MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Slams Mitt Romney for Collecting Storm Supplies

In Tuesday afternoon’s broadcast of Andrea Mitchell Reports, Mitchell accused Romney of surreptitious campaigning, and asked what are the true intentions of Governor Romney collecting storm supplies after a hurricane.  Along with Chris Cillizza, who writes The Washington Post’s The Fix blog, Andrea Mitchell nonsensically noted how donations are the most effective forms of assistance in situations like this because there is no packaging involved.  

Mitchell revealed herself, yet again, as a liberal hack, and someone who is absent minded when it comes to common sense.  There are 7.5 million people without power, and how dare Mitt Romney try to help those in need.

Additionally, Mitchell’s colleague, Martin Bashir, added to this anti-charity narrative on his show this afternoon with “Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Lehigh professor James Peterson [saying], Mayor Reed, so the Red Cross knows what it’s doing. Did he, did you detect perhaps a subtle dig there on Mr. Romney who spent today going against the guidelines established by the Red Cross and holding a campaign rally in Ohio that was dressed up like a charity drive collecting food and other supplies when the Red Cross expressly asked people not to do that?” 

NewsBusters colleague Noel Sheppard aptly said, “Imagine that. A presidential candidate who gives millions of dollars a year to charity does a storm relief event in Ohio, and an MSNBC anchor is disgusted by it because the Red Cross would prefer people donating cash.”

ANDREA MITCHELL:  And then you’ve got the image of Mitt Romney doing what they say isn’t a campaign event – in the same space that were going to hold a campaign event. They say they’re making collections for hurricane and storm relief Chris Cillizza first to you – we checked with the Red Cross.  The Red Cross said while they’re always grateful for donations – that this is not what they need or want.

That they always tell people please donate money because we have our own packagers – wholesalers – they have their own distribution system.

And to now get these canned good from the Romney event in Ohio – and have to first package it – used clothes they have to clean.  They can’t go directly to victims so what they need is donations of blood and donations of money.  It does seem like a thinly veiled – why Ohio? Why choose Ohio for (inaudible)...

CHRIS CILLIZZA: You know – right because the storm is kind of –

MITHCELL: Not in Ohio!

CILLIZZA: Not there.