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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Romney's emotional story remembered very differently by friend of fallen SEAL"
"On the stump in Iowa Tuesday, Mitt Romney revealed that he met former Navy SEAL Glen Doherty at a holiday party some years ago. Doherty is one of four Americans killed during the September 11th attack on the American consulate in Benghazi.
Romney's story started out lighthearted, as he recounted how he and Ann mistook a holiday gathering across the street for their neighborhood party, and he ended up talking to Doherty. "He skied in some of the places I had. We had a lot of things in common," Romney said of Doherty. Both men are from Massachusetts.
"He told me that he keeps going back to the Middle East. He cares very deeply about the people there. He served in the military there, went back from time to time to offer security services and so forth to people there. You can imagine how I felt when I found out that he was one of the two former Navy SEALS killed in Benghazi on September 11th."Romney was visibly emotional during the story, and the video of the speech was repeated throughout the day on network and cable news.
But one of Glen Doherty's best friends remembered Doherty's impression of this meeting much differently.
Elf Ellefsen met Glen Doherty skiing in Utah when he was 19, and the two men remained friends for more than 20 years.
"A guy living life wise beyond his years. Always trying to be progressive as well as do the right thing. Always challenging himself to his greatest ability," Ellefsen remembered.
He last saw Doherty a week before the final mission to Libya. "I stayed in his house (in California), we paddled out in the ocean together, spent some good quality time."
Ellefsen said Doherty recalled meeting Mitt Romney years ago, but the account was much different from what the Presidential candidate retold in Iowa.
According to Ellefsen, Romney introduced himself to Doherty four separate times during the gathering.
"He said it was very comical," Ellefsen said, "Mitt Romney approached him ultimately four times, using this private gathering as a political venture to further his image. He kept introducing himself as Mitt Romney, a political figure. The same introduction, the same opening line. Glen believed it to be very insincere and stale."
Ellefsen said Doherty remembered Romney as robotic.
"He said it was pathetic and comical to have the same person come up to you within only a half hour, have this person reintroduce himself to you, having absolutely no idea whatsoever that he just did this 20 minutes ago, and did not even recognize Glen's face."
Ellefsen described Glen Doherty as a humble, non-political guy, and said it was ironic for him to be used during a presidential campaign.
"Whether it be Republican, Democrat, Green Party, Libertarian, it doesn't make a difference. Because this guy is using our great friend, our humble, and honorable great friend...who is truly larger than life...He has become part of the soapbox routine for politics in a presidential race."
Ellefsen said he understands why people would want to link themselves with Doherty. "Of all people to tie yourself to for advancement in life, it's not surprising that Romney or anybody else would want to tie themselves to Glen Doherty. Because he was incredible. And I can honestly say beyond a shadow of a doubt, he was the greatest person I have ever met in my life."
I asked Ellefsen what he thought of his friend's story being used on the political stump:
"Honestly it does make me sick. Glen would definitely not approve of it. He probably wouldn't do much about it. He probably wouldn't say a whole lot about it. I think Glen would feel, more than anything, almost embarrassed for Romney. I think he would feel pity for him."
http://mynorthwest.com/108/1353861/Romneys-emotional-story-remembered-very-differently-by-friend-of-fallen-SEAL
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Shed another tear, Mitt, you fucking phony.
"Hi, I'm Mitt Romney, political candidate."
"Hi, I'm Mitt Romney, political candidate."
"Hi, I'm Mitt Romney, political candidate."
"Hi, I'm Mitt Romney, political candidate."
kiri
(796 posts)Glen Doherty was on the Advisory Board of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. MRFF has been doing an exceptional job in limiting religious proselytizing in the Armed Services, and protecting non-believers and skeptics from official chaplain pressures.
I support MRFF. Contributions in Glen's name can be made at www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Religious_Freedom_Foundation
Doherty had a firm understanding of separation of church and state. His bravery in risky combat operations extends to his courage in opposing the religious right. His voice was good, and I am sad that it is now missed.
E.Schempp
central scrutinizer
(11,659 posts)Another hero, doing his duty and giving his all, whose death was exploited for political points
kiri
(796 posts)Your post is silly. Tillman does not support separation of church and state. Christian domination over all spiritual outlooks is not a good idea.
GeorgeGist
(25,322 posts)Indpndnt
(2,391 posts)I will check out the MRFF - sounds like a good organization.
Angel in Texas
LongTomH
(8,636 posts)porphyrian
(18,530 posts)Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)Mitt Romney does not have a sincere cell in his body.
strategery blunder
(4,225 posts)He is very sincerely greedy.
And you can take that all the way to his Swiss (and Cayman, and Australian, and who-knows-where-else) banks.
OldDem2012
(3,526 posts)goclark
(30,404 posts)Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,501 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)he had on his face when talking about the dead diplomats at his press conference? Where were the tears then?
