We talked yesterday about a recent anecdotal addition to Mitt Romney's stump speech: he's begun talking about having met Glen Doherty, a former Navy SEAL and one of the four Americans killed in the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi last month. It turns out, Doherty's family is displeased, and the Republican has agreed to stop telling the story.
But last night, Rachel explored this in more depth, and added some context that deserves more attention.
For those who can't watch clips online, Romney talked about meeting Doherty, and then explained the events that led to Doherty's death.
"[A]ccording to the reports on CNN International that I read, he was actually in a different building, in an annex, a safe place, somewhere else across town when he and his colleagues there heard that the consulate was around attack. And they went there. They didn't hunker down where they were in safety. They rushed there to go help.
"This is the American way. We go where there's trouble. We go where we're needed. And right now, we're needed. Right now the American people need us."
It's one thing to try to exploit a deadly attack for partisan gain, but note the specific argument Romney is making here -- Doherty and his team went where they were needed, and as far as the candidate is concerned, Romney and his team are just like Doherty.
Romney's done this before. During his last presidential campaign, he was asked why his five sons had not served in the U.S. military. "My sons are adults," he responded at the time. "They've chosen not to serve in the military in active duty and I respect their decision in that regard.... And 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."
In other words, Romney believed wearing a uniform, serving in the military, and putting one's life on the line for your country is pretty much the same thing as helping a presidential campaign.
Romney, who also has no military background, is comfortable equating his political ambitions with Doherty's work in Libya, just as he saw a parallel between his sons volunteering for a campaign and the sacrifices of war-time soldiers.
As Rachel put it, "If you think it takes the same kind of bravery for this guy to run for president as it was brave of this former Navy SEAL to respond the way he did to an RPG and mortar attack in mortar attack in Libya, then maybe this was an inspiring moment for you in Iowa. Otherwise, it was probably something else."
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Can we send Mitt back to France?
Just got off the phone with France. They said no. :(
Doonesbury is sending him there all week.
I had no idea there was so much trouble in France back during the Vietnam war. Thanks Mitt for so bravely going over there and protecting us from all that champagne and sand on the beach. And croissants - those things are full of butter, y'know!
He was fighting socialism.
Ask yourself how you can introduce yourself 4 times in 30 minutes to the same person and not remember that he had just met them. You can do that when you really don't give a crap about the person you are smiling at, whose eyes you are earnestly looking into. Whose hand you are confidently and manfully shaking.
You thank them for their service and you don't really give a crap about them or what they have done for our country.
That's how charlatans wrap themselves in vainglory and play at being a true leader. That's how they can cause hundreds of thousands of deaths and run around the oval office making a joke out of not being able to find WMD. It's how the GOP is more that willing to send men to be grotesquely injured in battle and then refer to them as parasites on government when it comes time for caring for those who served. It has to do with those who are not content with engorging themselves with far more than a fair share of the nation's productiveness, and view the Presidency as their next shiny new toy. It's pleasure of marching in front of parades, standing in front of flags playing at being tough but sending someone else to be tough for them, no matter how unrelated their sacrifices are to keeping US citizens safe.
His friend remarked that Doherty would have felt sorry for Romney.
Romney's kind Pisses me off.
There are two kinds of Americans; those who are strong and willing to fight to defend everything America stands for, and those who lack the courage to fight for anyone but themselves. The former are givers, the latter are takers.
Mitt is a taker. And he Pisses a lot of us off, John.
So Romney where did your 5 sons rush to help during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars? Did they go pedal the Mormon Religion door to door like you did during the Vietnam War? The reason Romney and Ryan run into trouble when talking about the selfless courageous men and women serving our country is because they know nothing about courage, honor and selflessness.
The above comment is an insult and makes a mockery of the men and women who serve our country during war time, peace time and and assisting their country during natural disasters.
I wonder how many times the Romneys were busily enjoying a weekend in the Hamptons, or a shopping trip abroad, while others were helping clean up and rebuild after Katrina, the Joplin tornado, and all of the other places where there was trouble and help was needed.
My guess is they couldn't even be bothered to write a check, much less lift a finger to do anything more.
