From a story at Red Alert Politics. Mitt and Ann Romney talk about their compassion for suffering Americans, take aim at demonizers.
The following is a digest summary of a story run at Red Alert Politics. We’re offering this summary as a service for Texas Republicans and other interested political people.
One of the most common accusations from critics of presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife Ann is that they can’t relate to average Americans. The Romneys are certainly very well off, and were both born into well off families. This coupled with their conservative viewpoints lead some to believe that they are unsympathetic to the working man. Addressing this, Mitt and Ann spoke to David Gregory on “Meet the Press”. Feeling that they have been misunderstood, they discussed what they have done to help lower class populations. They also talked about why they are perhaps misrepresented, and why having wealth does not make a person callous or unable to understand the needs or circumstance of others.
A major point made by Ann Romney was about personal struggles, stating that being free of financial struggles does not make one free of problems or numb to suffering of others. She has fought with breast cancer and lives with multiple sclerosis. “Multiple sclerosis has been my teacher. It has been a cruel teacher, but it has been a great gift in my life because what it has done,” Ann Romney said. “It has taught me to be more compassionate and caring for others who are suffering. “I know that people are suffering right now. People think that we don’t have empathy for somebody just because we’re not suffering like they’re suffering is ridiculous.”
Mitt opened up about his faith, which he has been very private about during his campaign. He cites his beliefs and faith in mormonism as his guiding light of compassion and obligation towards others. He also spoke of the everyday challenges that Americans face together, and how money should not be used to further divide people. He made a point to say that Americans are not personally defined by how much they bring in financially, and that it’s important to remember the shared struggles of humanity.
The real issue that the Romneys bring up and contest, is that they have been portrayed as out of touch elitists who can’t understand the needs of your average American. What would most people say to this? Does having great wealth isolate or limit a person’s understanding? Does it take a toll on a person’s compassion, or their capacity to have empathy?