Romney "Disses" Amateur Radio In Televised Town Meeting (and why he won't get my vote)

Eastern MA American Radio Relay League ^ | Wednesday 16 November 2005 @ 15:48:10 | Eastern Massachusetts ARRL

[Rick.Donaldson]

Romney "Disses" Amateur Radio In Televised Town Meeting Posted on Wednesday 16 November 2005 @ 15:48:10

Governor Mitt Romney dismissed the role of Amateur Radio operators in emergency communications during a televised "town meeting" program last night on WCVB's "When Disaster Strikes: Segment Two." The program featured public safety and volunteer organization officials from across Massachusetts among its audience.

Host and moderator Natalie Jacobson asked an increasingly-agitated Governor Romney questions about communications interoperability, and communication without commercial power. Romney was next asked by Jacobson, "...so does it come down to ham radio?..."

The Governor replied in a disgusted tone, "No, we don't need to deal with ham radio operators..."

Embarrassed public safety officials later tried to put in a good word for Amateur Radio. National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Glenn Field was prepared to state the importance of Amateur Radio, when Salvation Army Colonel Fred Van Brunt was called upon. Van Brunt remarked about his organization's quest to improve its communications capabilities and how Amateur Radio has aided his organization. "The ham radio situation helps a great deal," he stated.

"I have already written and submitted a letter to the Governor's Office," wrote Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. "I have also written an email to Natalie Jacobson."

ARRL Section Manager Mike Neilsen, W1MPN sent a section-wide email today to all Eastern MA ARRL members describing the incident along with actions he and his staff were taking to mitigate the situation.

"[Romney's] attitude about us sets an unfortunate tone within the state's executive branch," wrote Neilsen. "As a former military officer, I see this as a failure in leadership. My immediate concern is our working relationship within the [Massachusetts Emergency Management Team] environment." Neilsen intends to address the Governor's comments as "an urgent matter" at a meeting on November 17 with Don Carlton from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

"I was very disturbed about what the Governor stated on the program," wrote Ron Wood, W1PLW, the section's Public Information Coordinator. "It does show that more work is needed by all hams in the section. It's a great idea to write letters explaining the good we do." Wood is attempting to schedule a meeting with the Governor's office tomorrow so that EMA ARRL staffers might discuss the matter further.

Tom Kinahan, N1CPE wrote that Governor Romney's comment has made "a PR problem" for Kinahan in his role as MA State RACES Officer.

"I've got a roster of over 150 Amateur Radio operators that support local communities, and those of us that directly support the state government. There are at least double that in terms of people that are actually out there that I don't have formal paperwork on that support Amateur Radio emergency communications in some organized manner... The Governor has said that he 'certainly doesn't need to rely on ham radio' -- where does that leave the RACES program now?"

"I am ashamed tonight that I am a Republican!" remarked one ham radio viewer. "[Romney] speaks in derogatory tones about hams. He certainly shows an ignorance as to what we do and are capable of. I suggest a grass roots campaign of local hams calling the State House and The Governor's Office to protest."

The television program can be viewed at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/5334306/detail.html.

[dragnet2]

Cold Heat For example, in our county emergency system, very few have access to the radio room without having clearances. The equipment in there links directly with Homeland security both state and national.

So you are suggesting government, your county government for example has adequate communications for dealing with all disasters, and can readily contact citizens all over your region, for things like immediate status reports and other vital information?

If so, if you don't mind me asking, what type communications are they using to communicate with the citizens? And what type of communications are the citizens using to communicate with your local government during massive shutdowns and big time disasters?

In our city, county, and state EOC’s there are amateur radio stations setup and ready for use in emergencies. When events happen, they are staffed by trained ARES/RACES operators who have been given security clearances to obtain access to the equipment.

Yes, we have similar. I just wanted the other poster to respond. Thanks.

[doctor noe]

“Romney is a such ._.. / _ _ _ / ... / . / ._.”

and a _.. /.. /._ _. / ... /_ _../../_ for saying that about hams.

[Cold Heat]

I've had a FCC license for 30 years. I used to own a 100,000 watt station.

You are making false assumptions about something Romney never said or inferred. You just don't like him.

That's OK, but you are being dishonest, and that is not OK.

Amateur radio is indeed regulated, but not to the degree that fist responder communications are in todays world. There are damn good reasons for the regulatory aspects. The first thing that a enemy does during a attack, is to damage the communication infrastructure. This is why it is now hardened, and getting more so.

