Today's New York Times "Political Memo" by reporter Michael Luo, "Question of Sons' Choices Dogs Romney Campaign," reached into Michael Moore territory in relaying criticism of Republican candidate Mitt Romney for his sons' failure to serve in the military during the Iraq War.
"Mitt Romney has been asked before on the campaign trail if his sons have served in the military, and he usually has dispatched the question easily enough.
"But an awkward response last week in Iowa, in which Mr. Romney said in part that 'one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected,' forced him several days later to say he misspoke and injected a discordant note into his otherwise triumphant few days after he won the state’s Republican straw poll.
'It has also threatened to put a chink in what has been widely viewed as a major asset in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination: his crowded family portrait, which includes five successful adult sons who have been a prominent part of his campaign.
Luo exaggerated military woes for effect.
"The fact that none have served in the armed forces is a potentially sensitive point, given how badly stretched the nation's military has become with the conflict in Iraq and the nearly unanimous support for the war on the part of the Republican candidates."
Next came the Moore part.
"Politicians should try to envision whether they believe in a war enough that they would send their own children, said Nancy Lessin, co-founder of Military Families Speak Out, an antiwar group made up of more than 3,600 military families.
"'If this war is so important, why is it O.K. for you to support our loved ones fighting it but not send your own sons?' said Ms. Lessin, whose stepson joined the Marines after college and went to Iraq.
"The fact that Mr. Romney's sons have not served is not necessarily surprising, she said, because the military tends to be dominated by those from less well-to-do backgrounds.
"'There is the economic, or the opportunity, draft,' Ms. Lessin said."
Question: How does a parent, even a politically powerful one, order his adult children onto the battlefield, anyway? That's an argument straight out of Michael Moore fantasyland, but Luo appeared to take it seriously.
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Of course Romney shouldn't
August 15, 2007 - 15:27 ET by LeonOf course Romney shouldn't have sent his sons.
As Bush and others have let us know time and time again this fight is being fought under GOD. So only those that fight for God should join the fray.
And by God, he means the real and only God, not Romney's profane, weird Mormon version of God.
I expect more from you Leon,
August 15, 2007 - 16:50 ET by Conservative VoiceI expect more from you Leon, not only did you not make sense, but I would appreciate you show respect for other people's religion.
You "expect more" from Leon?
August 15, 2007 - 17:00 ET by RJCV, Leon is a snide, low-rent leftist. Typical of his kind, he's intent on dragging down anything he disagrees with. The above comment from him is typical. Sorry, but you're wasting your time to "expect more."
RJ, I defended Leon being a
August 15, 2007 - 17:11 ET by Conservative VoiceRJ, I defended Leon being a troll and not hater in the past, but if this is typical, then I will no longer defend him. I hate it when I stick my neck out for someone only to be proven wrong.
CV, Toughen up. The
August 16, 2007 - 08:44 ET by LeonCV,
Toughen up. The world is hard. It was a harmless joke.
Oh and while your defense was appreciated in the past, it was never needed.
We had some good times together. You shall be missed.
Leon, If the words aren't
August 16, 2007 - 14:03 ET by Conservative VoiceLeon, If the words aren't what you meant...then put it in quotes or have a </sarcasm> otherwise it is read at face value. I learned as a teenager saying "just kidding" after I saw the reaction to my "joke" didn't go over very well didn't hold a whole lot of weight, so I got in trouble for the offensive statement And for being a snake. Seems you haven't learned that yet.
As far as the world is hard,...duh, look in the mirror, you have been sized up and found unworthy of my respect. If you want to minimize that ( instead of apologizing ), fine, just reaffirms everyone's perception of you that you are just another troll.
Why is it you can
August 15, 2007 - 17:08 ET by BDWhy is it you can automatically assume a leftists will find something to hold against someones religion - when they claim it is the conservatives/
For the record, I do not wish for anyone to fight beside me who does not desire to be there in the first place.
When will the leftists,
August 15, 2007 - 15:45 ET by MidAmericaWhen will the leftists, who ask such an asinine question, order their children into the police force or serve as firemen. These are also very risky occupations for which everyone benefits.
And to beat this idea even further, when a major forest fire breaks out how many preachy hollywood stars, big profile environmentalist's families or Al Gore's kids out there with picks and shovels trying to save those trees.
Absoluely mid
August 15, 2007 - 15:56 ET by exLibIt doesn't matter a bit to these idiots that the canidates they support and elect to office neither have kids in the military nor they themselves served.
Yet whomever gets into office will become commander and chief and will end up sending troops into harms way.
MidAmerica, leftists don't
August 15, 2007 - 17:10 ET by motherbeltMidAmerica, leftists don't expect their children to go into the police force or become firemen. Their idea of serving their country is by going into what they call "public service" (politics). They "serve" by making laws telling other people what they can and can't do.
Leftists show they "care" by wearing an "AIDS awareness" " or "breast cancer awareness" ribbon. That's how they serve and care: by being "aware."
