In an attempt to make lemon aid from lemons, or a photo op from a campaign stop, Romney turned his Kettering, Ohio campaign rally officially into a “Storm Relief” event. Ignoring Red Cross guidelines, which state that donating canned goods and clothing hamper their efforts, Romney asked attendees to bring food items. When the collection appeared to be scanty, he sent aides to Walmart to gather up $5,000 worth of the items. Attendees who didn’t bring an item were invited to grab one of the food items purchased by Romney to round out the appearance of bounty, and make the effort appear to be more impressive. Stating that food items hamper more than help, the Red Class specifically asks for blood or money under these circumstances, apparently Romney could not donate one or the other…But that’s not all!
Romney famously has stated that FEMA is unnecessary and that the private sector and the states should provide disaster assistance. Here’s an example of the private sector to the rescue. Add this to Paul Ryan’s siege on a homeless shelter to wash clean pans, and it appears that the Romney/Ryan campaign cannot afford to make anymore photo ops for charity. As a final desperate measure, Romney didn’t donate the items to New York or New Jersey – as one would assume. Instead the Romney campaign sent the items to swing states . Perhaps his vote can be purchased for a can of lima beans?