I'm bothered by many things about Mitt Romney. Like a lot of Americans, I read the Washington Post and caught the story about Mitt's bullying (or as my Republican family calls it: those silly hijinks that we all do in high school and college)...
Sorry?
I did a lot of things in high school, college, and adulthood that I'm not proud of. But I have never cut anyone's hair while they wept and begged me to stop and screamed out for help. I have never steered a blind person into a door and then giggled hysterically when they ran into it. I have never said, "Atta girl!" to a gay man when he commented in class. I've never done any college hazing. And as an adult, I have never counseled a woman who had a 50% chance of dying if she kept her baby to go through with her pregnancy.
I do realize that we are all sort of idiotic in high school but there is a difference between acting like a dumb ass and acting like a bully.
And I think that most of us are pretty much the people that we are going to be as adults when we are seniors in high school. Not fully formed, no. But...close. Most bullies that I knew in high school remained bullies as they went on in their lives.
Think back to yourself in high school. Have you changed that much? Ok. You are older, wiser. But, is your personality, are your morals much different? Mine aren't.
And I don't think Mitt's are either.
I think he's a bully. And anyone who says that they love firing people is just....someone to be avoided. I do not want this man to be president.
I'm so damn sick of defending Obama. The naysayers against him go glassy eyed when I remind them that it isn't like Dubya left him a spanking clean White House to move into. I compare it to buying a house, actually. Obama bought a house and, ok...was naive about how much fixing up it needed. But, how the hell was he supposed to get anything fixed when most of the plumbers, electricians, etc. (house of representatives, senate) refused to help him fix this house up because they were pouting that their choice of homeowner didn't land in that house?
Obama is not and has never been a failure, except in one area: I think he was too confident that he could right some wrongs and didn't realize how hard it would be to work with a house and senate who forced him to try with one hand tied behind his back. He could not have foreseen that happening. And really? Who could? Who would? Don't we elect our officials to work WITH each other? Isn't that the cornerstone of the Gettysburg address?
of the people, by the people, for the people....
People ask me (Republicans mostly): WHAT HAS OBAMA DONE FOR US?
Plenty.
He re-engaged talks on global warming.
He expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 billion more children.
He expanded vaccination programs.
He ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs.
He instituted withdrawal of US troops in Iran.
He limited lobbyists access to the White House.
He removed restrictions on stem cell and bio medical research.
He ended the previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts.
He made more loans available to small businesses.
He attempted to reform the nation's health care system which is the priciest in the world yet leaves 50 million without insurance.
And let's see...
There was that small thing of implementing a US auto industry rescue plan....
And the US now has a no-torture policy and is FINALLY in compliance with Geneva Convention standards....
There is much more media access than in the previous administration...
OH...
And he quite possibly prevented a second Great Depression.
Plenty. And all with one arm tied behind his back. Imagine what he could have done if the pouty faces in the house and senate had worked with him instead of against him.
I tend to agree with James Carville when he was interviewed by Anderson Cooper. Mitt is either lying when he says he doesn't remember those incidents in high school or is a pretty shallow person to NOT remember them. I think that if I had my friends hold down a fellow student while I cut off his hair while he cried and screamed for help...I would REMEMBER IT and FEEL ASHAMED.
I would have had much more respect if he had simply said, "Yes, I do remember that and I feel terribly ashamed of myself. I am so very sorry for doing that."
I can forgive someone if they are sorry. But to have FIVE people remember the incident and not remember it at all? That is not someone I want for president. And lying about it? A lie is more forgivable if no one was hurt by it. Someone was hurt by Mitt's lie. Thus, the least he could do is make amends.
But, to pretty much say that it was such a small thing that he doesn't remember it and oh...well...he's sorry if he hurt anyone? What a small man.
Our country deserves a big man for president. Not a small bully.
And...I am good with debate on this one, but if it gets mean spirited, I won't publish your opinion either pro or con.
So...tell me. What do YOU think?
18 comments:
I apologise - but - tell me who this Mitt Romney is?
I agree with you totally Maria. Mit scares me, and because of that I am affraid of what it will mean if he should take the highest office in the United States.
As for Obama, I feel bad for him. He is a kind, honest man and has had no chance. I applaud him for supporting gay marriage, that is something that will help that teenager who is sitting in their rooms wondering if anyone will ever really care about them. Now that teenager can say, the President of the United States thinks I am equal, well I must be then!!
Well written Marie!
I did stupid things while in high school, but I think the hurtful things I did were "clever" insults directed at friends and family, most of whom still talk to me. I was dealing with anger and depression and that was the only outward way I expressed those two things. The rest of it I turned inward, which I finally started working on in my 30's.
Am I better off now than I was four years ago? Hell, yes! My husband's year and a half wait to be approved for Social Security disability ended shortly after President Obama took office. Coincidence? Probably, but the $250 bonus was thanks to Obama. My father, who is dying of COPD, was able to get his student loans forgiven, 30 years after he'd taken them out, something that had been impossible under previous administrations.
On this we agree 100%. So, no debate from me.
Romney is a piece of steaming shit. He was BEFORE this bullying stuff came out, but even more so, now.
I'm with you. Totally.
I agree that people don't change much from the personality they are born with, and am also horrified that he could commit such detestable acts and claim not to even remember them. By logical extension, would he bomb other countries into oblivion as president and not even break stride? I am still in shock over taking his dog on a long trip on the roof of his family car as well as boasting that he loves to fire people. He scares the hell out of me because he is beyond stupid, he is evil.
As an independent, who voted for Obama, I've been open to evaluating all candidates. As a victim of bullies my entire school life, this is a deal-breaker.
I'm with you 100%. Romney disgusts me. The story about the dog on top of the car? How could any adult ever think that would be remotely okay?! I think my reaction will probably be the same as his dog's was if he ends up elected. Soiling myself in fear and cowering in the corner until it's over. Ha.
I am so proud to call Obama my president, and I am tired of having to come to his defense constantly. I feel he has done an amazing job so far, especially considering the people he has to fight with in Congress. I'll still defend him, but when I get tired of people not listening to me, I tend to just point them to the website http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/. It summarizes things nicely.
I really don't doubt the veracity of this story. And I'm not at all surprised by his response.
I have been getting really frustrated by the posts on facebook by friends who consider themselves conservatives, eg talking about how bristol palin should be allowed to say whatever she thinks and shouldn't be criticized for that (I pointed out the sheer hypocrisy in her "mommy and daddy make family" views. Or they say "you are just as much a bigot when you call me a bigot for my views" - no, a bigot is someone who is ignorant, I respectfully disagree with your ignorance,but I'm still willing to talk to you.
I really, really hope Mitt doesn't get elected, because I fear what would happen if he did. And I am going to campaign for representatives and senators as well, since we need a democratic majority in the house and senate if we want anything done in the next four years. Another four years of not passing any bills will seriously hurt America.
I'm not an American, so what I think of Romney and Obama really isn't important to anyone. But, if this was an election I was to vote in I would vote for Obama. He comes across as someone who's in politics because he sincerely wants to do something good.
As to Romney's high school bullying...that's what it is. I also think that bullies stay bullies. I would never have done something like this in high school, or earlier on for that matter. To purposefully go out there and physically humiliate someone to such an extent is bullying. And I agree, electing someone who likes to fire people, seems like a poor choice.
The best of luck in your elections.
If Romney does get elected, it's only because Obama can no longer electrify his base. And why's that? And where are those voters going.
I'll let you know that I'm voting for Obama for purely a selfish reason. I believe that Marriage Equality will happen only if he's reelected. And to keep my Family together, I need that.
m.
Thank you for this post! I am going to refer to it often in the coming moths, as someone who is a democrat living in a small pocket of conservative republicans.
I know the kind of kids who did evil things in high school. I remember them from when I was in high school, and I know them from when I taught high school. Kids just don't do EVIL lightly. They ones who are truly beyond reasonableness are that way as a personality trait... not as an incident or two. I get that all kids make mistakes, but there is a wide swath between doing something THAT hurts someone (physically or emotionally) and doing something TO hurt someone.
I agree completely. He isn't sorry, and that is the scary part for me. I am terrified of a commander in chief who likes to belittle, cause harm, injure, and do so as a stunt for an audience. Our world has enough terror-inducing leaders in other countries. Let the United States stay the great nation that it has been, and that it can be. We are world leaders. Let's be respected world leaders.
I agree with you 100%! I'm also getting tired of having to defend Obama (and I'm not even a US citizen, I'm just talking about normal discussions about politics) but I don't stop because he has, indeed, brought about many positive things and he should be recognised for them.
I was surprised that you didn't address all the Don't Ask Don't Tell business concerning the army. After all, this is something that was unthinkable to be able to happen under previous presidents.
Nevertheless, I love that you wrote all this down so clearly and concisely. Maybe I'll just point the ignoramuses to this blog post next time :)
Cheers!
A resounding AMEN! This guy makes my skin crawl. I live in the heart of Republican territory... save me!
I think he's a bully. And anyone who says that they love firing people is just....someone to be avoided. I do not want this man to be president.
I agree, Maria. Many/most of us encountered school bullies. They've been the subject of many a literary piece. Bullies are different. Bullies deviate from the norm. School bullies are misanthropes the general student body avoids/disdains. I hope the electorate displays similar prudence.
What this man did was assault and battery, period. A lot of bullying falls into that category. As you mentioned, we have all done things we are not proud of, but this goes beyond that especially since he's unwilling to own it. That is the thing I would like to see in our politicians - own the stupid shit you did in your youth. No one expects you to be squeaky clean because none of us are, but we do expect that you won't blow off stuff you are clearly guilty of.
I am not now, nor have I ever been, a drug user of any kind, but I respect the fact that Obama admitted to his drug use in high school and college. Many people did drugs back then, no one is surprised that he was among them. What would have been ridiculous is trying to deny it or turn it into something other than what it was. Own it and move on then no one can have discussions like this because there will be nothing to discuss. It's been "confessed" and dealt with so no one can make comments about it other than to judge it and those doing that are the same people who are guilty of it themselves half the time.
Great post as always Maria!
I agree with you Maria, hands down.
Every step of this process, Mitt Romney and his family have shown themselves to be out of touch with decent, common people and I cannot abide by that.
President Obama - yes, I am a stickler for the title because this is the first president that I can remember whose presidency has been informalized (I just made that word up) by those who insist on disrespect the man and the office – has done far more good for our country than he’s given credit for.
I refuse to debate the merits of our president – and the First Lady at that. I’ll demonstrate my support and approval where it should be – at the voter’s booth.
I have begun to type so many comments and then start over again. You said it all so well.
So, DITTO!
Post a Comment