KETTERING, OH; Oct. 30, 2012 -- While former governor Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have agreed to suspend campaigning activities in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Romney is accusing Obama of not honoring the agreement, claiming that Obama's behavior in addressing storm victims, relief workers and the public is unfairly presidential.
Mr. Romney, who holds no elected or appointed office, objects to Mr. Obama's insistence on carrying out the traditional duties of a sitting president of the United States.
"Mr. Obama has violated our agreement not to engage in political activities," Mr. Romney said in a press conference held in front of a bus plastered with his name in three-foot-high lettering. "When he stands in front of the press corps and gives a summary of the devastation that has occurred, or tells the public that the most important thing is for them to listen to their state and local officials regarding safety and evacuation procedures, or frees up federal money in advance of the destruction, it's an unfairly even-handed and competent approach to emergency management," continued Mr. Romney, who has met with leaders of cities and towns affected by the hurricane despite the fact that he has no authority over any government agency and has had no involvement with emergency planning in any jurisdiction.
Later, at a concert which the James Trent Arena referred to as a "Republican campaign rally" during which volunteers collected supplies in a manner which directly conflicts with Red Cross regulations on the donation and distribution of emergency aid, he added "Mr. Obama's behavior is not only the opposite of the sterling precedent that Republicans have established for running an agency for emergency management on the federal level during a hurricane, it's also an unfair cheap campaign stunt, and I hope Americans can see it for what it is."
