Obama vs Romney, who are you voting for and why?

[Ridgerunner]

I doubt that you’ll have to give an apologia to your grandkids for every election you’ve participated in. But, then, I don’t know how your family operates.

One does not always know what things have an impact on kids. A parent or grandparent has to consider the kids in everything he or she does. What good is it for me to orally tell my children or grandchildren (as I do) that you have to fight against evil inside yourself and outside yourself with everything that’s in you, when you have a chance, and then fail to oppose somebody like Obama when I have the ability to do it? What good would the words be if my actions don’t support them?

My grandchildren are very knowledgeable of the issues in this election, from the presidency on down to the county collector. And not just the older ones, either. They see things. They hear things. Kids at school express to other kids what they hear their parents or grandparents say.

It is fortunate that we still have a pretty significant right of free speech in this country. I recall reading a book by a man who was part of the Polish resistance to the communists. I remember him saying how scary it was seeing his children go to school and being filled with lies, and knowing there was a crucial point in time when the child would repeat something he was told at school and he, the parent, would be morally obligated, while there was hopefully still time, to say: “They’re all lies, son”, and explain why, knowing he was putting his freedom and perhaps his life at risk in doing so.

That really impressed me, and, knowing I have the freedom to do it unlike that much braver man, I do not lose opportunities to tell the truth to my grandchildren as I did with my children. It’s a great luxury and blessing, and I will not throw it away. There are moral absolutes in this election, and some children know it. If they don’t know it, they should.

Nor will I give up an opportunity to tell them how I intend to vote, how I voted, and why, not that they won’t ask, because they will.

My family operates much as others do. We do things together. Just a vignette that I enjoyed, but which others won’t find particularly interesting. Last weekend, I took my 10-year-old granddaughter out with me to get a “good” count on hay bales “because she does better at math than I did when I was her age, or do now”. (Really because her siblings had recently had more “out of the house” activities than she did.) During it, we had a very nice conversation about the values and actions of other kids; what was right, what was wrong, what was foolish, how the kids in the public school differ or dont’ differ from those in her Catholic school.

It was very nice. We did a lot of math together, too, and ate Snickers bars atop the bales when we were finished and talked about cattle and Indians. We didn’t have time to look for arrowheads, though. One of her brothers found a very nice one not long before, but her dinnertime was coming on and I needed to get her back. It was not difficult to get her to promise secrecy about the Snickers bar, lest her mother get distressed about such dietary foolhardiness so close to dinnertime.

Sorry for meandering so, but you did open the topic, after all.

 

[Lapey]

I’m not for abortion at all and if I thought Romney could overturn Roe v Wade I would vote for him. But does abortion have to be the only issue? A non-Christian who basically stated that he despises the poor doesn’t seem to be a very good choice for president. But then Obama isn’t perfect either! Whew! Everyone here brings up great points for voting for Romney AND for voting for Obama. Scary times for America. If I were a begger on the side of the road with a tin cup in my hand I wonder which man would help me?

Please advise as to where anyone, much less Romney/Ryan have said they despise the poor? This is not true.

What percentage of people will vote for Obama no matter what, probably close to the 47% Romney referred to? What percentages of people do not pay Federal income taxes, about 47%? This is who Romney was referring to, and many of the people who fit that bill despise him, he does not despise them. This is what he was saying.

Check the charitable contributions of these four men, Romney by far gave more to charity, i.e. the poor, than all the rest together; and didn’t claim most of it on taxes. I am embarrassed to see Joe Biden gave less than I di last year; he makes quite a bit more than I do.

Look at their actions, not their words or the words the liberal media tell you about them.

 

[Jessup]

You can ask that of just about anyone.

IMO, Mormonism and Scientology to not equal Christianity. So I find it really strange that evangelicals are so quick to “hold their nose”, look the other way and back Romney.

It’s a dealbreaker for me. Although I am an Obama supporter, if I were not - I still could not support Romney because of his religion. America needs a President, not a prophet.

Thats the same thing they said about JFK for being Catholic.

 

[kookieduck]

He said he despises the poor? Link please.
If he despises the poor so much, how come he gave $4mil to charity in 2011 alone?
Mitt Romney, because there will be less beggars on the side of the road. They will be working.

