Rachel Maddow slammed Mitt Romney for putting his political need for a photo op with canned goods ahead of the stated needs of the Red Cross. Video:
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The president canceled all campaign events today and tomorrow. His opponent, Mitt Romney, said he was canceling all campaign events. this one did stay on the schedule. Romney/Ryan victory rally. Dayton, Ohio, October 30th. This was the traveling press pass handed out for the Romney event today. It was tweeted out by reporter Ari Shapiro. The event had previously been planned as a campaign rally. they kept it in the same place as the rally. They kept the event at the same time as the Romney rally. Mr. Romney appeared with the same celebrity endorsers scheduled for rally and led with the vote for Mitt Romney biographical video that they play to start their campaign rallies. Because they wanted credit for canceling their rallies out of sensitivity to the people suffering from this storm, they went ahead with this one mostly as planned but said they did not want it to be described as a rally. Instead, they wanted people to call it a storm relief event. They did ask people attending the rally to bring canned goods as storm relief, and Mr. Romney did a big ornate show of being seen to be handling canned goods which the campaign made a big show of saying would be donated to the Red Cross so they got the photo op they wanted. As a presidential candidate, Mr. Romney’s photo op today also models for the nation what Mr. Romney believes to be the appropriate way to help if you’re concerned about this giant disaster. And that’s the problem, because however well Mr. Romney’s piles of cans work for him as a photo op, that isn’t actually what the Red Cross wants or needs people to do to actually help. Look at the Red Cross website. Question, I would like to donate clothes, cars or other items to charity. Does the American Red Cross accept donated goods? Answer, unfortunately due to constraints the Red Cross does not accept or solicit individual items, collected food, used items or clothes must be repackaged, transports which impedes the valuable resources of money, time, and personnel. financial contributions allow the Red Cross to purchase exactly what’s needed for a disaster relief operation. People have an instinct to gather up blankets, canned goods that may be of direct help. it’s an unbl and laudable instinct. Occasionally, there’s a direct need for a specific physical need to be donated in which case relief organizations ask for that thing. Otherwise canned goods and other random supplies however well means give these organizations a whole new extra job they don’t want to be doing, sorting through and storing random stuff they didn’t ask for. It’s a positive instinct that makes us want to give canned food and groceries and true those kinds of donations are generally not much of a help. One thing we need public leadership for is to bridge the gap between what feels good for us to do, what feels like helping and what actually does help. This is one of those things you need visible, competent, calm leadership for to say actually it’s coming from the right place but what the red cross needs from you, from all of us is not canned goods, it’s money. and here’s why, this is not a hypothetical thing. This is one of the things you’re supposed to do as a leader at a time of crisis. right now if you want to help, send money to the American Red Cross.
As with many things related to Mitt Romney, it wasn’t the action itself, but the decision to do it in the first place that reveals his true priorities and qualities. The urge of most Americans when disaster strikes is to offer help, but Mitt Romney exploited this urge for political gain by substituting a photo op for real help. Mitt Romney put his own need for a photo op ahead of the needs of the Red Cross and the victims of the disaster. Romney exploited the human urge to help others for political gain. Mitt Romney made it clear that his presidential campaign takes priority over the needs of relief organizations and the victims. While President Obama was working with Republican Chris Christie, Mitt Romney couldn’t even reach out to work with the Red Cross. Romney’s mentality is that of a CEO, not a national leader. The difference between the two candidates was clear. Barack Obama put disaster relief ahead of his campaign for reelection. Mitt Romney put his campaign first by exploiting a disaster for a photo op. If Sandy is a test of leadership and priorities, Obama looks like the president that he is, while Romney revealed that he refuses to acknowledge anything beyond his own needs.
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Kenneth Morgan
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 7:25 am
As usual, romney makes the wrong choice to look good and instead looks stupid. Seeing him load stuff with that cheesy grin on his face made me sick. What is the Red Cross going to do with this stuff? Donate it to missions or food banks. He makes me sick.
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Deborah_
Nov. 1st, 2012 at 3:21 am
It gets even worse. According to an article on Oct 31 2012 at Nomadic Politics, romney requested that all of the items he donated be sent ONLY to the swing states he has a chance of winning; Virginia, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. I guess he’s pissed at Governor Christie after all. New Jersey and New York were hardest hit by Sandy, but the repulsive romney just can’t see helping them out.
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Janice I Falk
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 7:57 am
disgusting vile bastard, what a “christian” philosophty, to try to take advantage of peoples suffering
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Robin Anderson
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 8:35 am
Watching him speak to the people at the rally, talking about the people in the storms path needing the people in Ohio and the country needing the people in Ohio to vote for him, all the while with that grin on his face just sickened me. And to think people actually fall for his antics. It was just another “pot scrubbing” moment. A person can’t falsely show emotions that they don’t have within themselves. He’s horrible at faking it.
