Mitt Romney Accidentally Confronts A Gay Veteran; Awesomeness Ensues

[HarveyDarkey]

Back in December 2011 during a campaign stop in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney decided to drop by Vietnam War veteran Bob Garon's breakfast table for a quick photo-op. What Romney didn't realize is that Garon was sitting with his husband, whom he had married just a few months earlier.

What followed might be the single greatest "oblivious Romney" moment of the entire campaign. Enjoy.

[nc4bo]

1. Just asked in the other thread when this conversation took place with Mr. Etch a Sketch

Keep your religious bigotry and homophobic fear out of my democracy, tyvm.

[C_U_L8R]

2. No way Jose !!

Loving Bob's righteous rant at the end !

[goclark]

61. Loved Bob!!!

Glad the others were there to record RmPHONY's answers

[FightForMichigan]

3. !!!

There is nothing in this world like the power of one person speaking their truth. This man is my newest hero. Grabbing to share on FB.

[calimary]

54. This is truly great. And so revealing. Go back to Massachusetts, mitt. Or La Jolla.

Or Michigan. Or Utah. Or wherever it is you say you're from, this week. And take your smarmy divisive exclusionary judgmental bullshit with you.

[Gormy Cuss]

68. "Go Back to Massachusetts" is an extreme insult in NH and ME

It's worse than saying go to hell.

[Cal Carpenter]

73. Yep. I sorta wish he'd called him

a "Masshole".

(No offense to the Bay Staters - it's purely contextual )

[Gormy Cuss]

80. I'm sure he was thinking it!

We only use that insult on the biggest jerks from Massachusetts.

[Happyhippychick]

4. Why isn't this viral?

[Brother Buzz]

9. Patience, grasshopper...

Timing is everything in politics

[Happyhippychick]

25. :)

[chknltl]

32. If you've insider info on this going viral soon....

I am 'evilgrinning' ear to ear right now.

[ncgrits]

38. I think it got quite a bit of attention

right after it happened. My teenage sons showed it to me! Time to get it out there again!

[cordelia]

64. A friend in Manila

posted it on his Facebook this morning.

[HopeHoops]

5. K&R - rMoney stepped in a BIG pile of shit with that one. Bob nailed him to the wall.

The "look a man in the eyes" line was precious. I can tell through PHOTOGRAPHS that rMoney has no integrity.

[avebury]

6. K&R nt

[Erose999]

7. He was totally expecting to have to answer for his draft dodging. Not expecting to be asked about

gay marriage by the flannel shirt wearing NamVet, lol. Then the press are packed in there so densely that he couldn't get away and had to answer, lol.

And the guy was all class in shaking Mitt's hand and wishing him luck, haha.

[progressivebydesign]

19. yes, it's like "you were serving your Country" and Romney "I was serving my church."

Well. those missions are basically recruitment trips, not exactly going to get your ass blown off in fucking Paris!! Hate how he tries to frame his Paris trip with military service.

[jsmirman]

23. The whole thing was disgusting, but wow, the smallness of that man

there...

Kind of points the whole thing up. Yeah, I'll go with the guy who served in Vietnam having the right to have his spouse recognized by the law.

Queen Ann can talk to someone in Paris or pound sand.

[Blue Belle]

34. I caught that line too...

While Mitt was in France "Serving his Church", This guy was in Vietnam, securing Mitt's freedom. Yet, Mitt doesn't think after all this guy has done to defend his country and do his part when asked, that this guy has the right to marry who he loves and have the same constitutional freedoms that Mitt enjoys. All's I can say is... my god Mittens is an ass.

[myrna minx]

55. It's disgusting how he equates serving his country with "serving his church" during wartime.

He's horrendous.

[The Wielding Truth]

77. I can see if he was against the Vietnam war, but he was for it and he chose to evade it.

[AlbertCat]

65. "you were serving your Country" and Romney "I was serving my church."

So, who ya gonna serve as president?


That is an important question.... and the answer is not obvious.

[Blue Belle]

70. I know I was thinking the same thing...

They gave Kennedy so much greif about being Catholic and being afraid that the Pope would be calling the shots... yet from all the birther biggots supporting Romney - we get nothing? Really? He get's to ditch a war because of his "mission" to convert mormons and none of these haters have anyhing to say? Wow. Romney's really lucky not to have been born half black.