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)could certainly give him some pointers on how to look like a mess in public.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)Connie_Corleone
(9,330 posts)I loathe that man for so many reasons.
rainlillie
(1,095 posts)What a despicable human being!
JuveDem
(69 posts)I do not understand for the life of me why people are buying his story. Romney will do and say ANYTHING to be president. This guy has ho core, no heart, no moral compass. He is truly dangerous.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)That's all he needs for many people to vote for him. Some of my relatives included, I'm ashamed to say.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)Last edited Wed Oct 10, 2012, 11:08 AM - Edit history (1)
I will add that they are generally careful about it... they make fun of his name, or origins, or his supporters, but they are (mostly) careful not to bring up his race (at least not when in the presence of Democrats.)
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)President, none of it valid (grabs guns, takes away my FREEDUMBS, the debt, etc.). My one neighbor has revealed himself to be an appalling racist when he added my husband's name for some reason to his paranoid RW email list. Which is funny because my husband is a Democrat--and union guy--who drives around with an Obama car magnet, but whatever. I have a handful of relatives that like to send out racist emails, too. I have the hunch that most Repub voters do this shit with their closest friends and family, but are smart enough to hide it otherwise.
LibDemAlways
(15,139 posts)they know shares their small-minded stupidity. I was once floored to receive one from an old high school classmate who was a pilot for a major airline for 30 years and a proud union member. Turns out he watches nothing but FAUX "news," listens to no one but Limpballs, and thinks the only purpose of a union is to benefit him.
If you fed truth serum to this guy and millions like him and asked why he's voting Mitt, he'd tell you "because he's white."
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)ASSUMES you think like they do. And one of the reasons I don't do Facebook is because I don't want to know which of my old friends and acquaintances have become racist (and/or ultra-religious) Republicans. Better not to know, and leave them in the past.
olegramps
(8,200 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)...where the most vile and ugly racism is rampant regarding the Obamas.
Go check out my thread on the racism on facebook, or my thread where I have asked for support for Michelle Obama in this difficult month. You'll see there some quotes of what people are willing to openly say about them.
gateley
(62,683 posts)Ilsa
(61,696 posts)reformist2
(9,841 posts)Just goes to show, the more people see of Mitt Romney, the less they like him. Cannot wait for the "Town Hall" debate!
Justkd1
(64 posts)...craven. How horrifying for his family and friends! Unfortunately, I wondered about this when Romney talked about the death of his friend Billy, too...the dead can't refute anything...maybe I am just too cynical?
gateley
(62,683 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)gateley
(62,683 posts)nc4bo
(17,651 posts)barbtries
(28,810 posts)of a candidate with absolutely no ethical or moral tether. he will say or do anything, at all.
i really think he's just trying to get close enough to steal it. i really do. it fucks with my head.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)I am so sick of this lying SOS. He has no respect for our fallen to use a lie like this to further his political aims. This????....
Berlum
(7,044 posts)That just sucks. The chickenhawk Republican clique -- virtually all of their so-called 'leaders' -- is beneath disdain.
Barack_America
(28,876 posts)A: Not Romney's.
C'mon, you expect me to believe that Mitt Romney is the type of person to meet someone at a cocktail party and vividly remember them? No freaking way. The name or face probably rung a bell for Ann. As for the skiing, my money is on total fabrication. There's been enough written about Mr. Doherty in the press to deduce his enjoyment of skiing. And if two people make a hobby of skiing in Massachusetts, chances are they'll be at some of the same places.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)Disgraceful.
Cha
(297,497 posts)Stargazer09
(2,132 posts)Romney introduced himself to the same person FOUR TIMES IN ONE NIGHT??? And didn't recognize the guy each time? That alone is disgusting.
Using the fact that he "met" the guy to create a false image of himself is typical of Romney. He's desperate to appear human. He seemed almost euphoric the night of the attack, as if having Americans killed on Obama's watch handed Romney the presidency. Now he's crying fake tears over a man he probably doesn't really remember meeting and who can't personally defend himself.
Romney makes me sick.
tanyev
(42,594 posts)but he made an absolute nuisance of himself the whole time he was there. Color me surprised.
ywcachieve
(365 posts)No doubt in my mind.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Apt description. Very important story.
Thank you for the heads-up, rainlillie.
wordpix
(18,652 posts)Early stage: common to say the same thing or ask the same question over and over, without realizing the answer/same conversation has already occurred.
ciking724
(78 posts)". . . within only a half hour, have this person reintroduce himself to you, having absolutely no idea whatsoever that he just did this 20 minutes ago, and did not even recognize Glen's face."
This statement, along with Ann Romney's concern for her husband's "mental health," as well as Mitt's numerous contradictions without batting an eye, may indicate that Mitt is suffering from early onset Alzheimers disease.
