Posted on 07/02/2007 4:17:47 PM PDT by AFA-Michigan
Some anti-pornography groups are demanding answers as to how much presidential candidate Mitt Romney knew about the Marriott hotel chain's profits of pornography sales during his nearly ten years on the Board of Directors in the 1990's.
The hotel chain is one of many that offer pay per view sex videos for sale through in-room entertainment.
Though Marriott doesn't release their revenues when it comes to X-rated videos, industry analysts estimate it is in the tens of millions of dollars.
During his run for President, Romney has campaigned on a platform of "family values" recently telling a graduation class, "Pornography and violence poison our music and movies and television and video games."
Some of these conservative grassroots activists want to know whether he spoke up or tried to put a stop to Marriott's business dealings back then.
Phil Burress, founder of Citizens for Community Values, has been fighting hotel chains for decades on this issue. He tells The Brody File that every month a group of roughly 15 anti-pornography leaders meet in Washington to discuss the latest happenings.
Mitt Romney's Marriott connection has come up repeatedly. "Ever since he announced for president, it's been a topic of discussion."
Mitt Romney's campaign told CBN the following: "Governor Romney's role as board member was in an advisory capacity on financial matters related to the company and, obviously, he did not have a role in the day-to-day operations or decisions of individual franchise holders."
John Harmer, president of the anti-pornography group The Lighted Candle Society and the former Lieutenant Governor of California under Ronald Reagan isn't buying it. He wants to hear more.
"My attitude toward board members is that they are fully responsible. They knew exactly what they were receiving. I don't think any board member under any rationale could claim ignorance. You're either a board member or not. I can't imagine a board member going a full year and not receiving a revenue report from the company."
Previous news accounts researched by The Brody File show that Romney was paid more than $100,000 per year while on the board of Marriott.
When he left in 2002, J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, called him, "an active, hands-on Director… From his first days on our Board nine years ago, Mitt has been an extraordinarily effective director and visionary leader."
Mitt Romney has a very close relationship with the Marriott family.
Romney's father, George Romney was best friends with Marriott's original founder J. Willard Marriott. Mitt Romney's first name is Willard, in honor of the Marriott founder. The Marriott family gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Mitt Romney's campaign when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994.
So far during Romney's presidential run, they have given close to $80,000.
When asked about Romney's time on the board of directors, Marriott Spokesman Roger Conner told CBN, "We don't comment on board level matters."
Conner wouldn't speculate whether Romney had any knowledge about the fight to get rid of pornography in room entertainment or whether he did anything about it. He would only say, "This area would not have been a board area…"
Conner is quick to point out that voting on in room entertainment packages would not have been something the board would have voted on. Rather, he says, this is an operations matter.
Moreover, he says that many of Marriott hotels are either owned by others or franchised.
"We have to respect the business decisions and needs of owners. The guest has a choice to opt out of the adult entertainment options."
The Brody File made repeated calls to LodgeNet, one of the main providers for hotel in-room entertainment. We asked whether hotels have the option to opt out of the X-rated films if they would like.
They did not return our phone calls. On their website, it does say that they work "closely with its hotel partners to determine the best mix of titles to maximize viewing levels. Unlike most systems, On Command Video has the ability to tailor the programming at individual hotels to match the demographic profile of that particular property's guests.
Conservative pro-family groups have been putting pressure on hotel chains for years to change their ways.
In a letter to Bill Johnson of the American Decency Association, Marriott's Chairman of the Board wrote in June of 2000, "The in-room entertainment operators who provide our systems rely upon a certain volume of movie types in order to be economically viable. If we were to eliminate the R and non rated offerings, the systems would not be economic."
Industry analysts estimate that roughly 60% of hotel chains provide in room entertainment with the X-rated pornography movie option. Yet, some have decided to drop the adult videos.
In 1999, Omni Hotels announced that it would remove adult pay-per-view movies from its guest room televisions. It took a financial hit but Peter Strebel, Omni Hotels vice president of marketing, said in a press release at the time, "
"Money is not the issue in this matter. Not all business decisions should be fiscally driven. We believe that this is the right thing to do; the right thing for Omni Hotels, our associates and our customers."
Gary Glenn, a well known pro-family activist in Michigan recently sent an email to Justin Hart, one of Mitt Romney's Faith and Values Steering Committee members. Hart also works for the The Lighted Candle Society.
Glenn writes, "It is a matter of record that during the time Romney served as a 'hands on' member of its board of directors, the Marriott Corporation sold tens of millions of dollars worth of hardcore pornographic videos… as a candidate for president, Gov. Romney has a bully pulpit from which he could greatly assist your organization and others in applying sufficient public pressure to Marriott and other white-collar porn peddlers to 'dry up some of that funding'…we encourage you to urge the Romney campaign to initiate public discussion of the above concerns and questions in a proactive fashion, for which he may receive some credit for initiative and leadership on an issue that speaks both to his personal and political integrity and to his trustworthiness should he be elected as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States."
The Brody File contacted Justin Hart who said "In this important fight against pornography there are those people who are determined to make enemies and effect zero change and there are those who propose to use their influence to create serious lasting change - Romney is in this latter camp…pure societal turnaround can only happen when people of influence find the right moment in time to lead change…In my opinion, Romney's record shows that he could very well effect that change to happen. The fact that he included a serious anti-pornography group on his Faith and Values committee suggests this as well."
That's not satisfying to Phil Buress. He wants answers from Romney. "This man is very knowledgeable about the issues, but for him to not know anything about what Marriott is selling, I found that very interesting."
The Romney campaign won't go beyond their initial statement.
Instead they point out that Governor Romney is actively talking about pornography issues and today's culture wars.