RE: @KJ, CR, IA, (Comment #2)
In addition to:
When you add the following comparison:
By Romney using a deferment so he could do his mission for the Mormon Church in France, to avoid being drafted and, quite likely, being sent to Vietnam and personally supporting the Vietnam War in a very direct way (rather than protesting against those protesting the Vietnam War at Stanford University), as an active duty member of the Army, Navy, or possibly the Air Force or Marine Corps instead (by enlisting instead of taking chances on the draft, so he could have more control over his rating, rather than being mere "cannon fodder" as far too many draftees were, and other potential benefits) - that sounds very much like Romney is putting the "needs" of the Mormon Church first, and the (purported) needs of American national security second.
And with the VP debate tonight, Ryan confirmed that his religious beliefs as a Catholic dictates that he pushes his religious views against abortion on every woman who is capable of getting pregnant.
One criteria the US cannot afford to have would be a President who's Mormon before American along with a VP who is Catholic before American. That is a substantial problem when the American Government, in accordance with the Preamble to the Constitution, is of the People, by the People, for the People; and the First Amendment includes the Establishment Clause which requires Separation of Church and State, when the President would feel obligated to answer to the Elders of the Mormon Church rather than the American people, and the Vice President would feel an obligation to answer to the Holy See at the Vatican, not only in conflict with the President's obligation, but conflicting with the Constitutional obligation to be answerable to the American people.
President Kennedy had it right, when he said he was answerable to the Pope only for his personal life (e.g., various acts of adultery), but answerable only to his Constitutional obligations as President.
While Romney may have matured from his church-first point of view, his experience as a Venture Capitalist, who was far more responsible for destroying jobs than for creating jobs, it appears that any maturation process he may have undergone went terribly awry, ending at the greedy money-first point of view. While Romney may have avoided breaking any laws as the Corporate Raiding CEO of Bain Capital , he most certainly did not avoid ethical transgressions, for he thought his highest priority was harvesting companies for wealth in the aftermath of investing in those companies. (I remember the days of leveraged buyouts (LBOs) and junk bonds (investments in debt!!) far too well. Far too many successful businesses were forced into bankruptcy because the LBOs left those companies with insufficient assets and far too much debt. Moreover, the associated S&L scandal left far too many elderly people left without their investments because people like Charles Keating, with Lincoln Savings & Loan, did a bait and switch or other underhanded maneuver on their elderly customers, by investing in junk bonds (i.e., investing in the debt of a business about ready to go bankrupt) which became useless pieces of paper with no value, recoverable or otherwise.
And, while I had considerable respect for Ryan's mentor, Jack Kemp, that respect was for his talent as a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, not for his economic theories.
...because when you are missing the empathy gene, as Romney is, then it really is all about you!
I doubt that I would like to serve in another war with a bunch of pathological liars or those who support them. Trust is key to those in harms way.
Imagine it this way...you are picked for a patrol mission with Mitt and Ryan. You are squad leader. Decisions,decisions..who should I put on point? Mitt get out front! Sneaking along and pop uh sorry about that I thought I had the safety on. Ryan take point.
I wouldn't want any of his offspring anywhere near me in a tough situation, whether in combat or merely crossing a busy street.
I am not sure where else to post this comment but: Why isn't anyone discussing Romney's new rhetoric about "Medicare won't be changed for those who are already getting it or near getting it (my paraphrase)?' This is nothing but a cynical attempt to get older people to vote for him with a "whew, won't affect me!" on the assumption that older people care only for themselves. The research shows that older people generally don't vote as an age block, and yet I am guessing that Romney may get a few votes out of these claims, because underneath them is the threat that Medicare will be changed, eventually. What he and his get-it-while-you-can cronies don't understand is that older people do care about the future, for their kids, grandkids and the world, so I hope that this this new appeal to selfishness will fall flat on voting day.
It has caught my ear when they say that. If the plan is so great why not inact it now. Why wait?
It will not effect you if you are 55+, the rest of you, too bad so sad.
I think some people listen and others hear what they want to hear.
