Mitt Romney gives wad of cash to random supporter with money problems.

[All life is a blur of Republicans and meat.]

$50 or $60 bucks? Come on, Romney. At least cough up a few $100s next time.

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

$50 or $60 bucks? Come on, Romney. At least cough up a few $100s next time.

Yeah seriously. I could give a homeless guy on the street a buck or two and I've already given a greater percentage of my income than Romney did there.

[Jayhawker]

Good for Romney.

It seemed like this was pretty sponatenous - I doubt Romney walks around with $100 bills in his wallet.

[Sam Spade]

Interestingly enough (?) if this were Britain then Rhymney would have been arrested for doing that (at least in theory) as 'treating' voters is illegal.

In theory, it is illegal in the US, but you have to show that the purpose of giving the money was to buy the votes, thus creating a knowledge requirement, which makes it much more difficult to prove illegality.

Asking if this was staged is like asking if the Pope is Catholic.  Though I find it kind of ironic that any Obama voters would ask this question.

At any rate, my first question is the most important, if anyone actually knows anything about Mormonism...

[Bacon King]

Interestingly enough (?) if this were Britain then Rhymney would have been arrested for doing that (at least in theory) as 'treating' voters is illegal.

In theory, it's illegal in the US, but so was Newt publicizing his preferred Secretary of State pick.

[Speaker Dereich]

How patronising.

You weren't there and didn't know the circumstances of the conversation between the two.

All I need to know is 'wad of cash', frankly. Despicable behavior.

"Wad of cash" is, obviously, the very biased term used by the very biased author of this very biased thread.  Despicable behavior.

I'm actually a Romney supporter, and I'm not sure I understand what you're accusing me of here. Any description I used would have been labeled biased in one way or another because of the nature of the story. People are either going to see this as a cynical ploy to win hearts or a warmhearted, charitable gesture. I don't see how "wad of cash" particularly tilts that one way or another.

[Former Moderate]

My head is on my desk.

[Bro-mentum]

The phrase 'giving with one hand, taking with the other' springs to mind.

[Lupo]

Reagan mailed some checks in similar circumstances when he was POTUS. Not the first time a Republican does it.

Obama does it, too. 

Apparently the woman has been volunteering at her local Romney HQ.  He may have given her $50 as "payment" for her work, after hearing that she's on hard times.

[memphis]

Reagan mailed some checks in similar circumstances when he was POTUS. Not the first time a Republican does it.

Obama does it, too. 

Apparently the woman has been volunteering at her local Romney HQ.  He may have given her $50 as "payment" for her work, after hearing that she's on hard times.

If that's the case, he'd better withold and submit the required taxes.

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

Apparently the woman has been volunteering at her local Romney HQ.  He may have given her $50 as "payment" for her work, after hearing that she's on hard times.

Oh, so as if we needed any more evidence it was staged...

[Progressive Realist]

Let me clarify something: I did not buy this woman's vote. That doesn't mean, of course, I rule out buying votes. I have always supported economic freedom, and I have always supported American laws. Here's $50 in exchange for your support. No, I'm not gonna buy your vote. This is simply in exchange for your support. Vote Romney 2012. Together, we can defeat the socialist Obama, who would be willing to buy your vote with a super PAC. Please donate to my super PAC. Here's another $50 from my personal wealth. See how much compassion I have? I really do care. I really do.

Thank you, and together we can defeat Barack Obama in November.

-Mitt

[King]

So Romney supports giving handouts to the poor?

[Lupo]

Apparently the woman has been volunteering at her local Romney HQ.  He may have given her $50 as "payment" for her work, after hearing that she's on hard times.

Oh, so as if we needed any more evidence it was staged...

Have you seen any photographs of the transfer at issue taking place?

[Politico]

So Romney supports giving handouts to the poor?

Romney believes in allowing people to be free to choose whether or not to donate their own wealth in the form of personal charity. Romney vehemently opposes the government taking something from one person to give something to another person.

Romney supports freedom of individual choice, not governmental force. I wish I could say the same thing about some of our friends on the left.

The bottom-line: You can be a compassionate person without supporting the idea of the government stealing from one person or group of people to give to another person or group of people.