Governor Mitt Romney, who called the funding of FEMA "immoral" during the primaries, is showing President Obama – and all of America – just what serious disaster relief looks like.
Today, at a "storm relief event" in Dayton, Ohio, the Romney team collected grocery items for flood-ravaged victims in New York and New Jersey – items the Red Cross has specifically requested not be donated at this time.
Here's a view of the goods from NPR's Ari Shapiro:
The Romney campaign excitedly loaded these items upon one of Romney's luxury yachts at the conclusion of their "non-campaign" event which, according to Shapiro, was a "Victory Rally" that opened with a film touting Romney the candidate.
Here's Shapiro's press credentials from today's "storm relief event":
The "Romney Relief Yacht" will navigate swollen rivers and slowly make its way to the coast of New Jersey, where campaign interns hope to line up starving coastal survivors in orderly lines and distribute uncooked pasta and rice to residents with no electricity, gas or running water.
"We're so excited to do this," said John Prasena, a Romney staffer. "This is what personal responsibility looks like. Taking your own yacht and using it for good. I can't wait to see the faces in New Jersey when we hand them bags of uncooked rice."
And Michelle Swaller, an intern aboard the Romney yacht, could hardly contain her glee. "The last time I felt like this was when I volunteered an hour for Habitat for Humanity. It just feels good to do something so important."
Residents along the New Jersey shore, some of whom are still awaiting rescue from search teams, were not as excited when told about the yacht making its way to the New Jersey coast.
"But that's just because they weren't here in Ohio," said Romney aid Stuart Stevens. "Because trust me, it was inspiring."
Author's Note:
Concerning today's "storm relief event" that has the Romney campaign excited, but which seemed like it might have been some type of campaign event, Shapiro Tweets: