Romney bought $5k of food for people to “donate” back to him at phony “hurricane” rally

[one...two...tree 2,762]

But the last-minute nature of the call for donations left some in the campaign concerned that they would end up with an empty truck. So the night before the event, campaign aides went to a local Wal Mart and spent $5,000 on granola bars, canned food, and diapers to put on display while they waited for donations to come in, according to one staffer. (The campaign confirmed that it "did donate supplies to the relief effort," but would not specify how much it spent.)

Empty-handed supporters pled for entrance, with one woman asking, "What if we dropped off our donations up front?"The volunteer gestured toward a pile of groceries conveniently stacked near the candidate. "Just grab something," he said.

Two teenage boys retrieved a jar of peanut butter each, and got in line. When it was their turn, they handed their "donations" to Romney. He took them, smiled, and offered an earnest "Thank you."

No relief for you!

We've all been through it before. Grandma's getting old. Mom goes and buys grandma's Christmas gifts, or maybe mom even gives you a 20 and tells you to buy yourself something from grandma, then wrap it up for Christmas eve – and make sure you look surprised when you unwrap your gift in front of grandma!

And that's okay, cuz grandma's 90 years old and has a hard time getting around.

What's Mitt Romney's excuse?

Team Romney Admits "Relief" Event Was Staged for Political Reasons

I also found this part of the story fascinating. The Romney campaign admits that the intent behind the rally was swing state election visibility, not hurricane relief:

But

Boston wasn't quite ready to lose a full day of swing state visibility with a week left in the race. So, after some deliberation, the campaign decided to use their existing venue in Ohio

to stage a makeshift, and nonpartisan, humanitarian project. It would be a way for Romney to show leadership — and get on the local news — without looking craven or opportunistic.

They weren't willing to lose a day's visibility in a swing state, so they came up with the event and crafted it in a way that would still get them political benefit, but would camouflage the intent. So, as I predicted, Team Romney saw Hurricane Sandy – saw the imminent peril of tens of millions of Americans – as a political "opportunity" to exploit.

And as the reports from the rally prove,Romney's "relief event" was a lot of partisan politics, and not much relief.

And keep mind, the Red Cross doesn't want these "donations." The Red Cross specifically says on its Web site NOT to give it donations of goods. It needs money and blood donations. When people send goods, it requires staff time to go through, distribute them, etc – time that is better spent working on more efficient means of helping disaster victims. And I quote from the Red Cross Web site:

Unfortunately, due to logistical constraints the Red Cross does not accept or solicit individual donations or collections of items. Items such as collected food, used clothing and shoes must be sorted, cleaned, repackaged and transported which

impedes the valuable resources

of money, time, and personnel.

It's the "Chinese Jeeps" of Charity Events!

Mitt Romney spent $5,000 on a political stunt when he should have simply donated the $5,000 to the Red Cross. But had he donated the money, it wouldn't have been nearly as good a PR event, and remember, with Mitt Romney, it's not about helping people – it's about fueling his ambition.

Need more proof? Jennyjinx on Twitter just noted the following:

@aravosis Why couldn't Romney have asked his supporters to write a check or plop money in a can?

The Romney people decided that you "had" to have food in hand in hand to donate, or they wouldn't let you in. But if you didn't have any food, they'd give you some food they bought – food the Red Cross doesn't want. Why didn't the Romney people at the very least ask people who didn't bring food to write a check, or donate cash? They could have a laptop sitting there with a connection to the Internet, and people could have donated to the Red Cross via the Red Cross' own Web site. But they didn't. Because this event wasn't about helping the Red Cross or Hurricane Sandy's victims.

How long until Romney voters try to destroy this charity as well? Then again, by intentionally impeding the Red Cross' hurricane relief work, they're already off to a good start.

