Mitticisms: "Martin Luther King" [Updated]

Earlier this month, in a speech defending the racist, uhm, quirks of his proud but secret religion, Mitt Romney declared:

"I saw my father march with Martin Luther King."

So, well, that's that. Except, according to a report in the Boston Phoenix, it turns out that depends on what your definition of "saw" is. And "march." And "with." And "Martin Luther King."

Because it never happened.

"A spokesperson for Mitt Romney now tells the Phoenix that George W. Romney and Martin Luther King Jr. marched together in June, 1963 -- although possibly not on the same day or in the same city."

... Romney spokesperson Eric Fehrnstrom suggests that these two were part of the same "series" of events, co-sponsored by King and the NAACP, and is thus consistent with Romney's claim that 'I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.'"

Mitt, Fehrnstrom explains, was speaking "figuratively."

Although they never marched together, they did march separately. In that they were both in Michigan and ambulatory at the same time. And, by "the same time," I mean "different times."

Except, if you read the Phoenix story, George Romney didn't actually "march" anywhere. But he was present at an event. Where King was not.

And Mitt never "saw" it, because he was doing missionary work in France.

WHAT MITT MEANT:

We can all agree that George Romney and Martin Luther King were both alive in June, 1963.

--

UPDATE:

The Romney campaign is still looking for an event where George Romney might have marched with Martin Luther King. Romney seems to have been at King's funeral, but that doesn't count, since Baptists don't believe the dead walk and we don't know what Mormons believe. Mitt would tell you, but then he'd have to kill you, and rebaptize you against your will.

Another helpful lead from Team Mitt? The event where Mitt Romney might have seen his father marching with Dr. King and/or kissing Santa Claus occurred somewhere between 1963 and 1968.

So Mitt might not have been ministering to the French; he might have been in high school, to see it, if it happened or not, which is anybody's guess.

And a clarification from the candidate himself:

"When we say, 'I saw the Patriots win the World Series, it doesn't necessarily mean you were there -- excuse me, the Super Bowl. I saw my dad become president of American Motors. Did that mean you were there for the ceremony? No, it's a figure of speech."

It's basic etymology. When a man says: "I saw," you should know it's just an expression. For "I didn't see."

Except the American Motors comparison doesn't really work. Presumably there are pay stubs from that. Because presumably it really happened. A more precise analogy would be: "I saw my dad invent the internal combustion engine."

With Medgar Evers.

Your family might believe it. But it doesn't make it even figuratively true.

Comments

[pigsatthetrough]

So a quick flash ahead two years. Mitt sees his son's marching and serving. Him, of course, as President, while the rest of the country's sons are marching in boot camp serving in the perpetual war.

[jackbauer0396]

That whole exchange reminds me of Chris Farley's character in Billy Madison.

Farley: That Veronica Vaughn is one hot piece of ass, I know from experience dude. If you know what I mean.

Billy Madison: No, you don't.

Farley: Well, not me personally but a guy I know. Him and her *got it on*. Wooo-eee!

Billy Madison: No, they didn't.

Farley: No, No, they didn't. But you could imagine what it'd be like if they, eh, eh... everybody on, good, great, grand, wonderful.

[shouts]
Farley: No yelling on the bus!

[schmuckwithearlaps]

Now that Chris has presented a slightly one sided view of the facts, and Mitt has presented a slightly one sided view, one wonders what the truth really was. In the 60's there were often marches and demonstrations at the same time in more than one location and stretching over more than a day. If Mitt's pa did in fact participate in one of the events at the same time that MLK did, that would be nice to know. If the story is a total fabrication, that would be equally nice to know. Sorry that we are left with less information than we started off with!

[lovethesinner]

Not only was Romney's dad not marching with MLK, but Mitt wasn't actually there on Meet the Press.

Willard Mitt Romney is a hologram (a complex system of hardware and software) created by the DoD to facilitate their cooperation with big business and promote mutual intersts.

What we know as Romney is an amalgam of male models used in '50's Brylcream and Pepsodent ads combined with the personality of Ayn Rand and the morality of a children's toy known as "Play Dough".

He's exactly what the GOP has been looking for all along.

Inconsistiencies in his performance are being adressed in version 2.0 set to release later this month.

[suki21693]

God showed it to him on some golden plates. Or maybe they were paper plates.

[Northlite]

Mitt's dad showed a certain amount of real courage in standing up for civil rights and minorities at a time when Michigan was perhaps the most thoroughly racist state in the North. Unfortunately, though Mitt is smart and rich and strategic, he has shown absolutely no courage in his campaign. He has shamelessly flip flopped to make himself more appealing to the base "base". Virtually every other candidate from both parties has at least one or two opinions that differ from the base, which is called shilly shallying but not a complete panderer. Mitt appears to be a man without a vestige of real convictions or even the most rudimentary courage. Nonetheless, his money, strategic thinking, and organization will be giving him the nomination for the Republic Party. How sad for our nation.

[maddogbitesback]

Mormonism was acreation of a real flim flam man. So it is not surprising that you might find a flim flam man among the Mormons. But, unfortunately Huckabee shows that madness and evil and dangerous religious beliefs are not confined to the Mormons.
Somehow religiosity seems to favor the Republican Party which is a good reason for voting Democrat. To vote Republican is to vote for a party which ignores the poor, puts more in jail and doesn't visit them and makes being sick very expensive.

[DouginCT]

Damn you are funny Chris. As funny as Mitt is sleazy. And that's FUNNY.

[Lisette]

Too Funny, Chris Kelly!

[fredpferr]

So he's one degree closer to the the truth than Hillary who was not even born when Sir Edmund ... blah, blah ...

[ToddandinCharge]

It's typical slick Mitt, but I do think it's a bit of a cheap shot, given that George Romney took a lot of heat for his liberal positions and anti-war views in 1968.

Having just re-read Norman Mailer's account of the 1968 conventions, I have a lot more respect for George Romney than I do for his son.

[hopeless277]

Please be advised of the contract entered into between Willare 'Mitt' Romney and the news divisions of NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, AP, and Reuters. Whereas whatever Willard 'Mitt' Romney says will be considered true by the above news organizations even in the event that it is false. No proof shall be required by the above news organizations. In the event of a false statement by Willare 'Mitt' Romney, it shall still be reported as true.

Signed,
News division heads for the above communications companies.

[MsLiz]

I don't gitt itt. (sic) What is Mitt's appeal? I know he has $20,000,00­0.00 and perfect looks, but he is an empty suit. He wants to continue Bush's failed Iraq and Iran policies. Democrats want to close Guantanamo? He wants to double Guantanamo! While fathering five children, he thought abortion should be legal. When he ran for governor of a blue state, abortion should be legal, and gays were real people. Then he wants to buy the presidency, and all those positions were flushed.

What does anyone see if this guy? He's not going to spend his money on us! Where did he get the money anyway? Putting working folks in the unemployment line, that's where.

I don't mind that he's Mormon, because he isn't sincere about anything. However, if people only vote against him because of that, I'll live with it.

[Garretto]

Chris, you are FUNNY! and of course,absolutely right! I was born that year and Mitt's daddy soiled himself with me. However, his undwear magically cleaned up after him.
PHONIES! These religious blowhards should be crucified (by the media and public)for THEIR sins! The religous nut-wing party has their gloves on, we need to hit back!

[Driver125]

Well, errr, yes well, maybe I saw that in my mind. Yes, I'm sure now. I saw them together in my dreams. Because I have a dream. That my four young sons will be judged not by......er­rrr well, judged somehow...­. and now, excuse me, but it's on to (zzzzzitt--"Where am I going next?").