Romney RNC Speech – Mention of Compassion, Got Little Reaction

August 31, 2012 by fidlerten

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention made a passing mention concerning the poor and the sick in this country.

“…That united America will care for the poor and the sick, will honor and respect the elderly, and will give a helping hand to those in need.” Romney said at one point in his speech.

Though the audience had given the man cheerful and sometimes thunderous applause throughout most of his speech, there was little reaction at all to that one statement. I think that reaction, or the lack of a reaction, is very telling of Republicans in general, at least the ones who were in that audience.

Why is it, I have to ask, that those who claim the Christian mantle find very little passion in compassion? Now do not get me wrong, I know many Christians give heartedly, and they are some of the best givers. I also know that there were many in that crowd the night of Romney’s nomination acceptance speech, but I can only assume why that statement he made about caring for the poor, sick and elderly, got such little reaction from the crowd.

I assume that some of them give to their churches and to charities out of some kind of duty, more than the compassion in their hearts. Then I know that there are some very compassionate Christians, but that kind of Christian seems to be getting harder to find. Along with that, there did not seem to be too many there at the 2012 Republican National Convention.

I understand there are reasons the Republican Party has taken on this idea that helping poor people with Welfare and Medicaid only encourages them not to work and to continue to sponge off of the government and therefore — our tax dollars. I also agree with that assessment; just giving handouts do not help the person in the long term. I worked for a mission program for five and a half years of my life so I know what works and what does not work.

I also agree that Welfare should always include a work program. However, I would suggest to my conservative Christian friends to realize that no matter the fault of an individual, we as a nation and more personally, as followers of Christ must always at least provide the basics of life to all.

What I see that has happened to the majority of Republican-leaning Christians is that they have bought into this idea that the poor is what is bankrupting this nation. That would be a complete ignorance of the facts. What almost bankrupted the country in 2007 was the downfall of the banks, not the poor and the needy.

Knowing Mitt Romney, he only made this statement — which happens to be completely out of character for him — to appeal to independent voters watching the convention from their living rooms. Still, the reaction from the crowd there at that convention, actually makes me ashamed of my fellow Americans and especially my fellow Christians.

What this should show to the rest of America — those who do not adhere to Republican politics — is that Republicans would put the blame for America’s economic troubles on those who are less fortunate.

If Mitt Romney becomes president, he will do what he can to repeal Obamacare, leaving millions without health care and cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans while actually raising taxes on the poorest of Americans. He will also succeed if Republicans gain control of the Senate and maintain control of the House of Representatives. Then we can stand back and watch as Republicans again empty the nation’s wealth into the hands of those who already have enormous wealth.

This nation gains more respect for being compassionate than anything else. We have reached out our hand many times over the last century, helping other countries during catastrophic times. It is our basic goodness that makes us great, not our military might.

The Romney presidential ticket and the Republican Party itself hold no hope for America. If we are to move forward, let us not leave any American out. Let us have an America where everyone has a chance to succeed and where many do, not just the few.

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