You sir, are a amateur, not a professional. Don't mix the two. One can compliment the other, but they must be separate for good reason.

Your assumptions are totally wrong.

[pops88]

I am also not offended as a HAM. As an RN, having done the FEMA Professional Development course, and having been involved in RACES, I am very disturbed that he doesn’t know the components of disaster preparedness.

[eXe]

As someone who is active in ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN, I have no use for Mitt after this statement.

As for those who say not voting for him because of this issue is “Childish” well.. this is certainly not the only issue.. he also wants to ban my AR15s, and subject me to a lifetime of fines if I dare not comply with his nationwide Romneycare.

No votes for Mitt here.

[BlazingArizona]

That’s basically what we’ve been doing, BA. In reality, that’s precisely what Amateur Radio IS anyway. There’s certainly a hobby aspect to it, but many amateurs are involved in providing emergency communications when necessary, and they practice this, prepare and keep their equipment ready for the moment’s notice.

I know a lot of hams myself, so I keep aware of the field's capabilities and controversies.

The general public - I'm talking about the educated, tech-aware demographic - has two negative perceptions of the ham community. Age is the big one ("I went to one of those ham swap meets, and saw a sea of wheelchairs and oxygen tanks..."). There is also a pereption of irrelevancy. Hams get credit for being the first geeks, for doing all the pioneer work in radio propagation that got commercial radio started, then led to all those other applications throughout the twentieth century. But now there is a perception that the ham service, hemmed in as it is by regulation and limited by international treaty to the lowest common denominator of rights granted by all the different cultures of the world, is no longer relevant in a day when a Web service can deliver encrypted global communications instantly. I have heard this called the "You can't even order pizza" problem.

The ham community needs to counter these perceptions if it's going to survive. A major emphasis on emergency management could do this. Ham clubs could help organize and coordinate emergency response o disaster in their community. It would take just one instance of "hams banding together during a hurricane" to change the public's perception of the field.

[Rick.Donaldson]

My only point was that deciding not to vote for someone based on one issue, and one issue only, is ludicrous. There are a lot of one issue voters here and that is one reason (amongst many others) why Republicans are having such a tough time.

And you're kind of right, sometimes there are one-issue problems with candidates though. However, the Republicans are having a tough time, NOT because of that, but because people can't stand back and state they are CONSERVATIVE.

This is not a One-Issue problem for me and as I already stated to you, it's NOT the reason (not the ONLY reason) - it is ONE reason I WON'T be voting for Romney.

YOUR problem is very simple, you would have preferred I made a whole list of stuff to discuss here so you could simple try to discredit everything I've said. Since you can't do that with ONE ITEM you go after the "one-issue" issue as you're doing here. No, this thread is about ONE thing. The thread is about my REASONS for not giving Romney MY vote. Further more, those REASONS are laid out completely in this thread, but you're attempting to discredit something *I've* said based on your limited reading ability.

[Diogenesis]

"It would take just one instance of "hams banding together during a hurricane" to change the public's perception of the field."

Hams have done that for decades and the public's perception is positive.

The issue is Romney's incompetence.
That Romney would substitute fake station licenses
to his bots and operatives as he distributed fake police badges
is not a substitute for the good will, abiding by law, citizenship,
and knowledge that amateur radio operators have ALREADY demonstrated
unlike Romney.

[Cold Heat]

In my neck of the woods, we have a 911 system with reverse calling so that the phones are used if they are still up and running. The system is being set up for cellular as well, but that is not yet done.....Need mo money.....LOL

Our police and fire are directly in communication with the State Emergency response system, and this is staffed with people in every jurisdiction at present. They also have cruisers loaded with comm equipment and a State officer in each county. My understanding is that the State is in the chain of command under homeland security in DC and various sub stations. They have video conference stuff as well but I'm not cleared to see it. What I do for the city is not a critical job so I am out of that loop.

We also have Ham radio and amateur air search and rescue integrated where it is available. They are indeed in the chain where we can get dependable clubs and various groups together.

[Rick.Donaldson]

I didn’t think you were being “nasty”. no one has been “nasty” except for a couple of trolls who started making snippy remarks before 4 minutes had passed, and NOT enough time to have read the article, read the comments, checked the link, watched the video. Sorry, anyone who posts snippy comments in the first few seconds is being snippy (and I’m just as guilty sometimes, the difference BEING I always go read the articles even if I’m being snippy lol). No, I’m trying to get a point across here and many people are simply making assumptions and not reading at all, you can SEE it if you read the article and later posts I’ve made.