Mitt ignores history and the reason that Medicare and Social Security were started. The changes to Medicare and SSI will not effect him or his family, so he does not care.
And, it is also a lie. If (as he claims) he "repeals" Obamacare, it immediately exposes current recipients to the infamous doughnut-hole of co-pays, and the cost of preventive care.
Gee, what Mittens won't do to get into the oval office: lying, cheating, exploiting the dead & the grief of the family of the man that was killed - have WE as a nation sunk that low?! The GOTP has shown that overall they lack basic empathy, compassion, understanding, even care for humanity on a base level - and they want US to vote for them?!? Really? These people have shown over and over and over that they are NOT leaders, that they are selfishly concerned only for themselves & the 1%, so voting for a "GOTP" candidate is really to put the gun to the temple of working Americans and pulling the trigger - do you really not understand why "the victim(s)" died?!?
This is what the Gop/corporate/theocracy wants for us...to do what we are told and STFU. This election has been all about....do we want the corporations to rule us, (not govern)? All else is gibberish...Rachael and Steve...don't get distracted from the real issues...you guys are few and far between...
Yes, we have sunk that low. People spend too much time watching "reality shows" and the Romney campaign and behavior is like a reality show: say and do whatever you want and, especially, don't care about anyone else. Think Kardashians, Jersey Shore, Bridezillas and so forth (I have to say that I do not watch any of these but I have checked them out and am appalled that anyone would watch). (In my opinion) even the outcomes are pre-determined while people think they are watching a real contest (DWTS, ANTM). If Romney is elected we can blame ourselves at large and, mostly, our educational system.
Had to laugh, when Paul Ryan is one of those men that has to prove he has testosterone. Ryan ideology is literal nonsense, when he proves every day that he doesn’t even understand human nature and how real fast it can turn things into misery, despair, violence, and death for people. Ryan thinks getting rid of all our government programs that help people will create a better world as everybody is forced to fend for themselves with no one helping anybody, except who can brutally take what they want. Ryan’s fantasy world of his future is a very bleak one of what is really darkness. Ryan’s belief in Ayn Rand, apparently a well-known atheist, is a totally wrong way to proceed with a future and nobody can tell me that Ryan did not know Ayn Rand was an atheist with such horrific beliefs. This so-called survival of the fittest attitude absolutely does spell doom for a civil society. Ryan trying to show off his muscles like he is some He man does nothing more than to show his inept abilities to live as a normal person and is lost in some delusional fantasy land. Ryan a long with Romney and too many other Republicans have this same attitude and none of them offer any real solutions to what would be a better future for people. This is just another time in history where we are unfortunately having to learn this lesson again of what can really go wrong, when you allow these people who are power craving, corrupt, arrogant, hypocrites, greedy, and deceivers have too much influence in our world. There are many words that have been used to describe people like this such as Political Psychopaths, anti-Christ’s, Nazis, Communists, the KKK, white supremacists, and the list goes on. And in the end, it brings out the worst qualities of what it is to be human and is nothing more than acting like animals. And in that, these Republicans, extremists of hatred, and extreme wealthy would not only treat women like farm animals, but everybody that doesn’t fit into their classification structure.
Please dont paint all atheists as followers of Ayn Rand. They arent. Most atheists have a ton more compassion than Ryan has.
There is no intention to point out Atheists specifically, since it doesn’t matter what religious faith, color of a person’s skin, political views, etc. The main issues here is people who will take extreme views that in the end cause the breakdown of a civil society that causes misery, despair, violence, and death. People always have to be watchful of these extreme views. America has been slowly crawling out of that crap hole from the extreme views of what are really extremists of hatred. It just so happened Ayn Rand is an atheist with a very extreme view that Paul Ryan follows, but sits there continuously lying to the people on what he would provide as a potential regulation or law. People are just people where most are good and than you have the bad ones that would really cause turmoil in the world.
I can't believe that Romney is trying to equate the 'bravery' of his candidacy to that of a Navy SEAL going into an American consulate under attack. What a gratuitous, self-serving moron.
If Romney had been in the same other location as that Navy SEAL, he wouldn't have gone to the consulate with him; he'd have requested a limo to the airport, toute d' suite. And then he'd have had to change his underwear.