Well, I’m talking about his remarks about the ‘47%’ of course. It’s been quoted in the news, in blogs and in newspapers all over. As one person put it, it was the rich getting together and complaining about the help. But not every charity is for the poor. Maybe he gave it to the Humane Society - a worthy charity but doesn’t help the poor much except for low cost spaying and rabies shots. Also, not every beggar is ABLE to work! I remember once I went to a poor country south of us as a child and was shocked to see people with no limbs, blind, etc. begging on the roadside. As an American I had never seen that! Of course now we have lots of homeless. But I think you can judge a country by the way they treat the least among them. If every person on goverment assistance were to suddenly be forced in the workplace how do you think they would fare? Could they even afford clothes to interview in? To work every day in an office? There is more to it than ‘get a job loser’.

 

[kookieduck]

Please advise as to where anyone, much less Romney/Ryan have said they despise the poor? This is not true.

What percentage of people will vote for Obama no matter what, probably close to the 47% Romney referred to? What percentages of people do not pay Federal income taxes, about 47%? This is who Romney was referring to, and many of the people who fit that bill despise him, he does not despise them. This is what he was saying.

Check the charitable contributions of these four men, Romney by far gave more to charity, i.e. the poor, than all the rest together; and didn’t claim most of it on taxes. I am embarrassed to see Joe Biden gave less than I di last year; he makes quite a bit more than I do.

Look at their actions, not their words or the words the liberal media tell you about them.

The remarks I saw and heard Romney make myself on a video were insulting to those not fortunate to be able to afford a car elevator in their home. Also, I have been reading about Romney firing many, many people to make himself and stockholders money. I am looking at his actions. But I don’t want to start a flame war. I was replying to the part of the thread who are you voting for and why. This is part of my why - not a judgement on those who are voting for Romney. He may be an excellent man - just not one I want for President. At least not right now - who knows what may happen between now and election day?

 

[Jeanne_S]

If you are inclined to vote for Obama, and feel it is best to vote 3rd party…I AGREE with you . Please vote 3rd party!!!

I second that!

 

[Al_Moritz]

Romney probably doesn’t know about the poor and less fortunate:

dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6FE16D24-61BC-42CF-85CB-1FE387D83C0A

 

[sedonaman]

Laura Ingraham made a comment a while back…If Romney can’t beat Obama in this economy,then The Republican Party needs to shut down and reorganize…get back to their true conservative roots…Food for thought.

I agree. But the Republican party is through if Romney loses. Getting back to conservative roots is fighting this war with last war’s tactics.

Not long ago, the high price of gasoline alone was enough to get an incumbent booted off the ticket by his own party. Nixon got the ax over a lot less than what obama has done. Given the current state of affairs, obama’s ratings should historically be in the tank, somewhere in the 20-30% range, basically his die-hard base. The fact that they aren’t and obama is ahead indicate there has obviously been a big shift in how the people decide their vote. It is clear that issues no longer matter because when pollsters ask likely voters about them, obama comes in second.

So what gives?

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I agree. But the Republican party is through if Romney loses. Getting back to conservative roots is fighting this war with last war’s tactics.

Not long ago, the high price of gasoline alone was enough to get an incumbent booted off the ticket by his own party. Nixon got the ax over a lot less than what obama has done. Given the current state of affairs, obama’s ratings should historically be in the tank, somewhere in the 20-30% range, basically his die-hard base. The fact that they aren’t and obama is ahead indicate there has obviously been a big shift in how the people decide their vote. It is clear that issues no longer matter because when pollsters ask likely voters about them, obama comes in second.

So what gives?

Nixon won re-election.

 

[sedonaman]

Nixon won re-election.

That was before the salient facts of Watergate came out.

 

[Tampa_Dave]

Romney probably doesn’t know about the poor and less fortunate:

dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6FE16D24-61BC-42CF-85CB-1FE387D83C0A

A left-wing organization [Politico] featuring a story written by a left-wing author [Jennifer Granholm] about a Republican candidate. I find the story lacks merit. Obama went to a prestigious prep school and received outside funding to attend Ivy League schools. He cavorts with the wealthy and famous today. Romney donates millions to charity annually, while Obama donates a few thousand each year. Obama only cares about the votes of the poor since he certainly does very little to assist them by way of his own personal financial contributions.

