Romney told homeless woman to go home and call 211

[mezuzas]

He told a homeless woman, when she asked about help, to go home and call 211. 

Chiarello said she told Romney, "I lost everything" and that the presidential contender advised her on how to get assistance. "He said that he was going to do the best that he could for us," she said.

"He just told me to, um, there's assistance out there," Chiarello said of her conversation with Romney. "He said, go home and call 211." That's a public service number offered in many states.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/01/mitt-romney-211_n_1848432.html

It's scary that people who have power over others are like this.  It's also scary that so many cannot figure out what was wrong with what he said.  People think it is wonderful that he was so helpful and caring.  He could have at least loaned her a phone to call from instead of saying something like that.

[TheL]

Isn't 2-1-1 a psych help line?  How does that help you find a job?

[ironbite]

....wow.  That's just amazing how callous and mean that is.

Ironbite-so in touch Romney is.

[Saturn500]

I dunno why, but this seems a bit too assholish/stupid. Even for Romney.

[largeham]

I guess the American ruling class are confident enough that they can do shit like this and people won't bat an eyelid. At least Mitt Romney is honest, which more than you can say for most capitalists.

[Sigma]

Is there another source than this poor homeless person? A reporter or something who was there? I mean, in a world where Clint Eastwood starts talking to a chair, do we know if this is actually real? Maybe this is a person who lost everything and was then deeply hurt by Romney. Or maybe it's someone who just wants to get in the media. Or someone who thinks that Obamas policies would help her out of her misery.

[Saturn500]

Is there another source than this poor homeless person? A reporter or something who was there? I mean, in a world where Clint Eastwood starts talking to a chair, do we know if this is actually real? Maybe this is a person who lost everything and was then deeply hurt by Romney. Or maybe it's someone who just wants to get in the media. Or someone who thinks that Obamas policies would help her out of her misery.

^This

[nickiknack]

Isn't 2-1-1 a psych help line?  How does that help you find a job?

211 is the helpline for the United Way(I volunteer at the local Red Cross, and I've had to give the number out to a lot people who call for help). 

[TigerHunter]

Am I the only one picking up on this part?

Romney told homeless woman to go home and call 211

Romney told homeless woman to go home

told homeless woman to go home

[Sigma]

Am I the only one picking up on this part?

Romney told homeless woman to go home and call 211

Romney told homeless woman to go home

told homeless woman to go home

I thought that was the whole point, to show how out of touch with reality he is.

[KZN02]

Hence, the Relatable Romney Meme.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

Excuse me, but what is 2-1-1 anyway?

Also, telling a homeless woman to go home? Classy, Mittens. Real classy.

[nickiknack]

2-1-1 is the helpline for the United Way.

[Kit Walker]

Uh, much as I hate his policies, I'm not ready to condemn him for this one:
1) We don't know exactly what was said in this exchange, at least from that article.
2) Regardless of the sensitivity of the wording, the actual content of the advice was in no way objectionable - "There are people out there who can help you, here's the phone number you can use to find them."
3) Really? He's a dick for not offering his cell phone to a total stranger to use on what would probably be a rather long and involved phone call (the kind of thing you don't want to make spur of the moment) while he's being held to a tight itinerary? Would we expect Obama to do the same?

I can't extend one side leeway that I wouldn't extend the other. If this were a person saying something similar about Obama ("He told me to go home and wait for the government to come asses the situation" or some such) , would I be quick to take them at face value? No? Then why would I be quick to take this at face value?

[TenfoldMaquette]

Uh, much as I hate his policies, I'm not ready to condemn him for this one:
1) We don't know exactly what was said in this exchange, at least from that article.
2) Regardless of the sensitivity of the wording, the actual content of the advice was in no way objectionable - "There are people out there who can help you, here's the phone number you can use to find them."
3) Really? He's a dick for not offering his cell phone to a total stranger to use on what would probably be a rather long and involved phone call (the kind of thing you don't want to make spur of the moment) while he's being held to a tight itinerary? Would we expect Obama to do the same?

I can't extend one side leeway that I wouldn't extend the other. If this were a person saying something similar about Obama ("He told me to go home and wait for the government to come asses the situation" or some such) , would I be quick to take them at face value? No? Then why would I be quick to take this at face value?

I'm not giving Mittens a pass on this one. The thing is, 211 (and, for that matter, a lot of social services) do everything they can to deny applicants because they simply don't have the funding to help everyone. You can spend years haggling and begging for assistance, only to end up with a pittance that might have helped you out back when you first applied but is next to worthless now when you factor in the time/effort you spent to get it in the first place.

If Mitt had ever, ever in his solid gold wunderlife been even close to within eyesight of within spitting distance of the middle class, nevermind poor, nevermind homeless, he'd still have no idea how fucking condescending and insulting his attitude was. No, telling her to "call 211" is not doing "the best he could" (as he claimed) for her. Not even fucking close.

And yes, if Obama said the same thing, I'd be just as pissed.