To educators who have been laid off under the Sanford and Haley administrations, here's a sweet deal. It's likely to expire after Saturday's primary, but while the hot lights of media attention are here, it doesn't hurt to present yourself.
If former Governor Mitt Romney will empty his pockets for one unemployed South Carolinian with medical needs and past-due utility bills, maybe he'll do it for you, too.
And all you have to do is cook collards for his campaign office staff, and maybe some light cleaning.
Sumter--Mitt Romney reached into his pocket Saturday after a rally here and gave a handful of bills to an unemployed woman who started volunteering in his campaign offices this week.
Ruth Williams, 55, of Columbia, said she was at a stop sign along I-26 on Wednesday when she saw the Romney campaign bus pull through town in the Columbia area. "I was on the highway praying and said God tell me how to get [my house] lights on, and I pulled up to a stop sign and his bus was there," she said.
Williams said she followed the bus to the airport "because the Lord told me. It sounds strange but he really did. I mean God really talked to me about this."
The bus was picking up Romney after his New Hampshire primary win. Williams did not get to meet him upon his arrival, but aides told her to head to a rally in Columbia that evening, which she did.
Romney, briefed by his staff about her story, came over to talk to Williams after that rally. She spoke to him tearfully and asked him about his economic policies. "He was kind to me," she said. "He stopped doing everything." She told Romney she had a sick son and was looking for a job. "I told them about my problems and that I just want to work. I just want to work," she said.
Williams said she had been cleaning houses for home builders, but with the downturn in the housing market, had been unable to find work since October.
She said Romney took down her contact information and told her that perhaps the state of South Carolina would be able to help.
Whatwhatwhat?! "The state of South Carolina would be able to help"? Is this the same candidate who is winning support from people who applaud when told unemployed people have only themselves to blame? Is Mitt Romney suggesting that unemployed South Carolinians, and ones with medical needs, and ones with no savings or wealth of their own, should turn to the state for aid through troubled times?
Who IS this Mitt Romney? And is he available to advise Governor Nikki Haley on social policy in our state?
She took down contact information for the campaign and found a warm welcome at his Columbia campaign headquarters the following day. She said she's been volunteering there ever since, cleaning and cooking collard greens for the staff.
On Saturday, Romney recognized Williams on a rope line here and handed her $50 or $60, according to his staff. Williams said it was the first time that she has directly received money from the campaign, but that South Carolina treasurer Curtis Loftis -- who chairs Romney's South Carolina campaign -- paid her light bill this week.
Williams said she has now met Romney three times, and has also met South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is campaigning with him in her state. "They really help people find jobs," Williams said, although she still needs one herself.
This is truly a South Carolina primary miracle, and one that deserves national attention. As a result of praying for guidance -- and seeing Mitt Romney's campaign bus -- an unemployed South Carolina woman has met Romney three times, received cash directly from his pocket, become the campaign's resident collard cook, and gotten her electric bill paid by the state treasurer. Though she hasn't gotten a paying job yet, there are still three whole days before the South Carolina primary, and she clearly has Mitt Romney on her side. Maybe something will open up for her...
And for YOU, unemployed educators. Make it happen! Find out where Romney's going to be, and hitch a ride! Surely he's refilled his pockets with cash since Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment