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Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will be the first candidate to campaign in hurricane-stricken Virginia with a rally on Thursday in the Richmond area.
The Virginia Republican Party released an invitation Tuesday morning to a Romney event in Doswell, Va. later this week, the GOP candidate's first trip to the state since preceding Hurricane Sandy.
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walks off of his campaign bus at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Oct. 29, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio.
The afternoon event was promoted by the Virginia GOP as a makeup for the rallies in Virginia the Romney campaign had scheduled for last Sunday. The Republican's campaign canceled those events so as to not distract resources from preparing for the hurricane, and subsequent relief efforts.
Recommended: Storm aftermath not likely to delay election
Northern Virginia — one of the state's population centers and a firm chunk of battleground territory — was more heavily affected by the storm; power outages and storm damages are thought to be less severe in central and southern Virginia, which includes Richmond and was not as severely struck by the hurricane. Moreover, Romney called Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) on Monday to consult about emergency preparedness.
MSNBC Political analyst and former RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Former Democratic Senator from Arkansas Blanche Lincoln and USA Today's Susan Page talk about where President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are Tuesday and how Hurricane Sandy could impact the last week before the election.
But the decision to return to Virginia for the first time carries a degree of sensitivity. President Barack Obama was set to resume campaigning later this week, though his schedule doesn't call for any stops in states most acutely affected by Sandy, including the battleground states of Virginia, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.
But with the election just a week away, it's not clear that Romney could afford to stay out of Virginia much longer. His last visit to the state was on Oct. 17, for a rally in Leesburg.
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I wonder how the East Coast states feel about the GOP plan to scrap FEMA?
Why doesn't the media ask Mitt about FEMA?
Romney no longer answers any questions. Finally showing a back-bone on something other his 1040's.
Obama 2012
I'm sure he'll be carrying his bottle of "artificial tears".....you know Romney claims he can work across the aisle. Just heard today, that he voted Democratic legislation over 800 times when he was governor....and that's working with the other side???
Why in the world would ANY Republican or Tea Party nutjob think that Democrats in Congress would work across the aisle with Romney?
Here's a prediction: If Romney is elected, Congressional Democrats will gather on the night of his Inaugural Ball and vow to make him a one-term President by blocking each and every initiative coming out of the White House.
Payback's a bitch, Righties.
Romney today is refusing to address his past comments regarding the dissolution of FEMA....dodging the question each and every time it's asked.
Doesn't want to kiss Florida and Virginia goodbye, I imagine.
Romney is in Ohio rallying to about 1,200 people saying please donate to help victims of Sandy and right after that he says don't forget to vote for me so that I can be your president this November. Priceless. I thought the rally was for the victims, but it was really a political rally. What a jerk. People actually died from Hurricane Sandy and he camoflages a presidential rally as a relief rally.
Why not send Ryan instead of Romney? The little flake could roll up his sleeves, put on an apron, and grab a chain saw to cut up downed tree limbs. What a photo-op! I'd imagine the people of Virginia will be a bit sensitive to anyone trying to gain political ground at the expense of their misfortune. But with Romney, if things do not go well on his Virginia visit, he can simply deny that he was ever there. He flip-flops on everything else ~ why not this?
Soooooo many lies, sooooooo little time! Right, Mitt?
I can hardly wait for Mitt to hit Virginia and help pick up a broken tree limb. Another one of those Ryan soup kitchen moments.
I wonder if Romney will claim that the fallen trees in Virginia are "...just the right height."
What a bastard Romney is,...to be focused on his underhanded campaign,...as the people are reeling from the damage inflicted by hurricane Sandy.
How callous of Romney to hold a "relief rally" in Ohio at this time !! OMG. Just think of that, so UNGODLY self-serving . He must think they are pret-ty gullible to not be able to see right through that. SHAMEFUL !!
BTW,...Mitt Romney wants to eliminate FEMA !! How ironic is this turn of events ?
