# Romney fakes a charity event **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 1, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509 "2012-11-01T01:36:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/1 "2012-11-01T01:36:08Z")
Reported on Maddow: So Mitt holds a rally that he says is for the victims of the storm. A photo-op ensues in which Mitt is seen smiling benevolently as people hand him bags of food for the Red Cross (who doesn’t accept these types of donations). Nice, right? Problem is, his volunteers went out to a Walmart last night with $5,000 and purchased food, diapers, etc. Then, when people came to the thinly disguised rally, they were told they needed to take a bag of food from the pile before they could get in line. Then they were photographed giving it to Mitt. The message is: Look what giving Mitt Romney inspires in the common man. The real message is: Look how cynical a politician can become when he’s desperate. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/2 "2012-11-01T01:45:15Z")
I can only point and laugh. What else can you do? The sad thing is, you can be sure that some will come and defend him 1. he gave so much to charity - what’s wrong with that? 2. He’s trying to inspire people - you don’t care about others do you? 3. It’s a liberal plot to make him look bad 4. He’s still donating more than Obama is ---
**Author:** ![getitrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@getitrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/getitrite)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/3 "2012-11-01T01:58:34Z")
This is a good light to understand a BMW car sales man in. This is the hook to get you to stop and look. My question would be why isn’t he getting his church, with their warehouse of supplies to allow him to pack a truck for the East coast, don’t the mormons live there too. Still cant understand all the photo opping going on, but I believe that Christi with Obama is stronger than any fake Romney op. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/4 "2012-11-01T02:05:07Z")
Speaking of fake charity, why isn’t Trump offering his $5M to this effort instead of bloviating about college transcripts? ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/5 "2012-11-01T02:10:47Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Speaking of fake charity, why isn’t Trump offering his $5M to this effort instead of bloviating about college transcripts? I heard he reiterated the deal after the storm, but still under the condition that Obama releases his records. More important than actual people that are suffering I guess … ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/6 "2012-11-01T02:22:10Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Speaking of fake charity, why isn’t Trump offering his $5M to this effort instead of bloviating about college transcripts? Because Trump is a fucking asshole. His own borough is in shambles and all he can do is make stupid partisan political remarks. He manages to make Christie look damned good for once. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/7 "2012-11-01T02:26:49Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Reported on Maddow: So Mitt holds a rally that he says is for the victims of the storm. A photo-op ensues in which Mitt is seen smiling benevolently as people hand him bags of food for the Red Cross (who doesn’t accept these types of donations). Nice, right? Problem is, his volunteers went out to a Walmart last night with $5,000 and purchased food, diapers, etc. Then, when people came to the thinly disguised rally, they were told they needed to take a bag of food from the pile before they could get in line. Then they were photographed giving it to Mitt. The message is: Look what giving Mitt Romney inspires in the common man. The real message is: Look how cynical a politician can become when he’s desperate. This is unbelievable. Did they really think they could keep this a secret. And to think, he might be the next president. Good grief. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/8 "2012-11-01T02:30:07Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > This is unbelievable. Did they really think they could keep this a secret. And to think, he might be the next president. Good grief. What are the odds that this will be reported on Fox news? Or if it is reported, how much do you want to bet it will be reported as “Obama criticises Romney for trying to help” (or something similar) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/9 "2012-11-01T02:30:39Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Did they really think they could keep this a secret. For a week, anyway; that’s all they need. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/10 "2012-11-01T02:47:04Z")
Between this and the enormous lies being told about the auto industry and Jeep moving to China, perhaps the light is dawning in some circles. Also the big flip-flop on FEMA. At least I hope so. ---
**Author:** ![vaultermn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/4bbf92/32.png) [@vaultermn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vaultermn)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/11 "2012-11-01T03:09:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Reported on Maddow: So Mitt holds a rally that he says is for the victims of the storm. A photo-op ensues in which Mitt is seen smiling benevolently as people hand him bags of food for the Red Cross (who doesn’t accept these types of donations). Nice, right? Problem is, his volunteers went out to a Walmart last night with $5,000 and purchased food, diapers, etc. Then, when people came to the thinly disguised rally, they were told they needed to take a bag of food from the pile before they could get in line. Then they were photographed giving it to Mitt. The message is: Look what giving Mitt Romney inspires in the common man. The real message is: Look how cynical a politician can become when he’s desperate. I think you have your facts mixed up. The food was not for the Red Cross. He was soliciting cash donations for the Red Cross via the large TV screens. > [@](#): > > Two large TV screens at the front of the venue bore the logo of the American Red Cross and the message: “Sandy: Support the Relief Effort. Text ’REDCROSS’ to 90999 to make a $10 donation.” The campaign itself was taking care of distributing and moving the foodstuffs: > [@](#): > > “We’re going to box these things up in just a minute and put them on some trucks, and then we’re going to send them into, I think it’s New Jersey. There’s a site we’ve identified where we can take these goods and distribute them to people who need them,” he said. [Cite](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/10/30/mixed-messages-at-romney-storm-relief-event-in-ohio/) About the worst you can say, is that Romney donated $5000 to help people. How much has Obama donated out of his campaign? ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/12 "2012-11-01T03:11:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Speaking of fake charity, why isn’t Trump offering his $5M to this effort instead of bloviating about college transcripts? I’m sure Trump Properties is polishing off a big’ol straw and getting ready to take a big’ol drought from that government trough when funds for damages become available. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/13 "2012-11-01T03:27:20Z")
> [@vaultermn](#): > > I think you have your facts mixed up. The food was not for the Red Cross. He was soliciting cash donations for the Red Cross via the large TV screens. > > The campaign itself was taking care of distributing and moving the foodstuffs: > > [Cite](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/10/30/mixed-messages-at-romney-storm-relief-event-in-ohio/) > > About the worst you can say, is that Romney donated $5000 to help people. How much has Obama donated out of his campaign? From your link.. > [@](#): > > He joked that the canned goods and other donations were a “cover charge” for supporters to hear the band’s performance. And then he hopped down from the trunk and, while the band played, he and Portman helped to put items in bags. hmmm…donations from whom? He is implying that they were from the attendees when he actually bought them from campaign funds and > [@](#): > > The stop was billed as a “storm relief” event, and attendees were asked to bring non-perishable foods and other items for those affected by the storm. Long white tables to one side of the cavernous James S. Trent Arena were piled high with flashlights, batteries, diapers, toothbrushes, mini-deodorants, fleece blankets, cereal, toilet paper and canned goods. Again asked to bring - but the table was full of stuff his staff bought… So pretty dishonest and political theatre wouldn’t you say? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/14 "2012-11-01T04:00:36Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Reported on Maddow: So Mitt holds a rally that he says is for the victims of the storm. A photo-op ensues in which Mitt is seen smiling benevolently as people hand him bags of food for the Red Cross (who doesn’t accept these types of donations). Nice, right? Problem is, his volunteers went out to a Walmart last night with $5,000 and purchased food, diapers, etc. Then, when people came to the thinly disguised rally, they were told they needed to take a bag of food from the pile before they could get in line. Then they were photographed giving it to Mitt. The message is: Look what giving Mitt Romney inspires in the common man. The real message is: Look how cynical a politician can become **when he’s desperate**. Haven’t been keeping up with the polls, have you? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/15 "2012-11-01T04:04:36Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > What are the odds that this will be reported on Fox news? > > Or if it is reported, how much do you want to bet it will be reported as > “Obama criticises Romney for trying to help” (or something similar) I’d like to see it reported by any news. This may well be true, but RM is an agenda driven commentator, not a legit news reporter, and I wouldn’t trust her any more than I’d trust Bill O’Reilly to not slant the story by editing out certain facts. I’ll believe this when I see it reported in the NYT or the WaPo. If I had to guess, I’d say that Romney staged this rally asking people to bring supplies in order to get in and that his staff bought a bunch of supplies to make sure anyone showing up empty handed had a way to get in. If that’s the case, then I don’t really see a problem. But again, I’ll wait until we see the fact laid out by a legit news source. It also doesn’t surprise me that most people here are accepting this story at face value, even though the OP offers no link and no quote for his source. We’re all just supposed to believe that his summary is accurate? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/16 "2012-11-01T04:04:55Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Haven’t been keeping up with the polls, have you? Look at the sidebar: [http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/17 "2012-11-01T04:05:47Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Haven’t been keeping up with the polls, have you? Obama leading in the swing states would make Romney a bit nervous I would think. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/18 "2012-11-01T04:35:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Reported on Maddow: So Mitt holds a rally that he says is for the victims of the storm. A photo-op ensues in which Mitt is seen smiling benevolently as people hand him bags of food for the Red Cross (who doesn’t accept these types of donations). Nice, right? Problem is, his volunteers went out to a Walmart last night with $5,000 and purchased food, diapers, etc. Then, when people came to the thinly disguised rally, they were told they needed to take a bag of food from the pile before they could get in line. Then they were photographed giving it to Mitt. The message is: Look what giving Mitt Romney inspires in the common man. The real message is: Look how cynical a politician can become when he’s desperate. > [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > This is unbelievable. Did they really think they could keep this a secret. Well, who the hell was supposed to TELL anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/19 "2012-11-01T04:50:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’d like to see it reported by any news. This may well be true, but RM is an agenda driven commentator, not a legit news reporter, and I wouldn’t trust her any more than I’d trust Bill O’Reilly to not slant the story by editing out certain facts. That’s not a bad prior. But John Mace is ignoring the possibility that someone can be both opinionated and fair. Media Matters for America has documented that Bill O’Reilly routinely makes shit up. Has the same been established for Rachel Maddow? Not to my knowledge, though I wouldn’t rule it out. I can say that I don’t trust Michael Moore, but that’s not because he is opinionated, but rather because his entertaining film _Roger and Me_ contained some misleading presentation. To take another example, plenty of conservative posters here are opinionated. I trust some of their reporting to varying extents and distrust others- but again this is based upon _track records_ not whether I tend to agree with them. ETA: There is a factual element here. The Red Cross really doesn’t like in-kind contributions and Mitt is not being helpful when he implies otherwise. Not a good role model: not Presidential. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509/20 "2012-11-01T04:53:26Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > . > > It also doesn’t surprise me that most people here are accepting this story at face value, even though the OP offers no link and no quote for his source. We’re all just supposed to believe that his summary is accurate? I’d believe anything bad about Romney. The SOB Lies every day. He put his dog on the car roof for gods sake. A soulless etch-a-sketch. May he rot for eternity in Morman Hell. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-fakes-a-charity-event/639509.md?page=2)