PS Compare Romney's made-for-TV stunt with what President Obama did when visiting FEMA HQ this morning:

No TV cameras allowed. But, what – you say – the President isn't trying to make hurricane relief a partisan media spectacle of opportunity? Clearly, un-American.

http://americablog.c...MERICAblog+News)

[Penny Lane 8,159]

First off: it's awesome that 5k in supplies were purchased. That's what truly matters.

However ... to buy it and then have people pretend to give it back and have their photo taken? Embarrassing.

[Karee 4,191]

6 more days and we can get back to Solar/wind power and global warming. I have it marked on my calendar.

[SMOKE 1,426]

First off: it's awesome that 5k in supplies were purchased. That's what truly matters.

yes it is.

[Darnell 8,479]

Team Romney ? Oh my - there's a label I'd like to see unused in my lifetime.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Team Romney ? Oh my - there's a label I'd like to see unused in my lifetime.

You just gotta live another week.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So what did Romney do bad? Donated $5,000 in food to needy people? And because of that you are not going to vote for him Steven?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So what did Romney do bad? Donated $5,000 in food to needy people? And because of that you are not going to vote for him Steven?

The low point is that he is exploiting the situation for political gain. He could have cut a $5,000.00 check to the Red Cross and be done with it. But he chose not to do that but rather invested $5,000.00 into a photo op for his campaign.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The low point is that he is exploiting the situation for political gain. He could have cut a $5,000.00 check to the Red Cross and be done with it. But he chose not to do that but rather invested $5,000.00 into a photo op for his campaign.

Sounds like a good politician. If I were you I wouldn't vote for him.

Now, Mr. Big Dog, place your hands on either side of your head and PUSH, the popping sound you hear will be your head coming out of your @ss. This is a politician and it is one week before the big election. EVERYTHING they do is a photo op.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

The low point is that he is exploiting the situation for political gain. He could have cut a $5,000.00 check to the Red Cross and be done with it. But he chose not to do that but rather invested $5,000.00 into a photo op for his campaign.

And CBS interrupting afternoon programing to show Obama talking about the storm, is not a political game.. Geeez. I can't remember the last time CBS interrupted programing. No other network did .

[ready4ONE 5,400]

And CBS interrupting afternoon programing to show Obama talking about the storm, is not a political game.. Geeez. I can't remember the last time CBS interrupted programing. No other network did .

Them's the breaks! Obama happens to be President, during a crisis, and oddly some are interested in hearing the Presidents thoughts and plans during said crisis.

Do you have monitors on all networks going simultaneously?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Them's the breaks! Obama happens to be President, during a crisis, and oddly some are interested in hearing the Presidents thoughts and plans during said crisis.

Do you have monitors on all networks going simultaneously?

Well I am not Einstein but when a live Press Conf is going down I figured out how to change the channel to see if another network is carrying the live feed. OMG LOL

Do you honestly think CBS would have interrupted programing to show a News Conf, with a Dem praising Bush 6 days before an election.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Well I am not Einstein but when a live Press Conf is going down I figured out how to change the channel to see if another network is carrying the live feed. OMG LOL

Do you honestly think CBS would have interrupted programing to show a News Conf, with a Dem praising Bush 6 days before an election.

Wait. What? Is CBS some part of the Left Wing Conspiracy to turn you and the rest of America into socialists?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Wait. What? Is CBS some part of the Left Wing Conspiracy to turn you and the rest of America into socialists?

No but it is a very liberally biased network that long ago did away with any appearance of impartiality to help Liberal candidates. Do you remember why Dan Blather got canned.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

No but it is a very liberally biased network that long ago did away with any appearance of impartiality to help Liberal candidates. Do you remember why Dan Blather got canned.

oh geezuz. With the exception of Fox News and MSNBC which rely heavily on editorialized news, the rest of the network news stations are corporate. They don't have a dog in this fight other than their quest for ratings. The notion that the media has a liberal bias is nothing but a conspiracy from those on the Right who can't imagine that news and the way it is presented could ever be anything but 'right.'