 

[marci]

I agree. But the Republican party is through if Romney loses. Getting back to conservative roots is fighting this war with last war’s tactics.

Not long ago, the high price of gasoline alone was enough to get an incumbent booted off the ticket by his own party. Nixon got the ax over a lot less than what obama has done. Given the current state of affairs, obama’s ratings should historically be in the tank, somewhere in the 20-30% range, basically his die-hard base. The fact that they aren’t and obama is ahead indicate there has obviously been a big shift in how the people decide their vote. It is clear that issues no longer matter because when pollsters ask likely voters about them, obama comes in second.

So what gives?

I think we’ve finally reached the tipping point where the takers are equal in numbers to the makers. If you rely on the government for your living and don’t pay taxes, then you want the government to increase in size and strength so as to keep the checks rolling in. It’s just a numbers game now and it’s only going to get worse.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Well, I’m talking about his remarks about the ‘47%’ of course. It’s been quoted in the news, in blogs and in newspapers all over.

I did not hear Romney say he despised the poor. Never.

As one person put it, it was the rich getting together and complaining about the help. But not every charity is for the poor. Maybe he gave it to the Humane Society - a worthy charity but doesn’t help the poor much except for low cost spaying and rabies shots. Also, not every beggar is ABLE to work! I remember once I went to a poor country south of us as a child and was shocked to see people with no limbs, blind, etc. begging on the roadside. As an American I had never seen that! Of course now we have lots of homeless. But I think you can judge a country by the way they treat the least among them.

like killing the unborn in the womb?

If every person on goverment assistance were to suddenly be forced in the workplace how do you think they would fare? Could they even afford clothes to interview in? To work every day in an office? There is more to it than ‘get a job loser’.

You are making a lot of assumptions here. We pro-Romney people care about the poor. We actually get our hands dirty doing it. We don’t expect the government to do it for us.

The job of government is not to help the poor, that is the job of the people in the Church. I know many churches, Catholic and Protestant that offer the poor a place to shower, get bus tickets, feed them, provide them shelter. They believe in giving the poor a hands up, not a ticket into dependence.

The place where I volunteer, Our Lady’s Inn, is home to homeless mothers and pregnant women. They are taught life skills, caring for children, nutrition, quit-smoking programs. The moms are expected to follow a code of conduct. They can stay there as long as they need to. Many of them are working. We give housewarming gifts to those who finally get homes of their own.

There is no way the government could personally change a person’s heart the way another human can.

Donate a can of good beef stew to your St. Vincent de Paul Society every week. They do more for the disenfranchised than an anonymous check.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Romney probably doesn’t know about the poor and less fortunate:

dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6FE16D24-61BC-42CF-85CB-1FE387D83C0A

You know, Romney’s done a lot of good. Why do you have to bring up some remark made over a decade ago?

Mitt Romney Saved Kidnapped Girl
For those of you who are questioning Romney’s character, this is a true story as reported on Newsmax.com:

Mitt Romney was faced with a crisis in July 1996. The 14-year-old daughter of Robert Gay, a partner in Romney’s new venture capital firm, Bain Capital, had disappeared. As it turned out, she had attended a rave party in New York City and had become high on ecstasy. Three days later, her distraught father had no idea where she was.

Romney took immediate action. He closed down the entire firm and asked all 30 partners and employees to fly to New York to try to find Gay’s daughter.

Romney set up a command center in a conference room at the LaGuardia Marriott just outside Manhattan. He hired a private detective firm to assist with the search and established a toll-free number for tips, coordinating the effort with the New York City Police Department, but he still wasn’t satisfied. He raced through his Rolodex and called everyone Bain did business with in New York. He asked them to help his company find their friend’s missing daughter.

The company’s accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and its law firm, put up posters on street poles with a photo of the missing teenager. Cashiers at Duane Reade Pharmacies, which was owned by Bain Capital, put fliers in the bag of each shopper.

