Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Romney Speaks Up for Sons

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) - Despite his call for the nation to show a ``surge of support'' for U.S. forces in Iraq, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday defended his five sons' decision not to enlist.

The former Massachusetts governor said his sons were showing their support for the country by ``helping get me elected.''

Romney, who did not serve in Vietnam due to his Mormon missionary work and a high draft lottery number, was posed the question by an anti-war activist after a speech in which Romney saluted a uniformed soldier in the crowd and called for donations to military support organizations.

Last week the presidential candidate donated $25,000 to seven such organizations.

``The good news is that we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it,'' Romney told some 200 people gathered in an abbey near the Mississippi River that had been converted into a hotel. ``My sons are all adults and they've made decisions about their careers and they've chosen not to serve in the military and active duty and I respect their decision in that regard.''

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