in. We weren't traumatizing people over and over again for a year at a time as we are today.

These people we're talking about are vocal supporters of this war. They are healthy and of military age. The are not obligated to join the fight. No one is forcing them to fight. Yet for all the importance they attach to it they cannot voluntarily bring themselves to make the sacrifice they are willing to force upon others. To me that reeks of hypocrisy.

[stanwyck]

47. What you're missing here

(and you've made perfectly valid points) is the passion that Romney has for the war, the continual cheerleading and enthusiasm. This is the guy who puffed up with machismo at the first debate and insisted on enlarging Gitmo. He's doing the Bushian Cowboy John Wayne act all over again. Now, his legion of sons are scouring Iowa for Daddy, oozing the same warrior-like "might makes right" propaganda.
Well, guess what" You don't get to brandish that passion and gung-ho enthusiasm for war without a price. You will be asked about your own willingness to walk it like you talk it. You will be asked about personal sacrifice. You will be asked about commitment, personal commitment.
If Romney and his sons truly believe what they say, we'd expect to see at least one of those five young men in Iraq. McCain has a son there. Webb does, also. And so do I. (a Marine with three tours).
Their passion for the war, their "bravery from a safe distance", keeps the flames fanned. They're putting gasoline on the fire.
What they're doing is not only cowardly, but dangerous. They're legitimizing the continuation of this travesty.
And you're giving them a pass.

[NNN0LHI]

48. So you would feel better if his boys were in Iraq killing innocent Iraqis?

Kind of a cruel way to prove a point if you ask me.

McCain has a son is in Iraq killing Iraqis. That doesn't make me respect McCain's pro-war stance whatsoever.

Don

[stanwyck]

51. Of course I don't feel better

about anyone killing Iraqis. (but that's a pretty good O'Reilly statement. You should write for him.)
And while McCain's hawkish view of the war isn't tempered for you in light of his having a son in Iraq, don't discount how much this makes a difference in the American psyche. You get instant street cred. when your child goes to Iraq. I know. And you lose it, fair or not, when you're a loud-talking gung-ho politician with five sons. All of whom find "serving our country" more desirable in Iowa than Iraq.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

49. I'm only giving them a pass on one angle.

To clarify:

:- Continuing the occupation of Iraq will have costs, for all sorts of people.

:- Not continuing the occupation of Iraq will also have costs, for all sorts of people.

:- I believe that the latter set of costs will be massively lower than the former. I therefor want to see the occupation ended. I am not, however, willing to pay any of those costs myself, unless I have to.

:- I do not think that holding the position that the former set of costs is lower, without being willing to pay them, is any more hypocritical than my position.

:- I *do* think that believing that the latter set of costs will be higher than the former is evidence of either incredibly bad judgement, or else of very, very unpleasant priorities. It's not a position that can be justified, and Mitt and his sons should be condemned for holding it, as should everyone else.

:- But that condemnation should be irrespective of whether or not they're serving in the army themselves.

[Jade Fox]

53. The contortion-like nonsense people come up with....

in their efforts (such as yours) to justify the stance of chickenhawks happens because everyone knows in their gut that the issue is quite simple: When it comes to making war, you better walk it like you talk it.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

54. I take it you've either served in the army, or never approved of a war?

And that all your friends and family have too?

"Walking it like you talk it" is a matter of paying taxes to pay soldiers.

[Jade Fox]

57. If only you made some sense.....

perhaps I could respond.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

56. Bullshit

It's nothing like that conservative talking point at all. Just because I don't wish to spend my country's resources and waste soldiers' lives has nothing to do with wanting to live under a Saddamn regime. Fuck Saddamn, he had no impact on my life nor the lives of any American. The corrolation just isn't there. His power and abuses of it still had nothing to do with the United States. It had nothing to do with me until we stuck our nose directly into it.

Now that our noses are in it, why doesn't the Romney family show their belief in a war they think is great. It certainly is a volunteer army........and by the way they talk, I see no reason why they wouldn't want to join considering how great the cause supposedly is. Five sons........not one of them thinks enough of it to go over there?

[Blue_Tires]

37. they got a thing for blondes nt

[B Calm]

40. What a pathetic bunch of CHICKENHAWKS

[ThatsMyBarack]

44. Ick!

Another white-bread 'Murkin family photo!

[SammyWinstonJack]

43. Typical chicken hawk repukelican waste of sperm.

War much like taxes is only for the unwashed masses, according to re:puke:s

[WI_DEM]

50. And if your five sons support the Iraqi War they are also chicken hawks!!

[spanone]

52. i bet he does....privilege has it's privilege

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

55. Translation: That's not OUR job

Congrats, Shitt. You've finally shown how elitists snobs really think.