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| Image from Foxnews.com |
Conventions are a little funny. There will be the stereotypical balloon drops, loudly played patriotic country music and of course, countless boisterous people dressed up as flags, but there is only one thing I am desperate to see---an introduction of Mitt Romney---not the candidate, but rather, the man.
Despite being a very public figure, very few people know much about Romney's carefully shielded private life. Yes, we know he is rich. Yes, we know he is a Mormon. Did I mention that we know that he is rich? Outside of the way the press relentlessly portrays him as a stiff, out-of-touch Ken doll, do people even know this man?
The answer is no, but I am confident that the next few days are going to change everything.
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Boston Globe reporters Michael Kranish and Scott Helman wrote a book called, "The Real Romney." It has just been re-released in paperback. The book is based on five years worth of research and hundreds of interviews of individuals who worked closely with Mitt Romney in different phases of his life. Individuals who worked by his side at Bain Capital, the Winter Olympics and those who stood by him in his political endeavors and of course, those who love him most, his family.
Outside of the historical overview of Romney's career, Kranish and Helman unveil the private side of Mitt Romney which for whatever reason, is carefully guarded by this candidate. It must have come as a huge shock to these Boston Globe reporters that outside of Romney's remarkable successes, there are countless accounts of a kind, genuine and humble man whose life has been filled with spontaneous acts of service.
The authors wrote, "It seems that everyone who has known him has a tale of his altruism." The book recounts many of these heartfelt stories.
Nixon Family Tragedy
One such story involved Mitt's response to a 1995 tragic accident that happened to a family in Romney's church congregation. The Nixon family's two sons were involved in a horrific car accident, which left the two boys paralyzed. The Nixon family was devastated and their financial burden taxing as they tried to pay their bills and adjust to their new lives with two handicapped sons. Although Romney did not know this family well, he called them up and asked if he and his family could stop by on Christmas Eve. They showed up bearing dozens of gifts and Romney's sons stayed to personally install the gifted VCR.
Mitt later offered to pay for their college tuition.
Joey's Park
Another remarkable event took place in 1986 after one of Romney's neighbor's son 12-year-old son Joey, lost a long battle with cystic fibrosis.
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| Image from joeyspark.org |
The authors wrote:
Romney helped lead a community effort to build Joey's Park, a playground at Winn Brook School in Belmont. The parents recalled, "There he was with a hammer in his belt, the Mitt nobody sees." Romney didn't stop there. About a year later, it became apparent that the park would need regular maintenance and repairs. The husband said, "The next thing I know, my wife calls me up and says, "'You're not going to believe this, but Mitt Romney is down there with a bunch of Boy Scouts and kids and they are working on the park.'"
He maintained the park for the next five years without ever calling to say, "We are doing this" without a reporter in tow, not looking for any credit.
Countless Acts of Kindness
Kranish and Helman wrote, "Everyone who has known Romney in the church community seems to have a story about him and his family pitching in to help in ways big and small." Countless acts of service where his family took food to the sick, and financial burdens lifted when Romney personally offered assistance or loans to those in need. After snowstorms, Romney was frequently seen with his boys shoveling the driveways of his elderly neighbors.
Genuine acts of service and no one was watching.
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During the next few days, Americans will be introduced to the candidate Mitt Romney, but I am hoping that we will also begin to see the man. The man who loves his wife, who loves being a dad and grandfather and the man who loves God and is a genuine and thoughtful person. The man who never boasts about it and whose life has dramatically impacted those around him.
Of course we will hear about his remarkable success in business and politics, but I am hoping to see the man whose life has also been filled with countless acts of service.
I am confident that it will become abundantly clear that Mitt Romney is working to leave a legacy of kindness rather than a legacy of wealth.
The left will be watching closely and they are naturally hoping that the GOP fails to introduce this side of Mitt Romney. Because as Brit Hume, political contributor for Fox News pointed out, "Obama can't do anything to fix this economy, but Romney certainly has the opportunity to improve his likability."
If the Romney camp is successful---it will change everything.
Go Mitt.
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