Mitt Romney Rejects Veterans; Refuses to Address VFW
After months of demonstrating his lack of understanding of the challenges facing America's veterans and military families and refusing to outline a plan for Iraq, smooth talking Mitt Romney has elected to skip this week's 108th annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City. According to a VFW spokesperson, Romney "was invited but declined" to participate in the annual conference of one of America's largest veteran's organizations. [Associated Press, 8/18/07]
Romney's decision to duck the VFW comes after he lashed out at an Iraq War veteran who "complained that he hasn't been able to get adequate medical care since returning from Iraq in January 2005" during a Memorial Day event in New Hampshire. [AP, 5/29/07] More recently, Romney offended many veterans by attempting to equate the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women fighting in Iraq with the people working on his campaign. Asked by a voter in Iowa whether any of his children joined the armed forces, Romney argued that "one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected." [Associated Press, 8/8/07]
In addition to his failure to understand the challenges facing America's veterans and military families, Romney has also been criticized for his failure to offer a clear plan for bringing the war to a responsible end and the fact that he "never mentions Iraq" in his stump speech. Even when he has been forced to discuss Iraq by voters asking questions, Romney has demonstrated a "superficial" knowledge of the war and bungled key factual information. [Time.com, 5/31/07]
"Mitt Romney's decision to duck America's veterans is a disturbing indication of how far he is willing to go to avoid offering a clear plan for Iraq and defend his blind loyalty to President Bush's failed strategy," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "The brave men and women serving our country deserve strong, decisive leaders who will defend their positions on the war and outline real plans for addressing the challenges facing our veterans and military families. Unlike the Democrats in Congress who passed a pay raise for our fighting forces and the largest increase in veteran's health care in history, Romney is offering America's veterans nothing but more of the same tough talk and empty rhetoric they've seen from the Bush Administration."
Romney Displays "Superficial" Knowledge on Iraq, "Never Mentions Iraq" in Stump Speech. A Time Magazine column highlighted Romney's "superficial" knowledge of the war and other top issues and blasted Romney for "the brazen cynicism of his candidacy," saying "he skims the surface of issues" in a stump speech that "never mentions Iraq." In fact, on a recent swing through New Hampshire, Romney "cruised through two performances before the word Iraq perforated his balloon." When finally asked about it by a high school student, Romney "offered a welter of details… which sounded sort of knowledgeable but was actually quite superficial" before getting to the point: "he would support the President." [Time.com, 5/31/07]
Romney Lashed out At Iraq War Veteran in New Hampshire - On Memorial Day. At a Memorial Day event in an American Legion hall in Alton, N.H., this week, Mitt Romney lashed out at an Iraq War veteran who "complained that he hasn't been able to get adequate medical care since returning from Iraq in January 2005." [AP, 5/29/07] When asked by the man's wife and friend about his problem getting treatment for a broken foot, Romney "questioned the man's status, wondering why the military wouldn't help him if he is active duty." According to news accounts, when the man's friend began to explain by saying, "He's in the window," Romney "cut him off" and said "Don't give me, 'he's in the window'…He's either active duty or not." [AP, 5/29/07] Romney's only response: the man should call his senator. [Concord Monitor, 5/29/07]
Romney Equates Sons Campaign Work to Serving in Iraq. "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….' 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.'" [AP, 8/8/07]