[jillan]

8. Posting this to facebook - haha - but going to leave out the fact that this man is gay.

Let my repug nephew, who is a Marine & a Romney supporter enjoy this

[cali]

10. this is too wonderful for words.

how come I haven't seen it before.

[jillan]

11. Ok - it IS going viral! DFA just posted it on facebook.

[opiate69]

13. me too!

I know it was from way earlier this year, but it is so worth spreading again!

[klook]

12. That pained look

on Rmoney's face starting at about 0:55, when he starts to realize where this is headed -- priceless!

[superpatriotman]

14. Bravo

And though he is repulsed by your lifestyle choice, Mitt thanks you for your service.

[Arugula Latte]

67. And he says that you may now resume your Second Class Status, peon.

[HarveyDarkey]

79. It's not a"lifestyle choice"

I hate it when people use that wording.

[central scrutinizer]

15. no mention of the chickenhawk issue

but devastating enough as is

[madokie]

16. robme was about to shite his magic underwear there at the end of that exchange

I'm pretty far removed from religion in general, Mormon for sure so I have a question
What the hell is magic underwear anyway. does it make your private sing a tune or what
Do the girls wear magic underwear too or is it only for the men or just certain men like squirrel here?

I mean he is about as squirrelly as they come is he not?

[jmowreader]

45. "Magic underwear" is properly known as a temple garment

This is what it looks like.



Every devout Mormon wears these, and they supposedly protect the wearer from the evils of the world.

[AlbertCat]

66. they supposedly protect the wearer from the evils of the world.

Like fashion.

A little needlework on the women's and you have the 19th century "chemise and pantalettes".




All you need now is a corset and a bustle

[jmowreader]

81. You don't wear it on the outside!

Now that I look at it closer...the Mormons are too cheap to pay preachers; are they also too cheap to buy furnaces?

[AlbertCat]

82. You don't wear it on the outside!

You don't wear a chemise, pantalettes, corset, or bustle on the outside either. They are all 19th century underwear. Hell, a corset cover and petticoat go over them before you even get to the gown!




(I love this period)

[JI7]

17. well, he could get Married even if he is gay, but he needs to find a Michele Bachmann

hahahhahahah

[progressivebydesign]

18. Priceless. Romney has that weird smirky look like he's RIGHT about everything...

..then suddenly, it goes very very wrong. Photo op from hell. Love Bob and his honesty. And that line about "looking a man in the eye," What did Bob see? Nothing... a closed mind and condescending attitude.

Priceless at the end of Romney's part "we have to go and talk to Fox news."

[reflection]

20. I salute Mr. Garon

He handled himself with class during that exchange. He could easily have ripped Mitt a new one with impunity. But even in the midst of all that bigotry he acknowledged he asked Mitt a straight question and got a straight answer. What a stand-up guy.

[TahitiNut]

21. Why am I reminded of John Amos and Stacey Keach?

[Rider3]

22. No!

Not back to Massachusetts! Please nooooo!!!!

[renate]

36. lol!

Welcome to DU!

[awoke_in_2003]

24. Marking to view later. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

26. My grandfather on my mother's side fought in the 106th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge

He had to keep the fact that he was gay a secret back then.

[DeSwiss]

27. K&R

[Blue_Tires]

59. brilliant

[Blue_In_AK]

28. That was wonderful.

Thanks for posting.

[AtheistCrusader]

29. His handlers were a bit slow on the draw there.

Quite the uncomfortable minute or so for poor mittens.

[NYC Liberal]

30. The answer to Romney's line about the founding fathers and the Constitution

is that when the constitution was written, women also couldn't vote and slavery was also legal

[xchrom]

31. du rec. nt

[Blue Idaho]

33. "You went off to serve your nation, I went off to serve my church."

Bishop Romney wants to be the first President of the United States of Latter Day Saints.

[KevTucky]

35. Uh 1967....

You were in Vietnam huh? My wife and I were enjoying the sights and sounds of Paris then.
As a matter of fact, none of my sons has served a minute in the military, but we will invade Iran!!!!!

[Skittles]

37. PREACH IT, KEVTUCKY

I have to say - I don't fault people who evaded the Vietnam war - but I seriously DESPISE the kind of guy who would evade it AND pimp for other people to die there AND PIMP FOR OTHER WARS; that is just seriously DEMENTED and WRONG!!!

