Mitt Romney collecting relief goods

[nadinbrzezinski]

Ok, I will give him the benefit of the doubt, he means it, it's not political. (insert laugh tract here, I can't keep a straight face).

For CULTURAL REASONS we used to take goods. We gave news media a list, and then we took the bags, boxes and bottles donated and sorted them out into packets, a bag of rice, a bottle of oil, soe sugar, toilet paper, and so on and so forth. We had to also mark them for areas where people could still cook, bag of rice, and areas that coud not, canned goods and manual can opener.

Take my word on this, man hour intensive and then then we needed to move this to the zone, logistically insane.

(Good nooz people increasingly are giving money to the bank account that allows some of this silliness not to be done, just some, collection points are still set up...yup cultural)

Do you think Romney and his people even know you gotta do this for those "family packages" to have any effect? I don't.

Oh and thank you volunteers who helped do this. Hell, Americans saw some of that during Katrina, as packages did come with the Mexican Navy, the Army used some at the feeding station they set in Texas...yes, the Mexican Army.

[msanthrope]

1. Check out this pic from the "Relief Rally"--says it all.

https://twitter.com/jonkarl/status/263303957823246336

[justiceischeap]

5. Actual photo

And don't forget, that tee is probably being donated.

[KansDem]

18. What? I don't see any packages of...

[siligut]

15. Romney just said that they are sending the collected goods to NJ

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. His Constituents in the Hamptons need relief...to whom do I send the Caviar?

Ok, that was catty.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. On a serious note

After the Mexico City quake an European country sent pallets and pallets and palest of smoked herring.

Not what I would call culturally sensitive. Most fols would not even touch it. So it was sold to the delis where people would know what to do with it, and proceeds were used to buy rice and beans.

True story.

[Agnosticsherbet]

7. Smoke herring doesn't need refrigeration...

It is a great source of protein...
So I can see why they would send it.

But it isn't on my list of many things that goes good in a taco.
But I would try it if someone offered.

[LeftInTX]

13. LOL My husband is Mexican-American

No way!!!!!
Beans and rice might seem lame, but I just ate some for lunch.

[Agnosticsherbet]

25. Black Beans and tortilla's are staples in my home...

I am open to expanding my tastes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Yeah, but food relief takes into account cultural references

We had it at home, since as Eastern European Jews we knew it. No harm no foul, it was still used and fed thousands... And people at the delis got really cheap herring.

It became a lesson in disaster classes about cultural issues when doing mass feedings, and not just for us.

That quake was the point Mexico started taking civil defense seriously.

I suspect Sandy will be part of that shift for the US and climate change.

[Agnosticsherbet]

26. It "should" take into account cultural references.

I suspect it was sent because they had it in surplus and they chose to get rid of what they had on hand. Though it may have been he government's way to support a favored export and try to open new markets.

Fortunately, there were people in Mexico that thought outside the box.

[beac]

4. The Red Cross should publicly ask Romney to instruct

every damn one of his Ohio volunteers and campaign staff to do that sorting!

My prediction? At BEST, a bunch of local food banks will be getting some unexpected midnight drop offs.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Ah the American Red Cross would have to place

A call to it's counterpart in Mexico city.

Should I call the mittens campaign and give them a clue?

[siligut]

16. Mitt just said they are sending it to New Jersey

I laugh, but I think there might be blankets and things too, not just canned corn and stupidity.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Trying to make nice with Christi?

[ecstatic]

8. Private/ church based disaster relief

Romney & Ryan's plan for America. His efforts may help 5 families, at best.

[Blue Meany]

10. Well, if everyone would just supply 5 families on their own, why there would be no need

fund-raising or income taxes <sarcasm>

[1springhill]

9. Relief event my ass..........

Romney campaign now playing their campaign video from the RNC at their charity concert in Ohio for Sandy victims.
— @ChrisLaibleFN via Twitter for iPhone

http://www.dailykos.com/

[Blue Meany]

11. They will probably make DVDs of this and send them to the residents of the flooded areas, as their

contribution to recovery.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. I would not pass it

[B2G]

19. Not all of us can afford to write a check

But have items we can donate. I am confused about how this is a bad thing.

[beac]

20. Because the Red Cross SPECIFICALLY said these kind of donations are NOT helpful and

actually diverts resources from relief efforts.

Unfortunately, due to logistical constraints the Red Cross does not accept or solicit individual donations or collections of items. Items such as collected food, used clothing and shoes must be sorted, cleaned, repackaged and transported which impedes the valuable resources of money, time, and personnel. http://sync.democraticunderground.com/1251190390

Also see: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251190689

and http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021669234

[B2G]

21. I guess things have changed

I remember relief drives in the past that encouraged community involvement in the form of food drive, clothing/supply drives, etc.

Sad for those who can't write a check but have items to contribute, really. Just IMO, of course.

[beac]

24. Almost everyone can donate blood.

FWIW, I think food/clothing drives are still done on a more local level, but when you are talking about a multi-state crisis, the time and manpower to sort all the stuff Romney took in at his photo op just adds to the chaos.

And if Romney tries to send his buses into the middle of the ongoing crisis and rescue operations, he will gum up the works even more.

[sadbear]

22. Mormons should be very efficient in this.

I don't know what Romney's excuse is.

[blueamy66]

23. just go to the warehouse and collect canned goods

no effort at all

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Kick, for shits and giggles.