He'd have been curled in a ball on the floor crying "Mom-meeeee!" like any other standard-issue wingnut "patriot."
I'm sticking with "something else."
There is an old joke I don't remember who told it but it's absolutely true
"The question is what are the two kinds of people on a battle field, the answer is supposed to be "the quick and the dead" but if you actually look around it's always "Minorities and the poor"
Romney is just like most of the rest of his party he's a chicken hawk. Now you can say what you like about people like Sen. John McCain's and (Fmr.) Sen. Chuck Hagel's politics and their ideas but at least they have never needed to try and ride the coat tails of anybody else's courage in service to this nation.
And like Ziskey in Stripes, Romney will tell the troops that, no matter what war he sends them into, he will be behind them every step of the way.
I think that, in his own mind, Romney thinks he's every bit as brave as Doherty. Sad in a way . . . especially if he's elected.
I am fine with Romney's sons choosing not to join the military. They are free to make that choice just like everyone else. I do have a problem with their father beating his chest over Iran. He seems eager to lead us into yet another war. But whose children, husbands, and wives would he send to another country where they may be killed? Certainly not his own.
And one of Mitt's sons proclaimed that Mitt served his country, too, by saving the Olympics!
with taxpayers' dollars...
The sons probably couldn't pass the Armed Forces Qualification Test, being the products of five generations of Moron, er, I mean Mormon "inbreeding" (it really is a problem with all the polygamy that went on, people nowadays marrying people they're too closely related to), they're the kind of little rich turds who couldn't make a dime on their own if it hadn't been given to them - just like daddy dearest.
Wow. I had totally missed that. Thanks to Rachel & Steve & everyone for bringing it to our attention. That's really low and despicable.
And- closer to home- There was a fire yesterday, clear across town! But did the firemen hunker down in safety? No, they rushed to the fire!
And then there were the cops, eating donuts in the station house, when the call came in about armed robbers at the bank! Did they hunker down in safety?
Finally, there was the voter, minding her own business in the safety of her kitchen, when the polls opened on November 6th. Did she hunker down? No, she rushed clear across town, to save her country from a Goggle Eyed Granny Starver and the International Harvester. (thanks to Charlie Pierce!)
Off-topic, but I don't think I've ever thanked you, Mr. Benen, for your transcript-cum-summaries of videos. I appreciate it.
Go back and look at the video of Gov. Romney's encounter with a gay Vietnam veteran in a diner in New Hampshire. Gov. Romney sidled into the man's booth, because he noticed his military cap. He asked the man about his record and learned he'd served in Vietnam in the 60s. Romney then explained that, at the same time, "I was serving my church."
He meant, of course, that he was taking advantage of a religious deferment to avoid military service, while proselytizing for the Church of Latter Day Saints from a mansion in Paris. By using the word "serve," Romney deliberately equated his three-year French junket with the tours of duty of soldiers in Vietnam. More recently, his campaign has bolstered that suggestion, pushing the idea that France was a "dangerous" place for young Mitt Romney in 1968, because the French were so antagonistic to America's war.
It's hard not to conclude that Gov. Romney has a severely hierarchical view of American society--a view that society is composed of fundamentally different kinds of people. One kind--"job creators"--is responsible for making the country safe and prosperous. They do so by owning property and controlling the government. The other kind (you might call them "victims") are capable of working and fighting and achieving virtue, but their efforts can never make a difference to society as a whole.
This would explain why it is fair, for example, for Gov. Romney to pay a lower tax rate than a teacher or a firefighter. It is a tribute that makes it possible for him to create American jobs. It doesn't matter that he takes his savings and invests them in Switzerland and the Caymans. Lower tax rates for the wealthy are simply a pre-condition for job creation, in the same way that proper maintenance of the Aztec nobility was a precondition for the return of Spring.
It would also explain other positions Gov. Romney has asserted: He says the deficit is an existential threat to America, but he is unwilling to pay even one dollar in higher taxes to reduce it. He was unwilling to serve in Vietnam, but, while at Stanford, he publicly mocked other students who objected to being forced to go there. He declared that America's survival was at stake in Iraq, but he "respected" his sons' choice to leave that survival up to others.
