Apparently, Mitt Romney has the ability to see things that never actually happened:
In a major speech on faith and politics earlier this month in Texas, Mitt Romney said: “I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.”
He made a similar statement Sunday during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He said, “You can see what I believed and what my family believed by looking at our lives. My dad marched with Martin Luther King. My mom was a tireless crusader for civil rights.”
Romney’s campaign cited various historical articles, as well as a 1967 book written by Stephen Hess and Washington Post political columnist David Broder, as confirmation that George Romney marched with King in Grosse Pointe in 1963.
“He has marched with Martin Luther King through the exclusive Grosse Pointe suburb,” Hess and Broder wrote in “The Republican Establishment: The Present and Future of the GOP.”
Free Press archives, however, showed no record of King marching in Grosse Pointe in 1963 or of then-Gov. Romney taking part in King’s historic march down Woodward Avenue in June of that year.
George Romney told the Free Press at the time that he didn’t take part because it was on a Sunday and he avoided public appearances on the Sabbath because of his religion.
Romney did participate in a civil rights march protesting housing bias in Grosse Pointe just six days after the King march. According to the Free Press account, however, King was not there.
So, how, exactly, does Romney explain the fact that he said he remembers seeing his father march with Dr. King ?
On Wednesday, Romney’s campaign said his recollections of watching his father, an ardent civil rights supporter, march with King were meant to be figurative.
“He was speaking figuratively, not literally,” Eric Fehrnstrom, spokesman for the Romney campaign, said of the candidate.
“Speaking figuratively, not literally” is, apparently, the phrase politicians use in this situation. Normal Americans typically use the phrase “making shit up.”
December 20th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
At first I thought perhaps it was one of the powers gained from his magic underwear.
December 21st, 2007 at 1:11 am
George Romney DID march with MLK:
Detroit Free Press: “With Gov. Romney a surprise arrival and marching in the front row, more than 500 Negroes and whites staged a peaceful antidiscrimination parade up Grosse Pointe’s Kercheval Avenue Saturday. … ‘the elimination of human inequalities and injustices is our urgent and critical domestic problem,’ the governor said. … [Detroit NAACP President Edward M.] Turner told reporters, ‘I think it is very significant that Governor Romney is here. We are very surprised.’ Romney said, ‘If they want me to lead the parade, I’ll be glad to.’” (”Romney Joins Protest March Of 500 In Grosse Pointe,” Detroit Free Press, 6/29/63)
December 21st, 2007 at 1:11 am
I’m sure Mitt will accept your apology
December 21st, 2007 at 7:10 am
GWS,
Yes, George Romney marched in Grosse Pointe on June 29th, 1963.
The thing is, Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn’t there.
Except in Mitt’s mind, that is.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:54 am
Every time Republicans pander in a futile attempt to get Black votes, they lose. Invoking the name of Marchin’ Looten’ King has probably killed Romney’s chances in the South and his shot at President. When you couple Mitt’s recent “dissing” of the Confederate flag, Confederate veterans and all those who honor Confederate heritage, Romney has destroyed any chance of becoming President.
I am supporting Ron Paul because Ron Paul will be fair to all citizens. His record is clear and he doesn’t need to make things up to pander to various voter segments. You can read about it for yourself at http://www.ronpaul2008.com
December 29th, 2007 at 12:21 am
For those of you who never got past “See Dick Run” on the English usage depth chart, it is particularly common when referring to a formative historical event in this way. For example, “I SAW my best friend sink into depression after the death of his brother” or “I SAW the rise of the Soviet Union after the war.” The meaning being I witnessed and was particularly cognizant of and was affected by a set of events in my past.
With Martin Luther King conducting civil rights marches across the U. S. and George Romney also joining in, it is perfectly legitimate to say “I saw my father march with Martin Luther King”, speaking in that figurative sense.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I agree with Texan. The passion and energy which George Romney alone brought to the movement of civil rights earns the credence given him by his son Mitt. Anything less is small minded people stumbling over trivia to avoid acknowledging the elephant in the living room.
Mitt Romney can proudly stand on the foundation laid by his father, and then some. We fully support his candidacy no matter what the naysayers dish out. We would be honored to have a man of his caliber and integrity represent us as President of the United States. — Dr. & Mrs. Chartand