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Tyana
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 8:52 am
This just adds to the fact that Romney has no idea what normal everyday people go through. I’m still trying to get over his remark about relating to slaves because his family owned slaves. He is so disconnected from real people and our needs.
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j
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 9:23 am
In the press this morning, the red cross had to divert people and time for Romney’s photo op and to sort the cans they did not want. Also, he apparently had no contributions for the relief effort, his people went to Walmart to buy 5000 dollars worth of cans and granola bars etc. What a lying scumbag – a desperate sack of sh*t trying to get into the picture.
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Karen
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 10:04 am
This is a common GOP tactic here in OH. Ryan did it a few weeks ago in a soup kitchen-barged his way in for a photo op, did nothing except get the pics of him doing dishes and then their followers nearly ruined the soup kitchen because the person who runs it dared to complain. They are just the worst human beings.
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Paws
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 10:13 am
Romney’s response to the disaster on the east coast is absolutely insulting. I’m appalled by his complete lack of understanding of what it means to manage a disaster of this magnitude. People are donating things when what is needed is money and blood donations. His campaign was so afraid that his “relief event” would be a bomb that they purchased $5,000 worth of goods to load on the truck in case they didn’t collect anything. It’s just another dishonest trick by this man and this campaign.
As the governor of a state, he should have a basic understanding of disaster relief and management. He should know that canned goods and other merchandise will NOT help and will only get in the way. If people can’t donate money, I understand that. Then take the canned goods to a food pantry where they’ll do the most good. Don’t send them into the middle of a massive disaster area.
I just don’t get this guy.
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Reynardine
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 11:09 am
The extremes of narcissism have the ugliest of manifestations.
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ibwilliamsi
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I’ve seen high school kids run a more sophisticated campaign for Class President than the Romney/Ryan campaign. These people are such an insult. Thank you John McCain and Sarah Palin for allowing the political discourse fall to this level and seem “normal”.
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j
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Republican congressman Steve King seems worried that the storm victims will spend aid on Gucci handbags
and massage parlors.
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Lori
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 1:04 pm
From BuzzFeed:
It was the second of Paul Ryan’s photo ops in his home state today where the campaign made a show of helping storm victims however they could. At the first stop in La Crosse, the vice presidential nominee thanked supporters for coming, shaking hands with some standing in front of an American flag, where minutes before, aides arranged boxes of Cheerios and cans of corn in perfect order.
In Hudson, the packing was proceeding too quickly, and the supporters wearing red “Team Wisconsin” t-shirts were given the order to slow down and then to stop to be sure there were still goods to be packed when Ryan entered.
One by one the boxes were filled and loaded into a waiting U-Haul, and then they stopped to wait for the candidate.
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As Ryan walked back through the office to the motorcade volunteers finished packing the supplies, which are being driven to a Red Cross facility in New Jersey.
As supporters walked out the door they were handed a flier about the GOP’s election night party.
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Reynardine
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Another pile of Mitt. Look famiLIAR?
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the logical centrist
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 1:21 pm
If these 2 lying pigs get into office, this country is doomed. I don’t care what anybody says, they are both liars. It would be worse than Bush/Cheney.
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Olga Pina
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 8:39 pm
come november 7th, romney will be canned!
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Anne
Oct. 31st, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Willard Romney showed that he’s just as clueless as ever. His use of this event as a photo opportunity shows that it’s all about him and everyone else comes in a distant second or third place, if that. He is nothing but a rank opportunist who is way out of his depth. By contrast, the president is doing his job in a bipartisan manner and showing that government does indeed play a significant role. In fact, it serves as the underpinning for everything else.
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Astra
Nov. 1st, 2012 at 6:16 am
So BO isn’t taking advantage of disaster victims for a photo op? He is a politician first and foremost. If you could hear what his advisers said to him before he went walk about in New Jersey, would you be surprised that they probably told him to press the flesh wherever he can? He gets a free photo op because he is the incumbent, but that doesn’t mean it is any less orchestrated. That is what campaign managers are for. OBs campaign manager probably told him that he comes across as a bit aloof, so he needs to go out and spread some “love”. Seriously, he is a politician just like Romney.
He does not care about you personally, and you are foolish if you think he does. Why do Americans think they are so special that their president cares about them personally? OB does what he needs to to get re-elected, and then he goes to his expensive residence and disinfects himself. Get real, it is all smoke and mirrors, and they see suckers like you a mile off and they rub their grubby hands in glee. I will say it again, a politician is a politician. It matters not a wit whether his name is OB or Mitt.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 1st, 2012 at 8:30 am
Really? And you were there to hear what his advisors told him?
You are hilarious. Not smart but hilarious
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Astra
Nov. 3rd, 2012 at 5:09 am
Thank you, I’m flattered that you think I’m funny. I don’t need to hear how OB was briefed, and it doesn’t take a brain trust to know that all politicians are ‘stage managed’ to present just the image that fawning citizens want to see. The only genuine thing that comes out of politicians comes not out of their mouths, but out of an entirely different orifice. How smart are those people who believe the BS these folks are peddling?
