Mitt Romney and his Republican cohorts at Fox News have made much shrill noise recently about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya. Recently, on national television, Romney cited the bravery of one of the U.S. citizens who died by describing how, upon learning of the disturbance at the consulate, he left his relatively safe location and went to the fray because, as Romney stated, "That's what Americans do."
Really? Romney didn't. He had his chance during the Vietnam War but fled to the safety of France as a missionary under the protection of the Mormon Church. He didn't go where the fight was. Indeed, before fleeing to France, he protested the war protesters whose conduct ultimately caused our government to stop that vile and stupid war.
Do real Americans use tax loopholes to hide their ill-gotten gains in the Cayman Islands and in Swiss bank accounts? Or pay only 14 percent on more than $20 million of income? Do real Americans make their living by buying American companies, stripping them of their assets, firing the employees and sending the jobs overseas?
Real Americans are not tough-talking, saber-rattling chicken hawks. Hopefully, enough real Americans will prove that to Romney at the ballot box on Nov. 6.
Richard L. Rost
Wailuku
