The new issue of Time magazine has just unveiled Mitt Romney on their list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. No surprise there, but chronicling the Mighty Mittster? Bill Bain….that Bill Bain. By contrast, Barack Obama’s mediocre write up was done by Joe Klein. Since when in a political season do we have a major donor extolling the virtues of someone who he desperately wants to win the election? Or does Mitt not have any friends or associates who could attest to him belonging on the list? In any case, Bain lays it on pretty thick:
after the orange infinity
When I asked Mitt Romney to join Bain & Co. in 1977, I knew he was brilliant, but there was much I didn't know. As founder and CEO, I liked being first in the office when that was practical. On Mitt's first day, he arrived first. I came in earlier the next day, and there he was again. I decided to shake Mitt up a little and have some fun. I walked out of my office, stood in front of his desk and said, "Mitt, you are beginning to piss me off." He said, "What? What?" I asked him, "Why so early?" He said that after helping Ann with the children, he would visit the sick from his church and then come to work. We all looked at one another and applauded him.
Time Magazine-Mittens
Unless I’m completely misunderstanding this, it makes no sense to me. I would guess the company opened no earlier than 7:30 and more likely 8 or later. So what time was Mitt arriving? 6:30 or 7? And he did this after supposedly helping his wife with the kids and then visiting the sick. So you have people sick enough to be on a church list for visits and he descends on them in the early morning when they’re likely sleeping. I’d be putting him on a No AdMittance list pretty quickly. And if he’s visiting the sick prior to an early arrival, is he “helping” his wife at 5 in the morning? Who gets their kids up that early?
Sounds like another Mitt tall tale for the benefit of the boss. Or is this that wry Mittens humor. HaHaHa! "After I get up and help the little woman with the younguns and minister to the sick, I have so much time on my hands, I just shimmy into work. HaHaHa!" This boss seems like as much of a clown as Mitt if his idea of hijinks is to joke with a new employee about his punctuality. The other employees applauding him? Not likely when they have to dash out the door to barely make it to the office.
Bain concludes with more praise for his golden boy:
Mitt's work ethic, analytical mind and devotion to family and country are a cocktail for success. When I picked him to become the first managing partner of Bain Capital, I knew he would help us create a successful business. When he retired from Bain Capital in 1999 to take over as CEO of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, I knew he would make them memorable. When Mitt was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2003, I knew he would get rid of the waste that had plagued our state. Now as I watch the current presidential race, I know this country will be blessed if Mitt's next job is President of the United States.
Bain is the founder of Bain & Co. and a co-founder of Bain Capital