Self-Service

Mitt Romney explains why his five able-bodied sons never served in the military.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday defended his five sons' decision not to enlist in the military, saying they're showing their support for the country by "helping me get elected."

Romney, who did not serve in Vietnam due to his Mormon missionary work and a high draft lottery number, was asked the question by an anti-war activist after a speech in which he called for "a surge of support" for U.S. forces in Iraq.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, also saluted a uniformed soldier in the crowd and called for donations to military support organizations. Last week, he donated $25,000 to seven such organizations.

"The good news is that we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it," Romney told some 200 people gathered in an abbey near the Mississippi River that had been converted into a hotel. "My sons are all adults and they've made decisions about their careers and they've chosen not to serve in the military and active duty and I respect their decision in that regard."

He added: "One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."

Romney noted that his middle son, 36-year-old Josh, was completing a recreational vehicle tour of all 99 Iowa counties on Wednesday and said, "I respect that and respect all those and the way they serve this great country."

I wonder how the families of the soldiers who are risking their lives for the sake of a presidential ego feel about such a self-serving, egotistical and flippant response. Let's find out.

The woman who asked the question, Rachel Griffiths, 41, of Milan, Ill., identified herself as a member of Quad City Progressive Action for the Common Good, as well as the sister of an Army major who had served in Iraq.

"Of course not," Griffiths said when asked if she was satisfied with Romney's answer. "He told me the way his son shows support for our military and our nation is to buy a Winnebago and ride across Iowa and help him get elected."

This just goes to show you that the Republicans are all too happy to serve their country...as long as they're serving their own interests.

Frankly, I don't have a problem with the five brothers not choosing to volunteer for the military. Mr. Romney is right; we have a volunteer army and whether or not these grown men chose other careers is their choice, the same as the men and women who do volunteer to join up. And I don't think the candidate's kids should be an issue in the campaign...unless they decide to become part of it, which in this case, the Romney boys clearly have. But when the father uses them as props for his own ego and his idea of the greater good is getting him elected, all bets are off.

If Mr. Romney had the political instincts to match his ambitions, he would have made sure that one -- maybe all -- of his sons volunteered for military duty so that he could show them off as part of his campaign. How could a Democrat run against a Republican with five soldiers in the family? He could have put one in each service -- Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard -- and they could have gone on the campaign trail with their dad like his own personal color guard. The photo ops would have been devastating. It would have been just as shallow and cynical as his present course, but at least he would have spared the 99 counties of Iowa from having to endure the Romney version of the Griswolds.

Update: The Romney campaign says the governor and his remarks were taken out of context. Here's a YouTube version and a transcript. You decide.