Is the Romney campaign trying to force the American Red Cross to break it's own rules?

[icymist]

Scanning the front pages of Reddit I found this and believe it worthy to present here:

Obama Goes To Red Cross To Thank Them. Romney Tells Red Cross To Break Their Rules For His Campaign.
President Barack Obama yesterday afternoon went to the headquarters of the Red Cross to thank them for their efforts in the face of the largest hurricane the East Coast has ever seen: Hurricane Sandy. As the president was thanking the Red Cross workers, Mitt Romney and his campaign were accepting donations of canned goods, blankets, an bottled water — those they hadn’t already purchased as photo op props — and forcing the Red Cross to violate their own rules and regulations, printed right on their website, that state:

Unfortunately, due to logistical constraints the Red Cross does not accept or solicit individual donations or collections of items. Items such as collected food, used clothing and shoes must be sorted, cleaned, repackaged and transported which impedes the valuable resources of money, time, and personnel.
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/obama-goes-to-red-cross-to-thank-them-romney-tells-red-cross-to-break-their-rules-for-his-campaign/politics/2012/10/31/52671

[Smilo]

1. Romney will try to get anyone and everyone to break the rules

so long as it benefits him.

[marezdotes]

2. This is no different than Ryan forcing his way into the soup kitchen

and causing a backlash for that organization. Rules and regulations be damned, dammit. He's Romney and you will obey.

[rock]

3. These guys are real loose canons

And typical of RepubliCON politicians, cause more problems than they solve.

[madokie]

4. Come to think of it they are asking them to bend or break the rules

I don't remember ever reading or hearing about the Red Cross bringing someone a meal. On the other hand I've read many a story of them bringing a family to a safe place that they're providing for them.

Fuck rMoney and his money bags
GOBAMA 4 more years

[icymist]

6. He's forcing the Red Cross to divert manpower from disaster relief to processing these items.

<snip>
Romney's campaign told reporters that a Red Cross warehouse in New Jersey was accepting the donation, and distributed a statement they attributed to the Red Cross.

"The American Red Cross appreciates the support from the Romney campaign and is working with the campaign to process this donation of supplies," the statement read. "We are grateful that both the Obama and Romney campaigns have also encouraged the public to send financial donations to the Red Cross. We encourage individuals who want to help to consider making a financial donation or making an appointment to give blood."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/30/romney-on-storm-aftermath-people-are-hurting-this-morning/

[PD Turk]

5. I've got a hunch

I've got a hunch he's trying to force a situation where he can pretend to be all butthurt that "nobody wants my canned food donations" and wind it into "all they want is money so they can go waste it". His buddy Steve King started that dog whistle already with his "Gucci bags and massage parlors" comment. I'm going to predict an attack from rMoney before Tuesday about "wasteful spending" on hurricane relief.

Everybody knows "poor people can't be trusted to handle money, we have to give them what they need, OMG GIVE THEM ANYTHING BUT CASH!!"