CNN

"Romney like all Mormon young men that choose to serve a mission do that at age 19-21. Romney can not help that he was this age during Vietnam."

…. no, but he could have make a choice when he finished his mission …and his choice was "let's make money! Vietnam is too dangerous! Helmets mess up my hair." his sons don't have to serve in the military … but they are working to get their father elected so he can send other people's sons and daughters to war … voters notice.

Posted By Alice Newman Center Harbor NH : November 26, 2007 5:19 am

GREAT POST, ALICE NEWMAN! IT IS TRUE. Everyone is attacking poster Judy, but she should have posted "If your name is ROMNEY you are too much of a coward to serve!"
Parker as a "politician in waiting", Craig??? HARDLY. He will be just another Romney who never served our country. Do not kid yourselves, Romneys, you are NO political dynasty-far from it!

Oh thank goodness there are other Romneys out there to pick up the mantle and carry it on to save civilization. I was worried that Mitt was the last one.

Concerned,

Choosing for oneself whether or not to serve in the military, particularly when one is not drafted, is not quite the same as choosing to kill a defenseless innocent unborn child.

Garrett from Provo.

You said that Mormons believe in the right to choose explaining Mitt's sons'
refusal to serve in the Military. Why doesn't that same right to choose apply to women who cannot support an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy?

"Romney like all Mormon young men that choose to serve a mission do that at age 19-21. Romney can not help that he was this age during Vietnam."

.... no, but he could have make a choice when he finished his mission ...and his choice was "let's make money! Vietnam is too dangerous! Helmets mess up my hair." his sons don't have to serve in the military ... but they are working to get their father elected so he can send other people's sons and daughters to war ... voters notice.

I saw this picture and thought about Sheen at the end of that movie "The Dead Zone". Cruel I know, but it's Romney we're talking about. The flimsiest sleazeball next to Rudy.

Although I find it particularly alarming how much negative posts there are regarding this cute little story about Romney and his grandson Parker, I find it much more alarming how ignorant some posters (Judy to be specific) are. If you just do about 5 minutes of fact finding, you will find out how wrong you are in your "facts".

To think that I have an equal voting power as some people makes me shutter. We should assign voting power based on intelligence and ability to reason.

More specifically to Judy: Mormons are in the military, check your facts. Mormons defend a constitution and freedoms for others that weren't given to them a short 150 years ago. If anyone has honor, courage, patriotism and dedication, it is the Mormon military folks.

I find it odd that you (a woman) would be so willing to dismiss people because of a belief (that we are all entitled to). You do know that only a few short years ago, you wouldn't get to vote, hold a title to a car or house, get an education, etc. Ignorance wasn't much fun when you are on the losing end. It's time to be enlightened and get rid of some stereotypes.

Aa a Canadian, I'm shocked that any American would beleive that Bush is the reason why the world is growing tired of America. America is the butt of jokes because of so much of your bigotory. Only is America would it be an "issue" if someone of colour, a female, or someone that's a differenat religion would get attacked. Grow up.

Like hundreds of millions of others outside of the American bubble, I am HAPPY to see Hilary, Obama and Mitt running! It is also fantastic to see a person like Mitt brining his grandson along. Clearly the Romney's have the family that most wish they had or envy him because he and his wife made a upstanding family.

Isn't it great as an American have the CHOICE to serve in the military or not. Mitt's career isn't politics, he's donating his presidential salary to charity. What a different world we'd have if people of character choose to serve their country out of a sense of duty than a paycheque.

First of all, Romney like all Mormon young men that choose to serve a mission do that at age 19-21. Romney can not help that he was this age during Vietnam. As for his sons, I was not aware we were in a draft??? If they choose to be patriots in a different way then who are you to question that, Judy?? Do your sons serve the military?? The outright lie that Mormons do not serve in the military is absurd. My husband (D. Storm Marine cor), grandfather (navy ww2), and father (army Vietnam)all served in the military and they are all Mormon. If CNN viewers do not think this photo is newsworthy then I suggest they contact CNN, because I don’t think Romney decides what CNN chooses as news!!! The reason people attack these trivial issues is because they can not attack the mans character, record, education, skills, or experience! Grow up and focus on the political issues. Stop nit picking the mans faith and family values.

did you serve in the military Judy? or are you just a hypocrite?

Judy Stevens

YOUR an IDIOT. Mormons do serve in the military. Why do brainless MORONS get to post on here?

Judy,
How about before you go and post insulting and crazy comments like that, you try and see if there's even a little bit of fact in them first? Many, many, MANY Mormons serve in the military. Just because Romney did not, doesn't mean Mormons in general don't. Let's not be immature and stereotypical here. Furthermore, the position of the Mormon church is to stay completely OUT of politics. There is absolutely no issue of separation of church and state here, other than what uninformed bigots like to make up. Why is a Mormon any different than a Protestant or a Catholic? Separation of Church and State doesn't seem to bother people with THOSE candidates, just because people are so uninformed and MISinformed about the Mormon church.
Losing our Constitution and rights? Where did you dream up that baloney?

