When Romney stopped by Century Mill earlier this month, the facility was shut down for the day on the basis of "safety and security," resulting in non-salaried employees not being given a paid shift and all staffers being asked to attend the event. To what degree they were pressured, though, depends on whom you ask.
"Yes, we were in fact told that the Romney event was mandatory and would be without pay, that the hours spent there would need to be made up my non-salaried employees outside of regular working hours, with the only other option being to take a pay cut for the equivalent time," the employees tell WWVA talk show host David Blomquist. "Yes, letters have gone around with lists of names of employees who have not attended or donated to political events."
Brian J. Antal, president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society, said that he was not contacted by the Romney campaign ahead of the Saturday morning visit by Ryan, who stopped by the soup kitchen after a town hall at Youngstown State University.
[...]
Ryan had stopped by the soup kitchen for about 15 minutes on his way to the airport after his Saturday morning town hall in Youngstown. By the time he arrived, the food had already been served, the patrons had left, and the hall had been cleaned.
Upon entering the soup kitchen, Ryan, his wife and three young children greeted and thanked several volunteers, then donned white aprons and offered to clean some dishes. Photographers snapped photos and TV cameras shot footage of Ryan and his family washing pots and pans that did not appear to be dirty.
The head of a northeast Ohio charity says that the Romney campaign last week “ramrodded their way” into the group’s Youngstown soup kitchen so that GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan could get his picture taken washing dishes in the dining hall.
[...]
“We’re a faith-based organization; we are apolitical because the majority of our funding is from private donations,” Antal said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. “It’s strictly in our bylaws not to do it. They showed up there, and they did not have permission. They got one of the volunteers to open up the doors.”
[...]
He noted that the soup kitchen relies on funding from private individuals who might reconsider their support if it appears that the charity is favoring one political candidate over another.
“I can’t afford to lose funding from these private individuals,” he said. “If this was the Democrats, I’d have the same exact problem.”
In the wake of Rep. Paul Ryan's embarrassing soup kitchen photo-op last week, the organization that runs the facility tells The Huffington Post that donors have begun pulling their money out of the Youngstown, Ohio charity.
Ryan may have suffered a few late-night jokes, but the fallout for the soup kitchen appears to be far more bruising. Brian J. Antal, president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society, confirmed that donors have begun an exodus in protest over Ryan's embarrassment. The monetary losses have been big. "It appears to be a substantial amount," Antal said. "You can rest assured there has been a substantial backlash."
Ryan supporters have now targeted Antal and his soup kitchen, Antal said, including making hundreds of angry phone calls. Some members of Antal's volunteer staff have had to endure the barrage as well, he said. "The sad part is a lot of [the callers] want to hide behind anonymity," he said, adding that if someone leaves their name and number he has tried to return their call. In addition to phone calls, people have posted a few choice words on the charity's Facebook wall, including statements like "I hope you lose your tax [sic] emempt status," Anyone who is thinking about donations to you should think twice" and "Shame on you Brian Antal!"
Rep. Paul Ryan's awkward visit last week to a Youngstown, Ohio, soup kitchen made national headlines and has been the butt of late-night jokes. The head of the charity that runs the soup kitchen complained to The Washington Post that Ryan and Co. "ramrodded their way" in for an unauthorized photo-op.
Ryan's surprise visit was an even bigger shock to people who run organizations dedicated to serving the needy back in his Wisconsin congressional district. The Huffington Post called soup kitchens, shelters and used-clothing donation box organizers throughout Ryan's district and turned up precisely one Ryan sighting -- and that was of his wife, shopping for clothes at a thrift store.
[...]
Ryan, despite more than 13 years in Congress, appears to be very much a stranger to those charities. None of the food pantry or shelter workers interviewed by The Huffington Post could recall Ryan having visited; a few others would not discuss the congressman. It's possible that charities supported by Ryan were overlooked, or that the volunteers' memories aren't perfect. But none of the facilities reached for comment said Ryan has ever set foot in their establishments.
Quote by TriSec:
Morning, comrades.
I've actually been in the "employee" position in a past life. Longtime readers of this blog know I used to work for 'President' Bush's cousin.