In spite of all the liberal "caring" about starvation and disease etc. in Africa and other places, do you know of a single liberal who has "ordered" his/her child to join the Peace Corps?
They also love to show
August 15, 2007 - 17:26 ET by MidAmericaThey also love to show their 'compassion' by taking (taxes) other peoples money and spending it on causes they believe in.
It's a volunteer military
August 16, 2007 - 14:11 ET by TruthMongerIt's a volunteer military for a reason, Leon...
They protect your priviledge to take your cheap shots:)
This is what you get when you don't have an arugment
August 15, 2007 - 15:54 ET by exLibThis is what you get when you can't argue your position with facts and intelligence.
Just throw out nonsense phrases and since she's a mom of a vet, the canidate is forced to take them seriously or get the Ann Coulter treatment.
Once again the media lets a false statement go because it reinforces their story line. The military is actually dominated by those from well-to-do backgrounds and some from middle-class backgrounds.
Parents can't send their children
August 15, 2007 - 16:05 ET by Hero SquadWhy don't politicians answer with the most simple of responses:
"Parents can't send their children to Iraq."
Please understand, people who ask this question... this is not summer camp, fall soccer or piano lessons. This is the military, and if a child is over 18, he or she is able to make his or her own decision about enlisting.
Two relevant "Arrested Development" moments:
"Mother signed me up for
August 15, 2007 - 16:08 ET by Mean Gene Dr. Love"Mother signed me up for Army because the fat man dared her to." -Byron "Buster" Bluth.
...and that set Buster up
August 15, 2007 - 16:44 ET by Hero Squad...and that set Buster up to join - wait for it - Hero Squad!
*****
"Some people have a way with words. Other people, er, I don't know. Not have way, I guess
<i>Filmmaker Michael
August 15, 2007 - 16:22 ET by supercon<i>
Filmmaker Michael Moore:
Victory in Iraq.
Newt for President.
Bush has a tight family
August 15, 2007 - 16:43 ET by exLibFrom what I've seen, heard and read GWB has a good family unit going and his kids seem to really love him which means he treats them well and obviously loves them.
As usual, Leftists grabing for straws and projecting their insecurities on those they despise.
One of Dubyah's daughters
August 15, 2007 - 18:03 ET by Del DolemonteOne of Dubyah's daughters now works for the Peace Corps and the other has a job with the Smithsonian.
Meanwhile, Chelsea Clinton has a 6 figure income working for a hedge fund that donates to her mom.
What's wrong with making
August 15, 2007 - 21:21 ET by balboaWhat's wrong with making money? Or working for a hedge fund? I didn't think these were bad things.
And I'm sure whomever is working for the Smithsonian is making some cash.
General George Patton
August 15, 2007 - 17:14 ET by motherbeltsupercon, General George Patton said (paraphrasing) You don't win wars by dying for your country. You win wars by making the other bastard die for HIS country.
Liberals say we "send children" to war. But they advocate allowing 12-year olds to decide, on their own, to have abortions.
Go figure.
And BINGO was his name-o!
August 16, 2007 - 12:56 ET by TheDeuceAnd BINGO was his name-o!
This is typical leftist anti-war blather.....
August 15, 2007 - 16:42 ET by Missouri ConservativeApparently it is now not OK to support the mission without signing up yourself. If you support the mission in the middle east you MUST join the military otherwise you're a hypocrite.
Well, does Ms. Lessin believe in fighting crime? Does she think fighting crime is a worthwhile cause and needs to be dealt with? Then she better join the police department or force her kids to do so, otherwise, she's a hypocrite.
And the "opportunity draft" nonsense is stuff we've heard countless times before. People who join the military are just "too poor" or "too stupid" to do anything worthwhile with their lives so they sign up! Of course this ridiculous myth has been disproved many times - we have the most highly educated and motivated military in the world by leaps and bounds.
"women and minorities hardest hit"
Romney must be doing
August 15, 2007 - 16:51 ET by Conservative VoiceRomney must be doing something right if this is the best the drive bys got.
That's what I was thinking CV
August 15, 2007 - 16:59 ET by exLibHere in Mass the best they could do was a story his son told, a 20 year old story, about how they put their dog in a dog carrier on top of a car on a trip to Maine.
It was insane, for about a week, all the lefties could wail about was how someone who could put a dog in a box on top of car couldn't be President.
Romney is the guy the Media fears the most; A Smart, Good looking, Moral Guy they can't find any real dirt on.
The media will do whatever they can to get him to loose, which is why they constantly attack his Mormonism and now they are also going after some lame minor thing about his investments.
The media wants Rudy, since he's got so many moral issues they know it won't be an issue the upcoming election.
Sent to Iraq
August 15, 2007 - 16:54 ET by allanfI find it sad that the military's latest round of advertisements are directed at skittish post Vietnam era parents who are more reluctant than their children to serve. That's a shame. I guess they can make the children Army Strong but the parents are a lost generation.
By the liberal calculus, you are somehow a hypocrite if you, or your son has not served. The logical conclusion is that only military people can admire the military.