Everyone should understand that Romney's finishing strategy is to simply bombard the media and everyone's senses with ads,...ads,...ads that speak negatively about the president. Romney's messages do not ring true and are just CONSERVATIVE PROPAGANDA. It has been their goal to oppose everything about Obama's administration since day one of his administration - unconditionally. It's all a power play on behalf of their wealthy corporate masters.
Obama has accomplished a lot given the circumstances he was handed due to years of failed conservative policies. OBAMA NEEDS AND DESERVES ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.
A time like this is the PERFECT example of why we need to continue to think of ourselves as a COUNTRY OF PEOPLE not simply investors and competing business interests.
NOW we may again see clearly what it means to be,..and to have,...and to NEED a neighbor.
It will be awkward to watch Mitt Romney try to feign conservative compassion for the citizens he plans to kick to the curb and abandon with his corporate welfare policies.
There IS a need for the guiding hand of government. There IS a need for taxes. There IS a need for social programs. There IS a reason to watch each other's back.
I don't know if it is God,...or just fate,...but THIS hurricane happened at THIS time before THIS election for a reason.
Our leaders' job is now to unite the people of the region to try to recover from this catastrophe. Should we think of this use of tax money as redistribution of wealth ? Where is the return for our investors ? Now that we are "all in it together",...we will all be in it together.
BUT as the GOP has seen the perfect financial storm gathering over the past generatrion all they can think of is how to distance themselves from those who are struggling. More tax breaks and bonuses and huge salaries and vacation home for ME,....and more pink slips and stagnant wages and less benefits for YOU.
BASTARDS >>>and that is to say they act like they have no country,...or no father,...or no family. The new right is uniquely un-American.
This is a country of "We the people".
If you care about your neighbor,....if you care about the majority of US citizens,....if you care for the America that was before this era of unprecedented greed and self-interest,...vote Obama/Biden on Tuesday, November 6th 2012.
Please, please, please,...come out to the polls and vote.
Say no to Ayn Rand's "ethical egoism and pure self-interest",.....and come back to American values, family values and "ethical altruism".
This is the wealthiest country in the world.
There IS enough for us to help our neighbors in need.
Let's support our fellow American citizens as they recover from hurricane Sandy.
God bless America,...God bless the PEOPLE of America.
Vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden on Tuesday November 6th 2012
I'm doing what I can for the Republican Leaders, Fox News, Limbaugh and republican voters. When they hollered out during the GOP race: "WE HATE ROMNEY THE MODERATE!! ANYONE BUT ROMNEY!!" In support of them and realizing they can't say the following words now, I will help them. (Stuff it Koch Brothers, that went against us and funded the one we hate!!! Buying out the one's we were sincere on supporting.)We won't allow you Koch Brothers to own America with your multi-billionaire evil game!!!!
President Obama--2012
So you have no problem with thousands of coal miners, oil field workers, being put out of work.
We do not need people that are against AMERICAN companies.
From what I've read. Romney made his multi-millions by out-sourcing our American companies while he was at Bain. Romney is known as one of the pioneers of out-sourcing out American Companies. The facts are on the internet. We also have more coal miners working now and all Obama wants is new technology of the coal industry. Personally, I go by facts.
President Obama--2012
Good point, Kevin, we really DON'T need Romney.
deb
Name one company that Romney out sourced. Since you have read all about Romney and out sourcing jobs,it should be an easy thing to do.
deb
Maybe you should read this NY Times article about the coal miners in Virgina.
Here is a snipit.
When Jay Swiney emerges from the night shift in the coal mines to assume his duties as mayor of Appalachia, Va., it is hard for him to miss the partisan forces rocking the heavily unionized Democratic hamlets in the mountains along the Tennessee border.
Billboards proclaim “America or Obama — You Can’t Have Them Both!” and “Yes, Coal; No-bama.” Out-of-work miners are sporting baseball caps that say “Coal=Jobs” and T-shirts with the sarcastic message: “Make Coal Legal.” Yard signs and TV ads for Mitt Romney are everywhere.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/27/us/politics/romney-seeks-virginia-coal-country-edge.html?pagewanted=all
We can start with India, with his company responsible of helping out source american jobs on call centers companies. Making millions for his pocket. You have a internet, use it.
deb
Are you talking about the Call Center in India thing when Romney was Governor? If so maybe you should read this.
