Does Mitt Romney's attack on a high school classmate bother anybody? It bothers me. It was in the news a while ago about how Romney led the attack on a presumed gay prep school classmate, held him down and cut some of his hair off. Here's the link to the Washington Post article about the incident.
This Doonesbury cartoon focuses on that incident.
Romney said he couldn't remember doing this particular incident.
Really?
I asked my daughter and her husband what they thought of it and they didn't seem to be too bothered by it. They felt that a lot of politicians have these little forgotten secrets in their past and that if you dug enough, you'd find something in everybody's life.
I disagree.
I think that what Romney did really shows his character. Oh yes, it shows leadership qualities all right. He did lead the attack on the defenseless student. Do you want a president who would be inclined to do such a thing?... attack someone for being different? lead others to do it also? and then forgetting what he did because his action didn't make enough of an impression for him to remember it?
I would have been far more forgiving of him if Romney had said that, yes, he remembers it and is utterly remorseful. Yes, he learned from that terrible time. Yes, he's sorry for hurting that kid. Yes, it made him grow to be a more understanding, sensitive, kind person.
But he didn't. He laughed it off. He says he can't remember.
This Doonesbury cartoon focuses on that incident.
Romney said he couldn't remember doing this particular incident.
Really?
I asked my daughter and her husband what they thought of it and they didn't seem to be too bothered by it. They felt that a lot of politicians have these little forgotten secrets in their past and that if you dug enough, you'd find something in everybody's life.
I disagree.
I think that what Romney did really shows his character. Oh yes, it shows leadership qualities all right. He did lead the attack on the defenseless student. Do you want a president who would be inclined to do such a thing?... attack someone for being different? lead others to do it also? and then forgetting what he did because his action didn't make enough of an impression for him to remember it?
I would have been far more forgiving of him if Romney had said that, yes, he remembers it and is utterly remorseful. Yes, he learned from that terrible time. Yes, he's sorry for hurting that kid. Yes, it made him grow to be a more understanding, sensitive, kind person.
But he didn't. He laughed it off. He says he can't remember.
he has a selective memory, sad, very sad, thats a nasty skeleton to have in ones closet, wouldn't get my vote.
ReplyDeleteWell, I wouldn't be inclined to vote for him in the first place. I read Doonesbury every day, and he's been pounding on his "evolving" positions and memory problems. He remembers and is trying to cover it up, I think, hoping it will go away.
ReplyDeleteWow!!!! You don't usually write about politics and that sends me a loud and clear message about how bad it is!!!! You said it very well!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd people wonder why I am working with the Obama campaign . . .
Frankly, there isn't too much about him that doesn't bother me. I agree with you that this bullying incident really shows his character.
ReplyDeleteRomney is one of the more despicable politicians of the day as far as I'm concerned and I seriously doubt that he's changed his opinion of gay people. I think he is a liar and I hate the thought of his even coming close to winning the election! Great post, Kay!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Exactly and well said. Bullying seems to be a universal problem and the last thing we need is a bully in sheeps clothing sitting in our highest office.
ReplyDeleteL. from W.
I think you have a good point Kay, let's hope he doesn't get in, scary!!!
ReplyDeleteForgetting something like that? I think not.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right. If it really was "part of growing up" he would admit it, apologize all over the place for it, and promise stringent punishment for anyone found doing it after he's elected. Since he didn't admit, apologize, or promise, he shouldn't be elected.
ReplyDeleteK
Forcibly cutting someone's hair is extremely aggressive and hateful. It is also very symbolic. Romney apparently couldn't accept rebellion and nonconformity so he led the charge against them. In Alexander Pope's 18th Century poem it's called "The RAPE of the Lock." Samson and Delilah anyone?
ReplyDeleteWhat we learned from George W. Bush was to never admit a mistake. He was rewarded with a SECOND term!
ReplyDeleteMitt Romney is a business man, and a second rate politician with a lot of money gained from ruthless business practices. He is NOT a statesman. He may be "nice" but he is not honorable. He doesn't seen to have much of a conscience of any sense of remorse. His ideology seems to shift with whatever it is politically expedient for him to say, which I think one could say reveals 'shifty' ethics. Can you imagine Wall Street glee if he is elected, or the financial disaster that would cause?
Good post, Kay.
Worst apology ever:
ReplyDelete"Back in high school, you know, I did some dumb things, and if anybody was hurt by that or offended, obviously, I apologize for that… You know, I don’t, I don’t remember that particular incident [laughs]… I participated in a lot of high jinks and pranks during high school, and some might have gone too far, and for that I apologize"
For me the key phrase in this is "if anybody was hurt". Geesh.
I would to respect the man more if he had of said yes I did it and I was wrong.
Even worse was a poll I just saw that most people aren't concerned about it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-bullying-allegations-faze-few/2012/05/23/gJQARWHVlU_graphic.html
This country is making me sad, where is the empathy?
Romney is such an odd person, isn't he. Ugh. Well, I will vote for Obama.
ReplyDeleteWe don't see everything that goes on in American politics, but intolerance seems very outdated and I much prefer President Obama's attitude.
ReplyDeleteFifty percent of America is not bothered by it because everyone does dumb things when they are young. It's part of being young. Not to admit he did a dumb thing, that's not so good, but hey, if you can get away with it (look at OJ Simpson), then that seems to be the American way to do things.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it looks as though Romney is making big strides in the polls. I was shocked to learn that it's roughly a tie right now. Today's column by Willie Brown, in the SF Chronicle, says Obama is not looking too good. And that is coming from a supporter.
That's always a good excuse....I just don't remember
ReplyDeleteI like Obama for all he's tried to get done, with some class.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't vote for Romney because of his putting his dog in a crate tied to the top of the car. Cruel, dangerous, stupid, fearful for the dog; and that's not like a dog willingly putting their head out the window for awhile.
Most people remember ALL of their "pranks," but holding down a gay guy and cutting his hair isn't a prank, it's a demeaning hate crime. But that was before "hate crime" was a designation.
If it was a prank where "everybody else was in on it," oops, I don't want a president who's willing to follow the crowd.
Don't know which living being he treated worse: the gay guy or the dog.
DrumMajor
They say that it easy to tell personality disordered individuals because of the lack of empathy they show as children to other humans and particularly to pets. He clearly has no more empathy as a grown man. Personally, if I was a voter there I would be a little disturbed by these things. We all have skeletons in our closet and things we may have done differently but these actions are rather sociopathic I think. There are a lot of corproate sociopaths in politics so it is hardly surprising. There are red flags flying left, right and centre over this guy. It is interesting to read your views Kay.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with the last commenter, he's a bit of a sociapath.
ReplyDelete