Over my years at that shop, we had a small but steady stream of local and some national "R" politicos touring the place. I met Kerry Healey, Charlie Baker, and a few other, lesser lights from Mr. Bush's administration that I've since forgotten.
Never was I anything less than correct and professional, but as the blog's Protocol Droid, you would expect nothing less, right?
However, I understand that there are many out there that would be miffed by an opposition visit, and wouldn't be afraid to show it.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Hey I heard Queen Ann say that being a Mormon missionary is the same as serving in the military.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Hey I heard Queen Ann say that being a Mormon missionary is the same as serving in the military.
"So, you know, we find different ways of serving,"she added."And my husband and my five boys did serve missions, did not serve in the military."
“He is not receiving artificial respiration and is not connected to tubes, as some have said. What’s probably true is that Castro is being fed through nasogastric tubes,†Marquina said.
He said that the death of patients with this type of clinical picture is generally caused by respiratory complications and irreversible infections.
According to Marquina, the decline in Castro’s health compelled Chávez to fly to Havana on Tuesday, to inquire about his ally’s condition.
Quote by Raine:
Malala is making amazing progress!!
Quote by TriSec:
I did not serve.
Many of my elder relatives did, including Papa Trisec (US Army, late 1950s) and an elder uncle with WWII Filipino service buried at Arlington.
As author of Ask a Vet, you know my position on this, and on those that would mock, undercut, disparage, or otherwise disrespect any American person in uniform.
I also take a good deal of pride being on the "other side of the coin". A handful of my Scout alumni have gone on to military service and careers...and the things we taught them can only help.
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Finally finished cleaning up someone else's mess from last night!
Vermont's Killington ski resort says it's going to power one of its lifts this season with electricity generated from methane gas recovered from cow manure.
Quote by Raine:Oh my!Quote by wickedpam:
Morning
Finally finished cleaning up someone else's mess from last night!
You must be so happy this morning.
Quote by Raine:
SHIT!Vermont's Killington ski resort says it's going to power one of its lifts this season with electricity generated from methane gas recovered from cow manure.
Quote by Raine:
Anyone know where I Can watch yesterday's the View online?
Quote by Raine:
I found it!
Quote by Raine:
Holy shmoly. Seriously, Mondo and everyone, this interview is worth watching -- there is far more there than that callous comment.
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, everyone. A crappy, rainy day here while I ponder where I will move. My current roommate is going to Boston this weekend to visit her daughter than heading back to Carolina to find a few leads (She's looking at Myrtle Beach) while I stay and take care of the cat since it looks like the move out will now be closer to the end of the month (Hopefully when I take real vacation). I guess once I make my decision, at least everything should fall into place and I will just have to do one move at the end of the month.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, everyone. A crappy, rainy day here while I ponder where I will move. My current roommate is going to Boston this weekend to visit her daughter than heading back to Carolina to find a few leads (She's looking at Myrtle Beach) while I stay and take care of the cat since it looks like the move out will now be closer to the end of the month (Hopefully when I take real vacation). I guess once I make my decision, at least everything should fall into place and I will just have to do one move at the end of the month.
Myrtle Beach? I thought she wanted NC? Tell her Wilmington is really nice - loved it when I lived there
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Holy shmoly. Seriously, Mondo and everyone, this interview is worth watching -- there is far more there than that callous comment.
What am I missing here?
(IRVING, TX—October 18, 2012)—The Boy Scouts of America issued the following response to a news conference hosted by two Portland-based attorneys regarding the attorneys’ release of the BSA’s ineligible volunteer files from 1965 to 1985.
Scouting’s Response to Files Released by Plaintiff’s Attorneys
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our Scouts. There have been instances where people misused their positions in Scouting to abuse children, and in certain cases, our response to these incidents and our efforts to protect youth were plainly insufficient, inappropriate, or wrong. Where those involved in Scouting failed to protect, or worse, inflicted and sincere apologies to victims and their families.â€
“We have always cooperated fully with any requests from law enforcement and welcome any additional examination by authorities of Scouting policies, training, and files to learn from our longstanding Youth Protection efforts. In fact, next month in Atlanta, the BSA is hosting a Youth Protection Symposium in cooperation with other youth-serving organizations where nationally recognized third-party experts will discuss and share best practices.â€
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, everyone. A crappy, rainy day here while I ponder where I will move. My current roommate is going to Boston this weekend to visit her daughter than heading back to Carolina to find a few leads (She's looking at Myrtle Beach) while I stay and take care of the cat since it looks like the move out will now be closer to the end of the month (Hopefully when I take real vacation). I guess once I make my decision, at least everything should fall into place and I will just have to do one move at the end of the month.