But it was enough of a hot button that 38 states were considering similar bans on contracting with companies that outsourced, the Globe wrote. Romney, then, was forced to weigh two competing interests: protecting jobs in his state vs. saving taxpayers money. The Globe pointed out that lawmakers in Kansas considered a similar measure but pulled the plug when they learned it would cost the state an additional $640,000. Massachusetts’ proposal was favored by labor unions but opposed by some economists who said it didn’t make economic sense for taxpayers to pay more for low-skill jobs.
Ultimately, Romney vetoed the measure because he said that even if those jobs were back in the United States, they would not necessarily have been in Massachusetts.
He said,"There's no question we are affected by outsourcing, as is every other state. Any job that leaves is a big loss, and you want to fight to keep every job in the Commonwealth. The legislation I vetoed was not designed to do anything for Massachusetts employers. It might help ‘call center’ states, but it didn't necessarily protect a single job here. But it had the potential of costing our citizens a lot more money. Ultimately, how you compete with low-cost countries is having a more educated, innovative, hard-working, and capable workforce. And that means that you invest in two things: education and innovation."
At the time Massachusetts had a $160,000 a month contract with Citigroup to process debit cards for food stamps. Citigroup outsourced its customer service call center to a facility in India.
A small but important detail: the state didn’t outsource the work -- a state contractor did.
My emphasis.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jun/11/barack-obama/obama-ad-says-romney-outsourced-massachusetts-jobs/
Now if this is what you are talking about. Please explain how that put money in his pocket?
Maybe you should take your own advice and do some of your own research on the Internet.
FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW.
Hello deb. Where did you go? You got another country where Romney out sourced the jobs??
Kevin, natural gas is killing the coal mining industry not regulations, oil field, seriously, the Dakotas are begging for people. Gulf drilling halted because of.....BP and safety issues, more tar balls and millions of gallons of oil dispersing in the Gulf. Sure, fracking causing mini-quakes in Ohio, but its still being done. Coal is dirty fossil fuel, live down-wind of a coal fired plant, let them strip mine your back-yard, or do some moutain top mining. The fact is coal can't compete against natural gas.
Romney is out helping with disaster relief while Obama sits on his ass doing nothing but complaining. It is easy to tell who is the real leader and who cares. It definitely is not Obama.
Kevin is chewing on his Tea Bag.
Kevin Obama is doing what he should be doing and helping to coordinate relief efforts to the states and counties that need it. But hey, if you want Romney to handle it...you're welcome to have him, his answer is for people to take care of this all by themselves with no help from Government.
boy oh boy, first the storm now romney, those poor people in va. cannot catch a break
Romney was asked repeatedly, while in Ohio, if he still believes that FEMA should be eliminated. He finally responded and said, yes, it should be eliminated. He said the individual states are more than capable of handling disasters.
He is an idiot.
He hasn't even seen the amount of damage that was caused to the eastern half of the US yet. This storm may go down in US history as the most costly storm ever. Does Romney think these states can still handle this level of disasters all on their own without Governmental help?
His answer, "We cannot -- we cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids," Romney continued, when asked specifically about disaster relief. "It is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we'll all be dead and gone before it's paid off. It makes no sense at all."
W wants to travel with Mitt to the hurricane stricken areas so he can remind voters how REAL GOP presidents act during a national disaster. Mitt said yes. Then no. Then maybe...
Who is this flip-flop Romney???? As Governor of Massachusetts, he stood in front of a coal-fired power plant. Saying "coal kills people." He said he would never support the coal industry. While he was Governor, Massachusetts sued the EPA, forcing them to reduce green house gas emissions through regulations that kill coal jobs.
So which is it Romney? Which way are you Flip-Flopping today? You coal miners should read up on this flip-flop dude.