Uncle Joe
(58,389 posts)Thanks for the thread, rainlillie.
meadowlark5
(2,795 posts)Because Romney's lie was HUGE. Not only just a chance meeting of this soldier, but I think the whole story was about Romney accidentaly going to Doherty's house on their way to a Christmas party. And the Doherty family invited the Romney's in for dinner. If Mitt-wit had just simply said he met Doherty, then at least there was truth to that. But to embellish this into a chance meeting turning into an impromptu dinner is so nuts, so bizarre and so dishonest.
This has to be refuted on the news. This seems so disrespectful to that man's family if the MSM lets this go as fact. Such disrespect and disservice to this man and his family.
BREMPRO
(2,331 posts)glad to hear that confirmed and thrown back in his face.. what a sick sleazy sack of shit he is. exploiting and twisting the memory of a fallen navy seal in his story for political gain. so typical ... so disgusting..
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)...despicable...he couldn't remember him whilst he was at the event, but he was emotionally overcome when he found out about his death? What a fucking bastard...
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)Didn't remember he had met him, then. Now, of course, he's all broken up.
caraher
(6,279 posts)Robo-Mitt is the real Mitt.
jsr
(7,712 posts)spanone
(135,857 posts)gateley
(62,683 posts)UTUSN
(70,725 posts)jsmirman
(4,507 posts)Whovian
(2,866 posts)The more I read about him the more I dislike him.
Recommended.
AzDar
(14,023 posts)madmax
(16,612 posts)We know where that got him.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)That's why Romney lies all the time.
Romney has a goal -- to become president.
But Romney does not really have any reason to want to achieve it other than that it is a goal that he adopted at some point in his life.
That is why he resembles a robot. He has either been programmed or programmed himself to head in a specific direction, but he appears to be targeted in that direction not from his soul or from his own volition or purpose but by some sinister force.
Reminds me of a child's toy. You wind it up and it rushes forward slamming into everything in its way until it is stopped by some large, immobile object like a chair or a table leg.
That's why Romney lies so easily. He is just a wound-up toy spouting the sentences of the day. None of it really means anything to him. Nor should it to us. He is the plastic candidate.
Get out and volunteer. Don't let him become a plastic president.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)Romney saw it as a chance to assault Obama on foreign policy.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)evil performance.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)"Well, let's tell this humanizing story ... the only one that might remember a random guy at a random Xmas party is dead ..."
Wrong again!
beac
(9,992 posts)advance his own ambitions and LYING about their encounter to boot. He literally has NO shame.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)and shake their head. Wow, the way he talked in his speech it sounded as if he was like a buddy to this guy and they made friends when he met him, when he clearly didn't even know who he was, then or now, until some campaign person said lets use this story to our advantage, it will be heartwarming. and Mitt said, "Yes! I love it!"
chelsea0011
(10,115 posts)over and over? Interesting look into his makeup.
glinda
(14,807 posts)ailsagirl
(22,898 posts)BlueMTexpat
(15,370 posts)to the extent he remembers anything at all about the incident - more or less as he told it. Remember that today's GOP lives in an alternate universe where no matter what actually happened, they performed heroically.
I am sure that Ann, Supreme Enabler that she is, will back up Mitt's version.
Roland99
(53,342 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)they won't touch this story. Too much potential to stop Romney cold in his tracks, the devastation potential is way too high.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)He just finished using it again in his townhall a few minutes ago.
Such a prick.
PossumSqueezins
(184 posts)Perhaps he has a bad case of prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize or remember faces. Or perhaps, he's just a self-absorbed asshole. I'll leave it to the dog on the roof to decide.
usregimechange
(18,373 posts)aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)exploited the Navy SEAL they met there by introducing and reintroducing themselves to make sure they were remembered, and then used the dead SEAL as a campaign prop so that Romney could show his empathy and love of the military. Reminds me of locusts.
Duval
(4,280 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)every day that goes by this POS falls a little lower on the humanity meter.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Skittles
(153,174 posts)Cha
(297,497 posts)skeewee08
(1,983 posts)pokerfan
(27,677 posts)Glimmer of Hope
(5,823 posts)donqpublic
(155 posts)Who the hell crashes a party and spends the evening introducing himself, "Meat Robotme, a political figure." It's as if he doesn't know how to talk to people in a normal fashion so someone (programmed) told him what to say.
This reminds me of a Looney Tunes cartoon. "My name is Elmer Fudd, I own a mansion and a yacht."
SaveAmerica
(5,342 posts)NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)ratfucker.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)I didn't know that Mitt said this about Glen Doherty, but it doesn't surprise me in the least.
During the debate last week he said that he had met a woman in Ohio who asked him if he could help her because her husband had just been laid off and they were being threatened with losing their home.
What a load of crap!
Romney has never helped another person in his life that wasn't an immediate member of his own family, or a partner of his with Bain Capital.