The Anger Blog, Love Letters in the Sand

Does Mitt Romney have a clue about how "regular people" think? In a supposed attempt to show the voters that he is a warm, lovable human being, his campaign aired a new TV ad this week. Their objective was to demonstrate that Governor Romney is not just a cold, robotic business executive interested only in the bottom line. He is a really sweet guy with a romantic streak. How better to do this than to use an old photo in which he demonstrates to his then-girlfriend (and future wife) that he loved her. Well, it sounded like a good idea.

The photo in question, and now featured in a new political campaign advertisement, was taken on a beach in France. Mr. Romney is seen lounging on the sand inside an outline of a large heart drawn in the sand. An inscription that reads "I LOVE ANN" is also displayed inside the heart. What a touching moment to share with the voters. Certainly nothing wrong with being in love and outwardly displaying your affection for the object of your affection. However, some voters may be touched in a more negative way.

This photo of a young Mitt Romney smiling on the beach in France was taken while the Viet Nam war was waging. As you may remember, Romney was living in a castle in Paris at the time, fulfilling his service to the Mormon Church. Who could have chosen a more convenient time? Mr. Romney was doing his (religious) duty on the beaches of France while so many of his fellow Americans were fighting a war in the jungles of Viet Nam. It wouldn't seem so callous if Mitt had opposed the war effort, but he actually supported it, even going so far as to carry signs belittling those who opposed the war.

As Mitt was sending 'love letters in the sand' home to his girlfriend, there were many other girlfriends and wives who were receiving theirs from foxholes, if they were lucky, or not at all, if their loved one happened to be among the approximately 58,000 who died.

If this picture of Mitt strikes me the wrong way, it's not because I'm against demonstrating your feelings to the one you love. I can be as romantic as the next person. It is because his campaign didn't have the foresight to see its effect on those who lost loved ones in that war, or whose loved one returned home with permanently debilitating injuries or psychological conditions. So the ad that tries to highlight Mitt's compassion might be more likely to anger some potential voters rather than lead them to see him in a more warm and loving way.