[Rick.Donaldson]

I can tell you what they will use... BUT, I don’t live there so I’ll leave it up to the person who said it was all “top secret” and all that nonsense.

[pops88]

amateur air search and rescue

Can you elaborate on this? I really hope you aren't referring to Civil Air Patrol here, because I, and many other pilots and CAP members would take offense at this. We are an auxiliary of the Air Force.

[technomage]

YOUR problem is very simple, you would have preferred I made a whole list of stuff to discuss here so you could simple try to discredit everything I've said. Since you can't do that with ONE ITEM you go after the "one-issue" issue as you're doing here. No, this thread is about ONE thing. The thread is about my REASONS for not giving Romney MY vote. Further more, those REASONS are laid out completely in this thread, but you're attempting to discredit something *I've* said based on your limited reading ability.

My original post was in response to two things:

A. Your Headline, which infers that you will not vote for Mitt because his demeaned ham radio and

B. Your original post. I have read your post. It is all centered around one thing: Ham radio.

If you are not a one issue voter, great! Your post made it appear so.

And, I will end this post without any attempt to ridicule or belittle, as you did in your last post.

[dragnet2]

So you are suggesting government, your county government for example has adequate communications for dealing with all disasters, and can readily contact citizens all over your region, for things like immediate status reports and other vital information?

If so, if you don't mind me asking, what type communications are they using to communicate with the citizens? And what type of communications are the citizens using to communicate with your local government during massive shutdowns and big time disasters?

In my neck of the woods, we have a 911 system with reverse calling so that the phones are used if they are still up and running. The system is being set up for cellular as well, but that is not yet done.

In massive shutdowns and large disasters there are no land line telephone, or cell phones.

If you could specifically address the above. Thanks.

[Rick.Donaldson]

As have we all. (The “clearances”). Those ‘clearances’ are to access local security controlled areas of buildings. That has nothing to do with operating radios. The Red Cross was pushing recently for “clearances” as some people call them (National Agency Checks, aka background checks) and that ain’t gonna fly. You might require some sort of specific access to a Police Operations Center. but, I promise the minute half or more of the “cleared hams” that DON”T show up because they were killed in the disaster other hams will be quickly granted operational access without a damned clearance. lol

[Cyber Liberty]

I've been reading....

I think ol' Mitt has never even HAD an emergency in Massachusets. "What's an earthquake?" Having something unforseen happen schools a person up pretty quickly, and he's a virgin.

[Cyber Liberty]

And, I will end this post without any attempt to ridicule or belittle, as you did in your last post.

Pretty big of you.

[Owen]

This all seems to be an obscure meeting on an obscure subject held over two years ago. Did the ARRL seek to provide some information to the Governor after that meeting and did he step forward and refuse to sign the usual declaration of state Ham Radio Days that most states have?

Did he step forth and announce that he felt it a wise bit of legislation to forbid all ham radio in Massachusetts? I kinda doubt it.

Someone call the campaign and ask if the Romney platform is to oppose ham radio and all of its facets and get it formally quoted. If you don’t have an explicit statement of that sort, you have nothing.

[TalonDJ]

He should not have to research emergency communications on his own.

Sure, very true. But the effectiveness of the people he put in his administration reflects on him. I do have other reasons I did not vote for him though.

[Rick.Donaldson]

You sir, are a amateur, not a professional. Don't mix the two. One can compliment the other, but they must be separate for good reason.

And you're a Mitt Romney supporter so I expect such asinine remarks out of the likes of you. Obviously you're the one behaving unprofessionally here. I don't DISLIKE Romney at all. There are a LOT of other reasons I'm not voting for him, but your little barrage just goes to show that your one-sided support of the man is obviously with bias. I am a professional in all the jobs I've done, as my records in the military, my letters from Presidents and other government officials indicate, and my current position also shows.

I could care less about your 100kilowatt radio station. I too held a First Class License for many years because I had to have it to work on small radios in those days. But it doesn't make you an expert on emergency communications, nor does it show you have any sort of background in such things. Furthermore, your remarks indicate nothing more than you're a Mitt supporter (and more power to you)... but he's not going to be President because of his flipping and flopping. Not because of my little notation here. I CERTAINLY think that I've brought some facts to light and to bear on him and you don't like it.

To that, I say, TOUGH. Deal with it. My vote cancels yours. HA!