Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Ann Romney's MS Story

I first became aware of Ann Romney's battle with multiple sclerosis when the left raised the issue of her expensive horses.  It turned out that she had started riding horses as a therapy for MS.  Imagine what would have happened to any conservative sneering at a Democratic wife's debilitating disease.

Today there's a long article by Katrina Trinko in NRO about Ann Romney and her MS story.  It's the usual "heart-warming" story that you expect to see all over the checkout stands at the supermarket.  Only you don't.

Is that because the women's magazines won't turn to presidential politics until after the conventions?  Or because the heart-warming story is about a Republican?  Or because the liberal women that run the women's magazines in Manhattan haven't heard of Ann Romney?

Who knows?  But I predict that when the women of America get to know about Ann Romney they will warm to her.  Because the story of Ann Romney's MS is the sort of story that women love.  It starts when her youngest son is in high school.  It involves Mitt Romney pitching in.  It involves Ann Romney moving to Utah, and various actions by her sons to provide support for her.  And then there is the horse story: how Ann Romney started riding in a desperate attempt  to have something to focus on.

And then there is the story of Ann Romney running a relay with the Olympic torch.
And then Mitt Romney nominated his wife — without telling her — to carry the Olympic torch, citing her as his personal hero. It would be an arduous task for her: Those who carry the Olympic torch run for a quarter-mile before relaying the torch to the next person. For weeks beforehand, Romney practiced, building up her strength.

“She was able to jog the whole thing,” remembers Josh Romney, who was there with her, running alongside his mom.

“I literally ran,” Romney says, describing how she carried the torch, with friends and some of her sons present. “My kids were all surrounding me,” she says. “And they were all crying because they knew what a miracle it was that I came [to Utah] barely able to walk and now [here] I was, three years later, torch in hand, the Olympics were a success, I was back on track, I was regaining my strength, and off I ran with this torch into the city.”
I know what you are thinking.  Doesn't the First Amendment forbid the publication of this sort of story that suggests, ever so sweetly, that evil Republicans are human too?

To which I answer: who knows?  If the Supreme Court can fling a decision like Citizens United into the faces of the progressive blogosphere, who knows what is allowed in America any more?

4 comments:

  1. It's like this,.,.

    Ann Romney (bless her heart) has MS.
    THOUSANDS of people are finding true relief from medical cannabis to treat their MS, they are able to get off strong prescription narcotics as a result in many cases, which is ALWAYS a good thing.

    Mitt was in Denver last month when he was asked by a reporter (Colorado has been getting beat up by the Feds over Medical cannabis) what HIS thought were on medical cannabis (totally fair question).

    Mitt Romney smirked into the camera and said 'Medical marijuana? Don't you have anything of importance to talk about instead'? Then he ended the interview, climbed into a big SUV and drove off via entourage.

    So, Ann Romney has MS.. Don't we have anything important to talk about instead?

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    1. Nice story but in the real world, not everyone with MS makes the kind of progress that Mitt describes those knowing her as "heroic". Maybe that is why it's not plastered all over the rags. A lot of people may not relate to it. There are hundreds of thousands of MS hero's and heroism as well among those not fortunate enough to make that kind of progress with their MS and who carry their own "private" torches that inspire, though not as "prestigious" as carrying the Olympic torch. So I'm happy for her experience and her husband's nomination for her and for the Romney's good fortune and I'm sorry for her MS but find the inspirational discussion a bit out of the reality and out of touch with most people's experiences..... but we can all hope many more are as fortunate. As for the medical marijuana, if it works, it should be legal and used and is an important discussion to have.

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  2. In follow up to my other comment (if it was approved and posted) I know Mrs. Romney served on the board of the New England chapter for MS and has contributed time and money to the cause of MS. Good for her. I have hard time accepting that as enough when she and her husband potentially may be part of the power that will make decisions on the health care access and cost others experience; health care, including physical therapy for MS, whether it be traditional or alternative that thousands cannot now afford to pay for. Will they have the potential for the same “heroic” progress?

    Do all citizens have the ability to receive the best physical therapy and medical treatment available for MS, including the costly drugs used to treat it? If only they did, and if only we could buy them all a horse, or whatever else they could use to focus on to help them since they do not have millions or thousands to cover alternative/additional personal therapies as a few do, or sufficient affordable insurance plans, as some do. My guess is many of them are focusing on piling up medical bills while still having enough left over for the mortgage or rent, the next grocery trip, and whether they can keep their jobs; and whether any PT for their MS or other drugs that treat it may have to be given up. Stress has a great impact on MS. Many know at least one or two people with MS these days. For many, they can get the care needed even if just basic, for many others, however, not so much.

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