[esarlls3]

Rick, I think you are overreacting on this issue. Here is a more reasoned approach posted on the ARRL site where this article was sourced:

I think the Amateur Radio Community in Massachussets needs to do a better job of communicating their role and capabilities to the Governor in a non-adversarial way, but characterizing his comment as disrespectful isn't the best way to do it nor is a spontaneous e-mail barrage.

If your goal is to increase the awareness of the Governor about the back-up capabilities of Amateur Radio in an emergency, then a reasoned and respectful approach by your section leadership officials should be your best approach. But if your goal is to annoy the Governor and have him really dismiss hams as bunch of kooks who overreact to a response to a left-field question, then by all means fire away with your e-mail barrage!

73
Gary Wilson, K2GW
SNJ SEC

If you have policy differences with Mitt, fine. Voting against him because he does not understand Amateur Radio is foolish, IMO.

In fact, Mitt's church is very active in using Amateur Radio for emergency communications and public service. If you want an advocate for Amateur Radio, educate him.

Go Hunter (are you still there?), Go Fred (hello?), Go Mitt (if the above can't be seen).

73, KT5YZ, ARES, RACES, SkyWarn (only two years, though, so I'm a relatively new Ham who joined after Katrina/Rita)

[TalonDJ]

Voting against him because he does not understand Amateur Radio is foolish

The point is that as a governor he should already know about it. The tone and content of his response indicates a complete lack of awareness. Not just a partial one. Of all people a GOVERNOR should know about disaster preparedness.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Esarlls3 - While I certainly respect your opinion on the matter, that's a cowards way out.I will say this once more - Amateurs DO communicate quite effectively with those at the local, state and government level. Apparently though, even good communications does NOT get through to someone who is arrogant about the subject of "Hams". Again, I will say it is NOT about Ham Radio. it's about his reaction, and his ignorance. Yes, this IS a "policy issue".

I worked for the White House Communications Agency, and was personally responsible for making sure Mr. Reagan and Mr. Bush could talk to the White House no matter where they were in the world. I AM a professional communicator - and was LONG before I was an Amateur. Mr. Reagan and Mr. Bush understood the need for Amateur Radios in disasters and certainly wouldn't have said such a thing.

The current President understands the need for them. Any future President should understand the need as well, and as a GOVERNOR should have FULLY grasped the concept then. It is governors and local authorities who have the greatest, most urgent need for the Amateur Community, long before the Feds ever get involved in disaster recovery.

Again, this isn't about HAM RADIO - that's the cover of this thread, but it's about Mr. Romney's lack of principles, lack of understanding, and his complete disrespect to those who served in his state as operators.

In fact, Mitt's church is very active in using Amateur Radio for emergency communications and public service. If you want an advocate for Amateur Radio, educate him.

Good idea... that's what I am doing here, I'm educating his proponents because he's not going to chat with me. I don't expect to see him in Colorado at this point, therefore, he's not taking time out of his busy day to give me a call or take my calls. Sorry. It's my job to educate the PUBLIC, and that's what I am doing.

[Rick.Donaldson]

by the way... welcome to the ranks of the Amateur Radio Operator, glad to have you (even if we disagree sometimes!)

The point is, you joined after Katrina... why? were you involved or what was it that convinced you to become a Ham? I’m curious?