What's most striking about this view is not Gov. Romney's sense that his innate abilities to create safety and prosperity absolve him from the responsibilities of ordinary citizens, but his sense of the tragic burden of his role. His wife reminds us that "[t]his is hard," and she permitted her husband to shoulder this cross only because he is the one who can "save" us. He might have spent the Vietnam years on beaches in France, but, he has told us, he had a deep longing to fight in the war. He suffered for having been born to a different role, in which he "served" by different means.
Gov. Romney, in short, has a sense of the pathos of wealth that eludes the rest of us: We believe we are entitled to food, but we fail to appreciate that it is the wealthy who provide us with food, merely by pursuing and accumulating their wealth. They do it so the rest of us can have jobs and peace. Deep down, they understand that we're the ones who have it easy.
My husband has dementia. After listening to Doherty's friend describe how many times Romney introduced himself to the now deceased seal, it makes me wonder if he has dementia. Romney seems to forget everything he says and does, just like my husband. I've noticed this all during the campaign. My husband repeatedly says the same thing and, when reminded, he says it's the first time he has said it. I really do worry about a Romney having the same problem my husband does, and he wants to lead our country. God save us!
I don't think what Willard has is the same thing. He can't remember what he said 5 minutes ago and can lie convincingly to a reporter's face that he said it even when the reporter has it on tape. That's not dementia. Psychopathology or proof he's a normal Mormontologist who can Lie for the Lord, but not dementia. As far as his entitlement is concerned, Mormontology tells him if he follows all the rules he gets to be a king in this world and a god in the next.
Anyone see the similarities between Romney's sons and George HW Bush's son (George W Bush)?
Both left an opportunity to server their country in the military to help someone get elected. Bush went to Alabama to help with a polical campaign during the remaining months/years of his Air National Guard duty (which was used as a way to protect W from going to Vietnam in the first place--he served in a non-deployed unit for the duration of his eligible time to serve IN Vietnam)
My husband has dementia. After hearing what the now deceased seal's friend said about his meeting Romney, I'm wondering if Romney has dementia. He says and does things like my husband and then does not remember what he said or did. I'm very concerned if Romney wins. I see it first hand everyday, and it's not fun. I've noticed Romney behaving the same way all through this campaign and it's frightening. God save us from this man!
This ain't just FUBARRomney, it's the whole chickenhawk r cabal.
Romney has 5 sons and not 1 of them has served in the military.
I wonder if Romey would be touting Glen Doherty so much if they knew about his involvemenet with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and his work to support religious freedom in the military and to keep out radical attempts to Christianize it.
typical wannabee GOP "soldier", all claiming that they would have done all the stuff real soliders do but did all they could do to avoid service. Mitt on the beach in France with a religous excuse when others were in Vietnam.
maybe his five sons made that decision because they're chips off the ole block, in other words, cowards.
Mr. Romney does not understand operation, training and courage of Navy Seals otherwise he would not have said Glen Doherty ex-Navy Seal died on duty in Benghazi rushed to the danger. Mr. Romney that's what Navy Seals do. Perhaps you do not realize coward run away from danger, remember Vietnam? Your attempt to use death of Glen Doherty for political gain reflects that you are running for president because of greed not because of his conviction.
MittLiar not only did not serve in the military, he applied for and was granted four, count them FOUR, deferments from service over a decade while demonstrating in favor of the war - for others to participate though.
Not only that, he has lied about said deferments. http://www.nowpublic.com/world/mitt-romney-lied-about-his-vietnam-draft-deferments-2941198.html
Not that anyone here is surprised by this, but still it bears repeating, repeating and REPEATING.
Like President Clinton said, MittLiar has brass ones to stand there and say "that's what WE do." NO, Mitt, there's no WE about it.
If he couldn't remember his face, I'd be surprised if Mitt Romney could remember a conversation with Mr. Doherty. Suspiciously, all of the information Romney mentioned could also be found in Mr. Doherty's publicly available obituary.