courseofhistory
Rookie
- Aug 7, 2012
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Mitt Romney from all appearances is a good man, husband and father but he is somewhat removed from being able to identify and emphasize with ordinary people. I think that is a detriment for someone who will be working with a Republican congress passing some draconian legislation because he's very likely to go along with whatever it is due to his waffling nature. I just don't feel from what I've learned about him that he has women's interests truly at heart.
When Romney was a church leader, many saw his as aloof and always putting the church first.
A 23 year old woman who as a teenager babysat and did odd jobs for the Romney's recalls this incident:
She goes on to say that Romney told her that if she didn't give up her child, she'd be excommunicated from the church.
Another woman recalls needing an abortion for health reasons--a serious blood clot in her pelvis threatened her life. As bishop, Romney came to the hospital and told her the church's concern was for the fetus. She said she lay there helpless, huring and scared and he told her the fetus was primary and not her. She said her doctor also a Mormon told her she needed the abortion and Romney said he didn't believe her. She said she had the abortion but was very sad that she didn't receive compassion and caring from Romney.
Another woman's experience with Romney when she was being interviewed to go to the Temple:
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When Romney was a church leader, many saw his as aloof and always putting the church first.
Romneys leadership was not so rosy for everyone, though. As both bishop and stake president, he at times clashed with women he felt strayed too far from church beliefs and practice. To them, he lacked the empathy and courage that they had known in other leaders, putting the church first even at times of great personal vulnerability.
A 23 year old woman who as a teenager babysat and did odd jobs for the Romney's recalls this incident:
Then Romney called Hayes one winter day and said he wanted to come over and talk. He arrived at her apartment in Somerville, a dense, largely working-class city just north of Boston. They chitchatted for a few minutes. Then Romney said something about the churchs adoption agency. Hayes initially thought she must have misunderstood. But Romneys intent became apparent: he was urging her to give up her soon-to-be-born son for adoption, saying that was what the church wanted. Indeed, the church encourages adoption in cases where a successful marriage is unlikely.
She goes on to say that Romney told her that if she didn't give up her child, she'd be excommunicated from the church.
Not long after, Hayes gave birth to a son. She named him Dane. At nine months old, Dane needed serious, and risky, surgery. The bones in his head were fused together, restricting the growth of his brain, and would need to be separated. Hayes was scared. She sought emotional and spiritual support from the church once again. Looking past their uncomfortable conversation before Danes birth, she called Romney and asked him to come to the hospital to confer a blessing on her baby. Hayes was expecting him. Instead, two people she didnt know showed up. She was crushed. I needed him, she said. It was very significant that he didnt come. Sitting there in the hospital, Hayes decided she was finished with the Mormon Church. The decision was easy, yet she made it with a heavy heart. ...
Another woman recalls needing an abortion for health reasons--a serious blood clot in her pelvis threatened her life. As bishop, Romney came to the hospital and told her the church's concern was for the fetus. She said she lay there helpless, huring and scared and he told her the fetus was primary and not her. She said her doctor also a Mormon told her she needed the abortion and Romney said he didn't believe her. She said she had the abortion but was very sad that she didn't receive compassion and caring from Romney.
Another woman's experience with Romney when she was being interviewed to go to the Temple:
She wasnt sure what to expect. Despite Romneys willingness to allow some changes in 1993, he and Dushku had clashed over the churchs treatment of women. He says something like I suspect, if youve gotten through both of the interviews, theres nothing I can do to keep you from going to the temple,  Dushku recalled. I said, Well, why would you want to keep me from going to the temple?  Romneys answer, Dushku said, was biting. He said, Well, Judy, I just dont understand why you stay in the church.  She asked him whether he wanted her to really answer that question. And he said, No, actually. I dont understand it, but I also dont care. I dont care why you do. But I can tell you one thing: youre not my kind of Mormon.  With that, Dushku said, he dismissively signed her recommendation to visit the temple and let her go. Dushku was deeply hurt.
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