Romney and others from the Bain Capital posse trudged through every part of New York, even scouring Central Park, and talked with everyone they could - prostitutes, drug addicts - anyone who may have seen her. They also made rounds at the local nightclubs at 3 a.m., hoping someone somewhere could identify her.
The same day the Romney team came to New York, the hunt made the evening news. Television cameras showed photos of the girl and video of investment banker types prowling through Central Park.

The next day, a teenage boy she was with phoned in. He asked if there was a reward. But the boy got nervous and quickly hung up. Luckily, the police traced the call to a home in Montville Township, N.J.
Gay’s daughter, when they found her in the basement of that home, was shivering through detox after a massive dose of ecstasy. Doctors later told Gay that he was indeed fortunate - his daughter probably would not have lasted another day.

“It was the most amazing thing, and I’ll never forget this to the day I die,” Gay says, adding of Romney’s intervention, “I’m not sure we would have gotten her back without him.”

It is often during a crisis that we gain insight into a person’s real character. Romney’s action demonstrated leadership, loyalty, and selflessness - attributes that Americans just might like to see in a president of the United States.

 

[Al_Moritz]

A left-wing organization [Politico] featuring a story written by a left-wing author [Jennifer Granholm] about a Republican candidate. I find the story lacks merit. Obama went to a prestigious prep school and received outside funding to attend Ivy League schools. He cavorts with the wealthy and famous today. Romney donates millions to charity annually, while Obama donates a few thousand each year. Obama only cares about the votes of the poor since he certainly does very little to assist them by way of his own personal financial contributions.

Once more you seem to have paid more attention to the source than what it actually says, which is reasonable and plausible. Jusrt like Romney lives in a wealth bubble removed from the life of ordinary Americans, you live in a Republican right-wing bubble parallel to reality. You will wake up to actual reality come election day, when Romney is defeated. I’m looking forward to that. Romney’s defeat will likely happen barring a major calamity such as total collapse of the Eurozone or an Israel attack on Iran before November.

 

[Tampa_Dave]

You know, Romney’s done a lot of good. Why do you have to bring up some remark made over a decade ago?

Are you surprised? They overlook his donations in the millions of dollars to charitable organizations. Obama gives a few thousand to charities every year, Biden even less.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Once more you seem to have paid more attention to the source than what it actually says, which is reasonable and plausible. You live in a Republican right-wing bubble parallel to reality. You will wake up to actual reality come election day, when Romney is defeated. I’m looking forward to that. Romney’s defeat will likely happen barring a major calamity such as total collapse of the Eurozone or an Israel attack on Iran before November.

So that more babies can continue to die?

 

[kookieduck]

Romney probably doesn’t know about the poor and less fortunate:

dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6FE16D24-61BC-42CF-85CB-1FE387D83C0A

Thank you for that link!

 

[qui_est_ce]

CBS News) When Mitt Romney took over the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, he refused a salary for the job. He didn’t take a salary as governor of Massachusetts, either.

When CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley pointed the pattern out in an interview with Romney and his wife, Ann Romney, she laughed, “Oh, I know where you’re going with this one.”

The former governor and GOP presidential nominee wouldn’t say whether he would accept the roughly $400,000 a year salary that comes with the White House if he wins in November, saying only, “I have no announcement. … We’ll see what the future holds.”

But the Romneys stressed in the interview that they have long been involved in charity and service, particularly through the Mormon church, where Mitt Romney served as a bishop – the leader of a local congregation similar to a pastor, priest, or rabbi.

The Romneys have said they give 10 percent of their money to the church and are committed to giving 10 percent of their time to service – although that may change if Mitt Romney becomes president.

**“Ten percent of my time is donated to things of – of a community nature, **a national nature, church nature. The church required that kind of time of me, when I had a responsibility as the pastor of a congregation,” Mitt Romney said,

 

[BroomWagon]

Romney probably doesn’t know about the poor and less fortunate:

dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6FE16D24-61BC-42CF-85CB-1FE387D83C0A

Yes, that’s why Romney gave $ 4 million to charity on the latest released tax return.

Also, for all the do-gooders who want the government to do charity, over taxation could be called stealing as well. We know that’s against divine law.

St. Vincent de Paul to Mother Teresa, charity is best done by the religious.

I went to Catholic Schools as many here have, they had to run things on a tight budget, some public schools do to but it’s clear which many consider to be better at educating.