Since there is no difference between the candidates other than the side of the aisle the produce their particular shade of BS on, the more important question is … who is better qualified to deliver what America needs right now to put food on her table and money back in her pocket? A man elected off the back of guilt about history, or a millionaire businessman who knows how to make a buck?
You don’t have to be smart for that one either, it’s a ‘no-brainer’. Liberal ideology doesn’t stop the repo men, and it sure doesn’t assuage that gnawing pain in your kid’s belly when you can’t afford a trip to the grocery store. Liberal ideology doesn’t doesn’t restore your self worth after being reduced to sleeping in your car, eating out of dumpsters, or going cap in hand to your local foodbank – a strong economy and a job does that!
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Margaret Brusatto-Uzelac
Nov. 1st, 2012 at 10:56 am
Rachel, it truly is a Mormon thing! I’ve been around for over 60 years and all of a sudden ” Mormon Charities” pops into action! They have been around, they have warehouses all over the country for their members.It has just been renamed for the Romney run! They kinda of feel left out, so I think that is why you see Mitt by-pass the Red Cross! Mormons think their stuff came from God and is better for you! The Red-Cross could possibly cut into tithing and that is not allowed!,
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Shvel
Nov. 1st, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Doesn’t the Red Cross accept donations of bulk quantity from organizations? Isn’t it the Romney campaign asking for food, so wouldn’t that qualify as an organization donation and not an individual donation?
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Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 1st, 2012 at 12:25 pm
to further understand what happened here, Gov. Romney’s people went out and bought $5000 worth of groceries at a local Walmart. They brought the foods back and then handed it to people as they were coming in to see the governor. The people then handed the governor food while he shook their hand. It was a fake all the way through. Very little of that food went to the hurricane disaster area.
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Cynthia James
Nov. 1st, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Why Mitt, you could have just wrote a check from one of your off-shore accounts to the Red Cross to make yourself look halfway decent.
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Astra
Nov. 3rd, 2012 at 5:28 am
Why Cynthia, Romney could have just “wrote (sic) a check” … but then he would have been lambasted for being an out of touch millionaire trying to buy votes, by the same pitchfork-wielding mob that is slamming his efforts now. Instead of the mob mentality, why can’t you just say thank you? Who cares where help comes from when your entire life has just been washed away? What makes Americans unpopular internationally is their constant ungrateful and ungracious attitudes, and that huge chip y’all have on your shoulder.
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MinnforMtt
Nov. 2nd, 2012 at 10:29 am
Oh, the inhumanity!
I’ve headed up collecting goods for many charities at companies that I’ve worked for over 25+ years as well as events at church and when in college. In almost EVERY case, the company or event organizers bought items upfront to *gasp* place/”stage” in collection bins (for Toys for Tots, food shelves, winter wear, etc.). There is something about seeing items that have already been collected that encourages or reminds others to do the same . . . and the items were going to be bought anyway.
For some collections, if an employee brought in an item on a specific day, they would be entered in a drawing. On that day, some employees would come to us empty-handed and plead they had put their donation in the day before and it was all they could donate but if they had known about the drawing they would have waited to put it in the collection bin. (Similar to Romney’s “empty-handed supporters [who] pled for entrance, with one woman asking, ‘What if we dropped off our donations up front?’”) Instead of lambasting the employees, we would “pretend” they donated that day and give them a ticket to enter the drawing. Oh, and we might even tell them to “just grab something” so we could take a photo for the company website! I’m sure some employees were dishonest about donating but that’s life.
At times, employees would report that some employees grabbed an item out of the collection bin earlier in the day. As they handed their “donation” to us, we would take the donation, smile, and thank them as we handed them a ticket for the drawing. (Similar to the “two teenage boys retrieved a jar of peanut butter each, and got in line. When it was their turn, they handed their ‘donations’ to Romney. He took them, smiled, and offered an earnest ‘Thank you.’”)
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Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 2nd, 2012 at 10:39 am
Too funny!
There might be one difference here. Mittens did it strictly as a photo op and much of the food he bought never made it to the stricken areas. In fac tthis photo op was put together so quickly that the food he bought was the only stuff there. This was not a valid charity event.
Events such as you mention are actually for charity and end up going to the intended people or organizations in need. They are “valid”. Your point about companys buying stuff and putting it in the bins first is a useful trick to getting people to donate. However those companys do not buy ALL of the goods contributed.
This was done purely for a photo op based on a disaster. Something a long time chairity worker like you should not approve of
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Astra
Nov. 3rd, 2012 at 5:48 am
It’s funny but disasters kinda happen in an unplanned, spontaneous, hurried (see what I did there?) sort of way. Funny too that ‘aid rallies’ have to happen in the same sort of way, otherwise they would be called contingency planning not emergency aid donations. Shiva, you need to put down that trident and pack away the vitriol, you are besmirching the thing I personally love about most Americans … their gung-ho sense of community and spirit of giving.
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