In a speech Romney gave nearly three months ago, he said, "I have great faith in the American people. I have faith in our children, and in our grandchildren. But at the same time, I am deeply troubled by the culture that surrounds them today.I'd like to keep pornography from coming up on kid's computers. I'd like to keep drugs off the streets. I'd like to see less violence and sex on TV and in movies and in video games…I believe that the most important work being done to strengthen America's future is the work that is being done within the 4 walls of the American home."
“So, if the Mormon Priest, Mitt Romney, owned stock in perhaps Planned Parenthood, that wouldn’t be duplicitous in your eyes since he wouldn’t be doing the abortions personally, just collecting profits from them. Is that about it?”
If George Bush still owned staock in a baseball team and that baseball team sucked, would that be his fault?
Isn't that the difference between a pimp and a prostitute?
He wants to claim to be a “conservative leader” THAT is the problem, just like the LDS taking a tithe and other “offerings” from Porn, it says something about the “heart “
“He wants to claim to be a “conservative leader” THAT is the problem, just like the LDS taking a tithe and other “offerings” from Porn, it says something about the “heart “”
I don’t care one whit about his religion. I care wether or not he would be a good POTUS. From everything I have seen so far, I remain unconvinced. I just do not care that the Momons own Marriott and that Marriott offers adult films in their rooms.
Freedom of religion, free market and all that rot taken into account, your molehill remains exatly that.
By your own reply, it's crystal clear it's a straw man argument! This is what you wrote:
There are several sources for multiple definitions of "straw man":
Not worried that Romney might actually make any such donations. In fact, [I'm] certain he won’t.
The Wikipedia definition best described what you have done, because you
Now, rather than engaging in unproven projections about YOUR motivation, I will put a question to you that can be answered "Yes" or "No."
Think of the person that, at present, you would like to see become the next President. Got it?
Now, suddenly, that person has converted to Mormonism.
Do you still want him/her to be President? Yes or No.
So are we going to hold this standard for all who are conservative that might profit from a hotel who is not on the clean hotel.com list?
What about the Hawthorn Hotel who is not on the Clean Hotel list?
This is a Hotel Rush Limbough endorses?
Hey smarty pant donna are also calling Rush Linbough a Pimp?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1859880/posts?page=286#286
Apparently you Mormonism Apologists feel that somehow if your guy is questioned that dragging down others will elevate the Oven Mitt. Keep it up, you’re killing his chances.
A man that misrepresents his world view will never make a “good president” Look at Bush
Dude, whatever. Go do something productive. Stop trying to ruin everyone else’s fun.
He's probably more conservative than Mitt ROFL
So what, he also worked on Santorum's campaign.
Reducing the size of gov't and reforming the tax system benefits the social conservative agenda more, not less. That's hardly aspiring to live in an "amoral socialist liberal" world.
If you prefer the democrat version, I'd recommend switching parties.
Bible-thumping busybodies are just as bad as left-wingers.
Uh, which hotel are you and the wife staying at? I may need to, uh, stop for directions....to visit my grandmother in case I get lost! Yeah, that's it, my grandmother! :-)
i wonder how many Marriott properties Duncan Hunter has stayed in over the years?
Apparently you Mormonism Apologists feel that somehow if your guy is questioned that dragging down others will elevate the Oven Mitt. Keep it up, you’re killing his chances.
It matters not if Rush is not running for president he is very powerful voice almost as much as the president and some think he is!
I respect Rush and my point here is to show that those like you are a hypocrite!
Stop calling me dear one, when in the same breath you go out of your way to distort and use sites that made a life living out of peddling omi$$ion, di$tortion$, and outright lie$, against the LDS they were rebels in their faith all churches have them. It is disappointing when one wants to undermind one from a notorious hate site and don’t even inform the reader you let them think it came from an official site!
“The Tanners ULM!”
Say what ever you want as long as it is factual!
IT IS EVEDENT THAT THE DESIRE FOR THE TRUTH IS LACKING IN YOU AND NEITHER IS IT IN THE TANNER aka ULM, OR THEY WOULD HAVE THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE LISTED! At leasted remove it from their site but they are banking on you not to do your homework and to put the LDS through hoops for sport!
I don’t see the LDS out beating the drum, endlessly campaigned to cast aspersions on other faith!
A practicing LDS spends their time building up the Lord Kingdom, and those like you spend time like Noah nemesis trying to obstruct the work.
Excerpt from Jeff Linday (LDS)
1998 Update: I have received multiple e-mails indicating the Smithsonian Institution has backed down after all, and that the 1996 Statement is no longer sent to people making inquiries.
Apparently, they are simply noting that the Book of Mormon is not a scientific guide and therefore not used by the Institution. Although the Institution apparently has reversed its former policy of issuing a critical document, the Smithsonian Statement in its various forms will continue to be circulated by anti-Mormon critics for many years.
Thus, there is still a need to deal with the document and the issues it raises. 2001 Update: Some critics have alleged that I am mistaken and that the Smithsonian has not changed the statement it send people. They are wrong. I called the Smithsonian on Feb. 7, 2001 and asked them to send me the standard statement that they send people concerning the Book of Mormon. Here is the letter that they sent me in return:
So, does this mean that you support porn in hotels like Mitt does?
BTW NOT of all of the Marriott hotels offer this, just a few of those independant franchies?
Is Rush running for office? I’ll never vote for him!
What about you? Are you going to vote for one of the porn-rich?
“Now, suddenly, that person has converted to Mormonism. Do you still want him/her to be President? Yes or No.”
Don’t care, Smithee. Instead of straw men, you keep putting up softballs.
Unless you are one, I’ve helped elect more Mormons to public office than you’ve probably ever met.
**Marriott hotel chain’s profits of pornography sales during his nearly ten years on the Board of Directors in the 1990’s.**
Hmmmm.
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