Posted on 08/03/2007 1:41:30 PM PDT by Rameumptom
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said Wednesday that he will donate $25,000 to seven organizations dedicated to supporting troops, and he urged the public to engage in a "surge of support" for those on the battlefield.
"There's a lot of talk about supporting our troops," he told the employees of Cirtronics. "Let's have a surge of support while there's such a surge of sacrifice going on in our country."
Romney's website now lists links to the seven organizations so people can donate if they want.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/08/01/romneys_checkbook_politics.html
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.....Asked whether he believed his rivals in the presidential contest should contribute, Romney demurred.
"No, this is a personal decision," he said. "Different people have different financial circumstances."
/pander
Mitt PING
As a veteran you should demand the other candidates do what Romney has done here.
Curious he had to make a public announcement about his generosity instead of just keeping quiet.
This is a great idea from a creative, innovative man.
Other candidates talk but Mitt is a man of action.
Honorable intentions or a clever way to buy a few votes?
Like Romney or not, he gets it with the WOT and supporting our Troops.
The 7 organizations are:
America Supports You
Fisher House
Operation Shoebox
Operation Thank You
Packages from Home
A Soldier's Wish List
USO Care Packages
Descriptions and links for them all HERE.
I like that! You are still third choice Mitt, but this is a nice gesture. You are behind Duncan and Fred. We will see how it all plays out.
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Governor Romney filed and signed into law the most significant expansion of military benefits in recent years. The new law reduced to zero the cost members of the Massachusetts National Guard must pay to attend public colleges and universities, increased twenty-fold the death benefit paid to families of members killed in the line of duty, created a new annuity benefit for Gold Star spouses and boosted the amount paid to Gold Star parents. (Romney Signs Legislation Expanding Military Benefits, November 11, 2005)
Governor Mitt Romney signed into law a measure to help state employees and their families meet their financial obligations while they are on active military duty. It provided state employees called to active military leave with the differential cost between their military and state salaries and guaranteed employees on active military duty would not lose any seniority, accrued vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, compensation time or earned overtime. (Romney Lends a Hand to State Employees on Military Duty, November 27, 2003)
Governor Romney signed into law a bill preventing employers from discriminating against current or prospective employees who are enrolled in any of the nation’s Reserve forces including the Air and Army National Guards and the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Naval Reserves. Gov. Romney said, "The American servicemen and women of the Guard and Reserve leave their jobs, their spouses and their children to wear the uniform that defends our country. This selfless commitment should be honored by businesses across Massachusetts as we work to ensure they are treated fairly while they balance their employment responsibilities and obligations to the armed services. No business should ever put the bottom line ahead of America’s front line." (Romney Signs Law Protecting Armed Service Members, September 23, 2004)
Governor Mitt Romney signed legislation that provided disabled Massachusetts veterans with extensive tax exemptions, allowed communities to suspend real estate taxes for active duty National Guardsmen and reservists until 180 days after they return home, and provided financial relief for the families of servicemen and women killed or missing in action. (Romney Expands Tax Benefits For Disabled Veterans, August 14, 2006)
Romney explained:
When I was recently in Colorado Springs, I spoke with a man whose son is serving in Iraq. He said the criticism at home of the war effort was demoralizing. He made the point that as our fighting men and women are defending our liberties overseas, we as Americans need to stand by them.
Afterwards, my nephew suggested there should be a "surge of support" to go along with the troop surge. I told him that I couldn't agree more.
It's nice that Mitt has started giving to conservative causes in the past 12 months as he tries to buy votes and PR, but it's a complete joke that he never gave any money to these organizations before he started running for president.
It's like the pro-life org he gave $15,000 to right after announcing he was running for president; he got his wife into their leadership and got them to give him an award. Of course there is no record of him giving to any pro-life organization before that.
Or the conservative think tanks he spread money around to as he prepared to run for president.
It's just so blatant that Mitt the multi-millionaire has to be laughing away as he scatters a few thousand here and there.
That's the first thing that struck me too. It's great he's giving money, but does he have to announce it (including the amount) to the world?
I have to add that this kind of behavior is warned against in the bible.
Romney: Donating money he earned.
Kerry: Refusing to donate money he married after touring flooded areas of Pittsburgh not far from one of at least five multi-million dollar mansions he shares with Theresa.
Lieberals would always rather be generous with somebody else's money than their own.
It’s not about his donation. He donated as a way to bring attention to the 7 valuable organizations that could use everyone’s support during the surge. While most of us have found ways to support the troops all along, many people need to be reminded or prodded. See post #15.
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