Mitt steals the show: Gov tells nation he’ll stop looting - but there isn’t any

The Boston Herald ^ | 05/17/2006 | Kimberly Atkins

[Panerai]

Gov. Mitt Romney’s take-charge role in Bay State flood zones played well on national TV, but critics say the White House-seeking Republican went too far in warning about a risk of looting.

Responding to “Good Morning America” anchor Diane Sawyer’s question about the need to rescue people from their homes, Romney said the state National Guard stood at the ready.

“We’re continuing to be very, very careful and going through our neighborhoods, securing them, and making sure there is no looting of any kind,” Romney added.

The remarks puzzled local officials who reported no incidents of looting in the Bay State, New Hampshire or Maine, and prompted experts to question if Romney was raising red flags for no reason - or for political reasons.

“By and large, (looting) is a disaster myth,” said Dr. Steven Rottman, director of UCLA’s Center for Public Health and Disasters. “It tends to divert resources from public safety needs.”

Tobe Berkowitz, associate dean of Boston University’s College of Communication, said the nationally televised remark “was unnecessary and uncalled for.”

“It was a mistake at best. If it was a strategy (designed) to show the country that he’s a firm law-and-order governor, then it was a stupid strategy,” Berkowitz said.

[Izzy Dunne]

"They may loot in Louisiana but we don't loot in Massachusetts."

In Massachusetts, the looters work for the Big Dig.

[johnny7]

I wish I had 'Joe Heineken' from Katrina fame... but I figured that one would suffice.

[Puppage]

Sounds to me, though, like sewage is a bigger problem than looting.

Then they should vote out Kerry & Kennedy!

[Holicheese]

If I still lived in Peabody, I would loot Champions Pub. The best steak tips ever.

[OldFriend]

Some myth. The great tragedy of NO was that so many refused to evacuate their homes for fear it would be looted to the walls.

Even at the risk of death there were looters and shooters. Never mind Honore's denial about the shooters.

I recently read a book about a massive hurricane that went up the eastern coast in the 30s. The devestation was unimagineable......and from nowhere came the looters. In the midst of the storm there they were. They had rowboats, etc. and simply swarmed like roaches.

[noncommie]

Hehe. Lousianna Democrat officials said that looting was unavoidable, and so ordered police to allow looting. Then looting ran rampant.

Now a Republican official says, in absolutely no uncertain terms, that looting will be punished, and lo and behold: there is no looting.

And the only conclusion that liberals can draw from these two facts: Republicans are LIARS!!

[noncommie]

"Some myth. The great tragedy of NO was that so many refused to evacuate their homes for fear it would be looted to the walls."

The breakdown of civil order can cause a hundred times more damage than a natural disaster. That sure as Hell ain't no fairy tale.

[OldFriend]

So many died in their homes more out of fear of their 'neighbors' than the water.

To see all the cars still parked out front is just so darned sad.