President Obama--2012
TOTALLY EMBARRESSED FOR ROMNEY….would someone on his campaign staff please make sure that he extends his staged helping hand to those who really need help. It might mean trudging into areas inhabited by the 47% but it would guarantee a great photo op for all those that have lost their sensibilities.
In case the camera is live, you might want to make sure in advance that the people he does extend his helping hand to be receptive. I suspect that many would say…..”No thanks”, knowing that he might change his mind at the last minute and pull his hand away. It has become increasingly more difficult to know where he is coming from these final days.
Sorry to disappoint the Libs but I believe Mitt is coming to my state of Va. for an advanced VICTORY tour! We welcome him and are glad we didnt have a huge impact from Sandy like they did North of us. I believe Obama is more aware of how he comes across after "doing Vegas" after his Ambassador was killed. Glad to see he finally learns his lesson, but its to little to late. No more years for Obama, sorry.
Give my regards to your iillustrious Governor, Vaginal Prober McDonnell, two of a kind, looking for the 2 trillion Defense Contracts? Can't really be for Romney since he doesn't believe in Equal Work for Equal Pay for women, ah, your in the Defense Contracting business. Figures.
If Roe v Wade were repealed today, the annual cost to the taxpayer is $1.3 trillion. Unwanted pregnancies become unwanted children. You can't legislate the desire to have a child.
These unwanteds will be handed over to the state. Or they'll be shuffled around and mistreated and eventually end up in an orphanage or foster care or juvenile detention.
Here's the data:
Annual abortions a 1,400,000
Avg years of care b 18
Avg # in care a*b = c 25,200,000
Annual cost per child d $50,000
Annual budget c*d = e 1,260,000,000,000
Rounded, that's $1.3 trillion.
And that's before counting the cost of building the orphanages it will take to house them. Foster Care is already overloaded.
In Mexico and Brasil abortion's illegal and hoards of unwanted kids roam the streets begging, stealing, prostituting, drug dealing.
Loving parents are foundational to a strong society, and forcing women to have unwanted children isn't an effective way to get there.
Word, you know and I know, once the child is born its on its own, Republicans don't want to know about it. A zygote is has more value than a here and now hungry child. Here in ft. Myers a new born was found discarded in a purse, luckily the child was alive, I don't hear any right wingers clamoring to care for the child, silence.
Obama 2012
Everyone remember that all Republicans voted to Cut Medicare. Check the past votes on budgets every time the voted to cut MEDICARE
Hurricane Sandy......is anthropogenic climate change in your face.
Welcome to the real consequences of our fossil fuel addiction.
Way past time for a clean energy policy, vote Jill Stein for President.
President Obama goes about the task of making sure FEMA is sending out help, where needed, due to Hurricane Sandy!
Meanwhile, Romney, the liar in chief, continues to use his mouth to campaign for removal and reduction of all the programs most Americans, except for a few weirdos in the Tea Party, would want to have for their old age!
I guess Tea Partiers don't give a rat's ass about their own grandmothers, or they are singularly wealthy and have enough funds to cover any medical emergency, or would just allow her to die!
Romney gathers cereal and corn flakes as his alternative to actually providing funds to help the hurricane stricken folks.....more to come...and that's all....
Romney does not support a national FEMA. Romney wants to divide FEMA funds by fifty, send it out to the states, and if any state runs out of FEMA funds, too bad...move to another state, I guess!
Let's watch Willard pretend to care.
He advocates eliminating FEMA.
This is Willard's comeuppance.
God is winking at you,...greedy, fear mongering sinner.
Hey WTF?! My Romney Ryan cap is made in China!!!
Is that a big surprise?
What malarky! He claims he is visiting hurricane stricken Virginia, and he visits the part of Virginia that the hurricane missed!
Looks like the big guy upstairs cast his ballot and it wasn't for Robbed-Me. Take that American Taliban! I bet they are wailing and gnashing their teeth.
A rally in VA, what next a fund raiser at an ophanage? Perhaps the shameless opportunists will use the occasion to expand on their theories concerning the merits of FEMA privatization. Probably not.
fala/trazmo