In a similar vain I admire the risks police officers take, but yet I have not served as a policeman. Is that somehow improper? Am I unfit to advocate larger budges for police departments?
Don't call the Police unless you are one!!
August 15, 2007 - 17:02 ET by exLibDon't call the police for a break in or a to report a murder unless you served as a cop.
Cops shouldn't be asked to go into buildings where a killer might be hiding unless the person asking has a son in the Police Force!!
I mean those cops are someone's child!
Chickenhawk meme is so 2006...
August 15, 2007 - 17:02 ET by Spike72AFAI can't understand why those on the Left believe this is a winning argument. First of all, they must understand that a person is an adult and able to make their own decisions about life as soon as they are hormonally able to create a human life. ERGO, there is a huge gap between saying that a 14 year old girl is mature enough to decide on an abortion without her parents' knowledge or consent, but a 25 year old college graduate is a "child" who is sent to war by his/her parents.
Secondly, and this is very important, if we state that you can't support the war unless you or your child is in the military, we are essentially stating that those not now or previously in the military should STFU. Years ago, Robert Heinlein wrote a book called Starship Troopers. In it, you could not vote unless you had honorably served and been discharged from Federal service. You could enjoy all the other benefits of citizenship, but you could not vote. Do you believe for a second that those who throw around the "chicken hawk" argument really want us to use that model? Imagine, to vote, you must a) be a citizen, and b) have served your country in some meaningful way other than whining. We can only dream...
Fast Response
August 15, 2007 - 17:46 ET by allanfThese leftest make me feel so guilty. A few months ago I was lying in bed in a New York apartment when I detected someone on the fire escape at 2:30AM.
Not aware that only policeman can support the police I foolishly dialed 911. There first police were there within 90 seconds and a dozen within 3 minutes. They climbed all over the roof, fire escape and adjoining buildings.
Lucky for me that they never asked about my police service. For in the leftest calculus only soldiers can support the military and only policemen the police.
In my view someone who says "chicken hawk" is a "defeat worshipper"
I thought this line from the
August 15, 2007 - 17:57 ET by Del DolemonteI thought this line from the NYT article was interesting, for what it left out:
"All four sons of Joseph P. Kennedy served in the military, including his eldest, Joseph Jr., who was killed in World War II, and his second son, John F. Kennedy, who was wounded and later went on to become president."
What the NYT fails to mention is that Bobby Kennedy's "military career" was totally undistinguished-he enlisted in the Naval RESERVE in 1943, but was released from active duty until 1944. He then went to a Navy training program at Harvard, and the "highlight" of Bobby's
service was his being an apprentice seaman on the new ship named after his brother Joe. Said service consisted of being on the ship's shakedown cruise-to the Caribbean!-and he was discharged right after that.
As for Teddy, he "joined" the Army in the 1950s, but his rich Daddy stepped in and got him out after only 2 years.
And another thing ... In
August 15, 2007 - 18:16 ET by drillanwrAnd another thing ...
In Harm's Way ...
Let's see, the military is trained to think on its feet, go for days without proper food or sleep, shoot guns in order to kill people, kick down doors and break the ever-lovin' crap out of things, throw or fire explosives, fly jets armed to the teeth with things that go BANG-BOOM-BAM!!!, set and/or disarm explosives, drive big heavy tanks with a kick-ass gun on the front that blows things into a million pieces, sleep on the bare ground while stinging biting critters look for a soft and warm place to sleep for the night, to kill and to survive ...
So, exactly where the hell do people who use the phrase "Put our troops in harm's way" THINK the military will do the job they have been trained for? A friggin' preschool play ground??!!?
And they are NOT children. Yes, they will always be someone's children ... But they are adults. The United States government and military do not send in children ... The enemy does.
But if the enemy brings the battle here, our children WILL be fighting them.
the military is trained to
August 15, 2007 - 18:36 ET by BDthe military is trained to think on its feet, go for days without proper food or sleep, shoot guns in order to kill people, kick down doors and break the ever-lovin' crap out of things, throw or fire explosives, fly jets armed to the teeth with things that go BANG-BOOM-BAM!!!, set and/or disarm explosives, drive big heavy tanks with a kick-ass gun on the front that blows things into a million pieces, sleep on the bare ground while stinging biting critters look for a soft and warm place to sleep for the night, to kill and to survive ...
No wonder I rarely see liberals in the ranks.... They hate ALL OF THAT STUFF!
well said drill
August 15, 2007 - 18:39 ET by uncle_buck"
And they are NOT children. Yes, they will always be someone's children ... But they are adults. The United States government and military do not send in children ... The enemy does."
Well said Drill!!!
}}---> Romney's sons
August 16, 2007 - 08:39 ET by Cool ArrowDon't remember any such questions of Hill and Bill.
In light of America's fixation on appearance, do you think it was right to send Chelsea in for proboscis augmentation?
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Who Serves, Who Doesn't
August 16, 2007 - 15:48 ET by ConservativeRexWhen the Left starts questioning anything about the military you know the rats are up to no good.