MY PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WEEK. I love shots like this one!
Playing games with the kids
My wife and I often discuss how it is frustrating that so many people have the entirely wrong image and impression of Governor Romney. One of my goals as a contributor here at MRC is to reveal more of “the real” Mitt Romney so that Americans can make a more informed decision (it is why I include photographs of him with his family at home or at play — as above). Our frustration is expressed from time to time by others on the campaign trail. Just yesterday in Ohio a Romney supporter was anxious to ask Gov. Romney a question to prompt him to speak about his “heart.”
I found this article as a tip from an MRC “chatter” with the call sign: “WookieOnline” — THANKS Wookie!
NOTE: Be sure to click on the link (“The Note“) and scroll to the bottom of the article to watch the video to see Gov. Romney’s unusually candid comments about his service as his congregations pastor.
ABC News published this article and video here under THE NOTE.
David Muir reported on “World News with Diane Sawyer” a town hall in Bexley, Ohio provided to be a surprisingly candid moment for the candidate.
During the question and answer portion of the campaign event supporter Greg Davis took his turn at the microphone to share his frustration with how his candidate of choice is being portrayed.
“We have seen that you are very successful. It seems like the media portrays you like you don’t have a heart. I’d like you to share with all the American citizens what you have done in your life, where you have received no compensation, to show the American people that you have a lot of heart and you love Americans,” Davis told Romney.
“One of the challenges in a presidential campaign is that most people just see you in the debates,” Romney replied. “And in settings like that, people don’t get to know you very well. And in settings like this, with questions like that, you can get to know me a little better. By far the most important thing in my life is my wife Ann and I fell in love young, we’re still in love. We have a marriage still filled with love.”
As Muir reported on “World News” Romney went on to talk about his sons and grandsons, and then in a rare moment Romney brought up his Mormon faith, something he rarely discussed on the campaign trail.
“My religion is an unusual one in a number of respects, but one in particular, we don’t have a paid ministry in our church. So we don’t have a minister that is full time. And instead, the church head quarters asks certain members to serve as pastor of the congregation. So I was asked to do that for a certain period of time. And of course that is done without compensation. It would be around 20-40 hours a week. So on top of my job, I was pasturing people in my congregation,” explained Romney.
Many political observers looking to the weeks, and possibly months, ahead in this campaign say that this type of candor and emotion is exactly what Romney needs to better relate to voters.
[emphasis added]
Note: Governor Romney has spent much of his career in positions in which he served without pay. In addition to his serving in several unpaid church leadership positions, he took the Olympics out of $400 million in debt over three years without pay; he served four years as governor without pay; well after he left Bain, it had financial troubles and he was asked to come back and lead it out out of trouble, which he did without pay.
“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan…” — Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address — March 4, 1865
Victor is a businessman working in the healthcare industry. He and his wife of 33 years have five children and four grandchildren. Vic has been blogging for Mitt Romney since 2007.
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Gov Romney come across to many “Normal” people smart, vey kind, polite, loving family, very generous to chairties but, some of his comments, answers can be interpreted easily as disconnected, heartless.
Politics is a dirty business so, ” the trees are just right height” kind of comment is not the right message for many voters out there. The media didn’t bother to report his economic plan but, they were running his comments all day. It can be destructive from the real issues too. I think he/his advisors must work hard to correct it.
Romney=Integrity!!!
Romney is clearly the BEST Presidential Canadate I have seen in a long time. It would be nice if everyone could see the real person that he is, but through all the ‘mud slinging’ from all the ‘Talking Heads’ in the media, yes, even Fox that has been thwarted. Taking the time to ‘Fact Check’ is so important these days, because otherwise you are just following orders from others on who you should vote for. Romney is honest, intelligent, I believe he is a man of his WORD. I hope that he is given the chance to prove himself to the people that we can have pride and a more positive vision for our families and our country. This country is tired of Broken promises and Talk, and I believe Gov Romney can do that. He will ‘Follow Through’, and that is one of the biggest problems we have with politicians. They promise and talk alot, but never ‘follow through’ many times.
Some are wilfully blind and won’t see him even if he was making the lame walk in front of their eyes. problem is they’re dealing with a humble man who won’t self-promote for gain. Hence the refrain from use of ‘incendiary’ language to stir up people. He’s doing great. Those fortunate enough to open their eyes and see him for who/what he truly is, can only benefit from the truth.
Mitt Romney will be president of the USA.
Dear Mr. Romney:
For once, I agree with the media. You don’t want to broadcast your service, because you’re a humble man, but you needs to Understand that Bill Clinton’s famous line: “I feel your pain”, sincere or not, is a big part of what got him two terms as President.
So Mitt, even if you feel uncomfortable, please share your experiences serving as a Mormon Bishop, as a Mormon Home Teacher. Let people find out what that means. People are researching. Stephen Colbert did a whole segment on the Mormon practice of baptizing the dead. It’s all going to be part of the public dialog, so you need to be outgoing about it.
The fact that you don’t want to boast about your years of service has backfired on you and instead you have come across as secretive and mechanical. Mitt, please realize that being humble is a good thing, but sometimes you gotta let people know how much you care, and why. Let’s hope this will be the first of many more such moments where you open up and share what’s in your heart.
Sure, there will be some who will try to twist it into something bad, but that will be a small minority compared with the millions who will respect and appreciate the fact that you, being very rich could have simply given money, but you also gave of yourself, your time and talents to the service of others.
Thank you.
@AfricansforRomney
Well said! I worked as a newspaper reporter for many years. If there is something the media loves, is human interest stories. Without breaking confidences Mitt should talk about how he helped a family pay the rent, how he helped a widow by visiting and offering comfort. I am sure that with at least 5 years serving as a Mormon Bishop, 10 as a Stake President and all of his life from 12 years old on, as a Home Teacher, he has thousands of human interest stories he could share, which would do more to gain the hearts of America that all the statistics and percentages in the world.
I also get tired of the media saying over and over again that Mitt Romney is a weak candidate that the republicans are not excited about Romney.
I can truthfully say that I am totally excited about Mitt Romney (and his wife, Ann). Where else can we find someone of his business experience, someone who has devoted all his life to serving not only in his Church but as governor, as Chairman of the Olympics, at Bain when he returned to save the company- all of this time and service all without pay!! Where else can you find someone that would devote so much time and energy and succeed at all his endeavors and do it for free???? Where else can you find someone who has actually created companies that create jobs for people looking for work. Well, the list goes on and on as we all know, and so does the left. Obama is our weak and failed president, and we all know that , too and so does the left. We know his record and he cannot hide it.
Go Mitt , our prayers are with you and your wife and family!!!!