Myrtle Beach? I thought she wanted NC? Tell her Wilmington is really nice - loved it when I lived there
Myrtle Beach aka the Redneck Riviera?
Quote by Raine:WAIT.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, everyone. A crappy, rainy day here while I ponder where I will move. My current roommate is going to Boston this weekend to visit her daughter than heading back to Carolina to find a few leads (She's looking at Myrtle Beach) while I stay and take care of the cat since it looks like the move out will now be closer to the end of the month (Hopefully when I take real vacation). I guess once I make my decision, at least everything should fall into place and I will just have to do one move at the end of the month.
Myrtle Beach? I thought she wanted NC? Tell her Wilmington is really nice - loved it when I lived there
Myrtle Beach aka the Redneck Riviera?
Redneck Riviera? I thought that was Flori-Bama?
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, everyone. A crappy, rainy day here while I ponder where I will move. My current roommate is going to Boston this weekend to visit her daughter than heading back to Carolina to find a few leads (She's looking at Myrtle Beach) while I stay and take care of the cat since it looks like the move out will now be closer to the end of the month (Hopefully when I take real vacation). I guess once I make my decision, at least everything should fall into place and I will just have to do one move at the end of the month.
Myrtle Beach? I thought she wanted NC? Tell her Wilmington is really nice - loved it when I lived there
Myrtle Beach aka the Redneck Riviera?
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, and since "Yankee Elimination Day" is a minor New England holiday...
Quote by Raine:
So how 'bout those Pats?
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
So how 'bout those Pats?
Barking up the wrong tree, m'lady. *pinkhat, fair weather, etc.*
The Celtics thrashed Brooklyn last night, though.
Quote by Raine:So how 'bout those Pats?Quote by TriSec:
Oh, and since "Yankee Elimination Day" is a minor New England holiday...
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
So how 'bout those Pats?
Barking up the wrong tree, m'lady. *pinkhat, fair weather, etc.*
The Celtics thrashed Brooklyn last night, though.
Quote by Raine:WAIT.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, everyone. A crappy, rainy day here while I ponder where I will move. My current roommate is going to Boston this weekend to visit her daughter than heading back to Carolina to find a few leads (She's looking at Myrtle Beach) while I stay and take care of the cat since it looks like the move out will now be closer to the end of the month (Hopefully when I take real vacation). I guess once I make my decision, at least everything should fall into place and I will just have to do one move at the end of the month.
Myrtle Beach? I thought she wanted NC? Tell her Wilmington is really nice - loved it when I lived there
Myrtle Beach aka the Redneck Riviera?
Redneck Riviera? I thought that was Flori-Bama?
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
So how 'bout those Pats?
Barking up the wrong tree, m'lady. *pinkhat, fair weather, etc.*
The Celtics thrashed Brooklyn last night, though.
Wait what? When did the Nets move to Brooklyn?
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:WAIT.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, everyone. A crappy, rainy day here while I ponder where I will move. My current roommate is going to Boston this weekend to visit her daughter than heading back to Carolina to find a few leads (She's looking at Myrtle Beach) while I stay and take care of the cat since it looks like the move out will now be closer to the end of the month (Hopefully when I take real vacation). I guess once I make my decision, at least everything should fall into place and I will just have to do one move at the end of the month.
Myrtle Beach? I thought she wanted NC? Tell her Wilmington is really nice - loved it when I lived there
Myrtle Beach aka the Redneck Riviera?
Redneck Riviera? I thought that was Flori-Bama?
There are two. The Gulf Coast that Bobber mentioned and Dirty Myrtle. The Low Country is the SC coast south of Charleston.