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Who’s the Wuss?

Written by Larry Roeder
2012-06-21

The events of last Saturday at a nearby Wawa store in Milford Township remind us of the role hate now plays in our disagreements, elections and yes, our country. What should have been an opportunity for area residents to hear Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney say a few words and ponder the value of what was said and nod in agreement or raise a sign of protest against his views and policies turned out to be another black eye on the election process.

The social network was abuzz on Saturday afternoon with vile comments and threats about what would have happened if Romney had showed up at the scheduled location. It’s no wonder that when the security staff visited the site before Mitt’s arrival they wisely chose to change location rather than risk a confrontation that could have turned into an ugly incident that may have led to innocent people getting hurt by a political flash mob.

You have the right to agree or disagree. But when you’re ready to do great verbal or physical harm to others because they don’t outwardly and openly agree with you because they want more information or the opportunity to learn themselves, you have become a political party bully. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, Republican or whatever. Why can’t we all just agree to disagree and let the November ballot outcome become the confrontation instead of the parking lot of a Wawa?

Knowing there would be a crowd there, former Pa. Governor Ed Rendell used the event as a quick stop to bash Romney on his way to Bethlehem to sign copies of his new book "A Nation of Wusses" – the story that takes a look at the former Governor’s career and more recent political fights. Rendell points at who is, or is not, a wuss in biased battles that some politicians are just as afraid of winning as losing. But that’s enough free advertising from me.

Folks in the sign-carrying, anti-Romney crowd traveled near and far to get a chance to embarrass the presidential candidate, and by their presence, keep those interested from hearing any message he brought with him. At what point does the First Amendment rights of one group infringe on another’s?

The fact that Rendell stopped (again, on his way to a book-signing engagement) is stranger. Yes, it was another opportunity for Rendell to milk the publicity aspect of hawking his tome, but in 2007 it was he who said that Romney was the Republican to watch. That same year he told a Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce that all of the 2008 presidential primary candidates had flaws, with the possible exception of Gov. Romney. Just last year in a TV interview, Rendell said Romney was a good governor of Massachusetts.

Heck, earlier this month it was Rendell who appeared on a national TV program and suggested that (as president) Hillary Clinton would have been more assertive than Barack Obama.

Romney’s “front people” chose to avoid a possible confrontation that served no purpose other than to allow one group to bully another. Would a confrontation have erupted? We’ll never know.

Taking away the opportunity of one group to bully another was smart.

Get used to it – this is the 2012 presidential race.

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