[Curmudgeoness]

39. Zing!!!

Now he did not see THAT coming!

[Doctor_J]

40. "You were serving in Viet Nam...

my dad told me I was too important for that"

[lunasun]

41. and all his own sons are too important for any recent service too!

Whole clan too busy hating and eating cake to serve

[AC_Mem]

42. This made me cry

I'm humbled by this man, his service to his country and his belief that he fought to be free to marry the person that he loves.

The world is changing and the Republicans are going to be left behind and eventually fade away. Our younger generation has a different "spiritual DNA" - and to me, it is almost as if genders seem to be blending a bit. As our generation accepts lifestyle choice and freedom as a matter of RIGHT, we teach this to our children. It's just not a big deal to them.

My grandchildren think nothing of it, it is part of their lives that some of their friends have two moms or two dads.

They just accept it - and they are our future.

Shine on,
Annette (with grandchild #3 due any minute! - and we are ALL PROUD DEMOCRATS!)

[REP]

43. I love Bob Garon

Served his country and then Romney got served.

[shireen]

44. i was impressed by how polite he was towards Romney

He showed Romney respect. And practiced remarkable restraint ... until Romney left.

Romney makes me sick.

[craigmatic]

46. I love the awesomeness that ensued.

[burrowowl]

47. GO Vet!

[JohnnyRingo]

48. Hand sanitizer... STAT!!

Hahaha. I'm so glad the vet shook Romney's hand. I was calling for it the whole time and no one can convince me Romney appreciated it. The only thing that would have been better is if the vet leaned over and confided he was just making love to his husband as he gripped Romney's hand tighter and tighter.

"He's not getting my vote".

Good for him.

[Mnpaul]

49. This Mn vet feels the same way

Not gay but believes in equal rights(anti-gay marriage amendment ad)

[pewpface]

50. this guy...

is my new hero. utter bravery in the face of oppression. i couldn't begin to imagine being able to look such a bigoted person in the eye. it's one thing to believe marriage is between a man and a woman, but it's entirely another to turn that belief into policy. i felt terrible for the veteran -- i can only imagine what interracial couples had to go through in our not-so-distant past.

[zentrum]

51. I'm completely confused

Why did the Vet shake Romney's hand as if was impressed by him, wish him luck and and say quietly, "You're gonna beat him"? Meaning Obama. It makes no sense.

It looked at the end as if Romney did have his vote despite his stand on on marriage equality. It wasn't until R left that we saw how this man really felt.

What's going on?

[Mopar151]

52. Dec. 2011

Mitt's big problems were Santorum and Gingrich.

[Chorophyll]

56. He said, "good luck; you're gonna NEED IT." nt

[qanda]

57. You misheard him

He said, "You're going to need it" not "You're going to beat him"

[pacalo]

78. He said, "You're gonna NEED IT."

And Romney said, "You're right."

[Jamaal510]

53. I'm shocked that Mitt didn't lie about when he graduated high school.

[skeewee08]

58. WOW

WTG Mr. Bob Garon....

[Xipe Totec]

60. Awesome!

[Astazia]

62. TWO WORDS RE: RMONEY'S answer...

No core!

But he DID look the Veteran who served our country in the eye to tell him what his marriage under a Rmoney presidency would look like if he had his way....non existence.

He's not only a tool...but a tool that is clueless re: not in Constitution other than life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness...

[1StrongBlackMan]

63. Posted to for future viewing.

[renko]

69. Proof the GOP hates American Soldiers

...that don't fit their narrow-minded prejudices.

[Blue Belle]

71. I posted this on facebook...

Usually when I post something political, all my redneck friends and relatives pile on berating me with their Faux News talking points. I posted a Line about how this video spoke volumes about Mitt's character. I waited a day... and got nothing. No comments. The only "like" it recieved was from my nephew who is in the Air Force and about to be shipped back to Afganistan for his second tour. I think I'm gonna repost the video tonight to make sure people see it.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

72. When finding out Bob was a vet and Romney wandered down memory lane, the jig was up

[L0oniX]

74. K & R

[Liberalynn]

75. A Veteran Hero

verses an empty suit Zero

[TBF]

76. Love him - and he does deserve to have the same rights/benefits

as do all LGBT folks.