Judy,

While everybody is tearing you a hole. Might as well right?

Constitut[i]on

It's ok. You can still be an idiot and be right.

http://www.golden-lamp.com

Judy...you are a moron!You are thinking of Jehovah Witnesses.Mormons serve in the military.I was proud to serve next to some Mormons for six years!Judy,get your facts right!Mitt will be our 44th President!

Judy

Hey, at least you didn't get censored!

You made a Good Point Judy, even if the Romnicans didn't like it! But next time, use your spell-checker, okay?

I am not sure why anyone would think Mormons do not serve in the military! Anyone who has been in the military can vouch that they have served with a mormon (if not many) and that they were more dedicated and diligent than most of their comrades. Even more mormons are actively recruited to serve in the CIA, FBI, NSA,etc due to their patriotism and how well many of them know and understand other cultures because they have served among them on their missions for their church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints encourages its members to be involved in their governments and to be civic leaders... not a church for freeloaders!

Judy
Please base your comments in reality. In you comment, you made it sound like Mormons are a bunch of freeloaders who ride on other people's accomplishments and work, enjoying the benefits without contributing.
This is simply false. There are many Mormons who serve honorably in the military. If your Mormon family members act in the way you described, that is their choice, but please don't assume that all Mormons are like that based on the actions of a few.

Mormons don't serve in the military? You've got to be kidding!? Urban legend.

Why is this story being used to attack ROmney. Its just a cute story, there's nothing more too it.

Judy,

You have no idea what you are talkikng about. Mormons are one of the most faithful groups when it comes to serving in the military and their country. Do you know what group holds the record for the longest land march in US military history? The "Mormon Battalion in the war with Mexico. Incidentally, over 500 Mormons joined in the military despite having just been pilliaged, raped, and murdered in Missouri and being let down by the US government, who said there was nothing they could do.

In spite of this, they still served their country. Go read Mormon teachings on service and the nation and the military and your eyes will be opened to your ignorance of what Mormons believe.

For all of those people who think ill of Mitt Romney because his sons didn't serve in the military, since when did you do what your Dad told you to do when you were 18? You see, Mormons believe in freedom to choose for oneself. Just because Mitt's sons didn't serve in the military doesn't reflect at all his patriotism or his commitment to the country.

Judy,

You should know that there are actually an unusually high percentage of Mormons serving in the military. BYU (which is owned and operated by the LDS church) has a huge ROTC program and the military recruits heavily there.

And you should know that Mormons, like all people, have differing views on the church and state issue. Those that are very conservative tend to think its OK to legislate Christianity into law, and those of us that are liberal (like myself) tend to think the government should be religiously neutral.

Mormon scripture says this about the issue, "We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied."
-Doctrine and Covenants 134:9

So a faithful Mormon should actually be extremely dedicated to the separation of church and state.

Judy is misinformened.

Judy,
I know it is beside the point and only a small portion of what you wrote but I think you are mistaken in saying that only a few Mormons have served in the military. I think you may have Mormons confused with another group (Jehovah's Witness). There are lots of Mormons in the military. My brothers, my father, my grandfathers have all fought and served and I have lots of LDS friends in the military.

Hey Mitt! I got your gameplan. Why don't you try stopping at third base before you, OH MY GOD!!! IT'S JACKIE ROBINSON!!!

http://www.golden-lamp.com

Is it really a bad thing to have your family and some fun involved in this whole political process. Are you all really hard-hearted and critical enough to turn something sweet and funny like this, into a negative and derogatory thing. Wow, i thought that Americans had better values than that.

That is a great picture! It's nice to see the human side of any politician.

As far as the military, every person gets to choose their own career path and that is a part of why America is a great place to live.

Mitt Romeny as President is not a good thing. He believes torture should be more extreme.

This is a man who professes to be a Mormon? I have family who are Mormons and this is not acceptable to them.

No Momon should run for political office. Why? They don't serve (or few do) in the military to protect this country yet accept the freedoms we have (or used to have).

To much conflict of church and state for my liking. Is he outraged over the lose of our Constituton and rights? Corruption in this administration. Nope.

What is Parker's Number, I want to call him to ask him if he is a mormon too......

I'm saddened to see an 1 1/2 year old child is used as a campaign prop.

New Hampshire! Don't drink Romney's "Kool-Aid"!

I'm really sick of those Romneys throwing their kids in our faces. You're right - it's not news, and I wish th media would quit playing up the beauty pageant.

And this is news because?

And you can bet that Parker will carry on the family tradition of not serving in the military, just like his grandfather, father, and four uncles.