Romney Party Yacht Flies Cayman Islands Flag

ABC ^ | Aug. 29, 2012 | MATTHEW MOSK, BRIAN ROSS, MEGAN CHUCHMACH, RHONDA SCHWARTZ

[nickcarraway]

Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign toasted its top donors Wednesday aboard a 150-foot yacht flying the flag of the Cayman Islands.

The floating party, hosted by a Florida developer on his yacht "Cracker Bay," was one of a dozen exclusive events meant to nurture those who have raised more than $1 million for Romney's bid.

"I think it's ironic they do this aboard a yacht that doesn't even pay its taxes," said a woman who lives aboard a much smaller boat moored at the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina.

Romney's Cayman-based investments have come under fire during the campaign.

The event, attended by no more than 50 people, along with Romney relatives, including older brother Scott, appeared on no public calendars. ABC News obtained a schedule of the Romney campaign's "Victory Council" and waited dockside to speak with members.

"It was a really nice event. These are good supporters," said billionaire Wilbur Ross, an energy industry executive.

[Not A Snowbird]

It’s official... that is the CI flag, not Bermuda.

http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Cracker-Bay-1007249.html

[Theoria]

Dummy, I meant CI Civil Ensign flag.

[techrules2002]

Hmmmm - a choice between a man who attended a party on someone else’s yacht/boat flying another countries flag - - - - - - or a self anointed “jobs producing” President who owns a campaign bus with a “Made in Canada” sticker in the windshield!!!!
/
Guess he didn’t say which country he created those jobs in?

[martinidon]

“if I owned a vessel like that, I would register it here and fly the American flag proudly.” until your accountant informed you you will be paying Millions of dollars every year in property tax just to maintain the registration. The you have the other expensive issues to deal with like taxes on your employees salaries, city taxes, inspections, etc. Trust by the time your accountant pencils it all out he will give you 2 recommendations; flag it in another country, or don’t buy it.

[TonyInOhio]

The poor don’t hire. Guys with yachts do.

[9YearLurker]

Thanks—there’s a FReeper with an answer to anything!

[rbmillerjr]

This is the kind of posting I’d go over to DU to see to mock the Socialists.

Now I can stay right here and see the same circus.

[ladyjane]

Why can't an American own a home or a yacht in another country?

Because it makes people envious, even here on FR.

[jarofants]

Party and Romney should not be in the same sentence.

[hinckley buzzard]

I hope everyone notices--the yacht is not Romney's, it belongs to some real estate developer.

[SUSSA]

It isn’t Romney’s yacht. There are plenty of reasons to oppose Romney. His having rich supporters isn’t one of them unless you are anti-personal acomplishment.

[DoughtyOne]

Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign toasted its top donors Wednesday aboard a 150-foot yacht flying the flag of the Cayman Islands.

The floating party, hosted by a Florida developer on his yacht "Cracker Bay," was one of a dozen exclusive events meant to nurture those who have raised more than $1 million for Romney's bid.

I don't know PhilDragoo. If you do, and it merits comment, go ahead and tell us.

Out of twelve such yaghts, one was registered off-shore. Eleven were registered on-short.

Instead of the Left being able to so easily turn us against each other based on class warfare, I'd rather see them taken to task for their brazen hypocrisy. Has Obama shied away from taking foreign cash? No. So why are we even talking about this?

I thought we agreed about trying to pay less taxes.

[hinckley buzzard]

Some FReepers are as bad as MSNBC when it comes to factchecking.

Been getting worse ever since the birthers joined the romney haters.

[kcvl]

Cracker Bay is currently not available for Charter on Superyachts.com

http://www.superyachts.com/motor-yacht-2536/cracker-bay.htm

[Boogieman]

“I’d rather Mitt be exactly who he is than walk around on eggshells trying to guess what’s going to offend the left.”

As if Mitt’s not always trying to tailor his actions to what he thinks will please the most people anyway! Ha.

[techrules2002]

Of course we don’t want to talk about the Air Force One flyover of NYC to take a 4” x 6” postcard photo op and definitely was not giving a ride to reward the Obama campaign supporters!!

[Oztrich Boy]

Google the flag of Bermuda. Note the color.

Google the flag of Cayman Islands. Note the color.

look at the flag on the yacht in this pic.

Would it were that simple. It all starts woth ships at sea. The Admiral (ruler of the sea) would identify his ship, hereafter the "flagship", by flying a distinctive flag.

Early in the 17th century the the Royal Navy this was the red ensign

As the fleet got larger is was divided into squadrons

The Centre, commanded by the Admiral

The Van, commanded by a Vice Admiral

And the Rear, commanded be a Rear Admiral

When the fleet got larger, the squadrons became fleets in their own right and with 9 admirals of various grades it got comlicated

As the Navy got still larger, and by Nelson;s day there were even more admirals and it got really complcated

So it was simplfied. Navy ships would fly the White Ensign. Ships in Government Service not-Navy, the Blue. And Merchant Ships the Red Ensign.

However about this time, The British acquired an Empire and the various colonial departments began to use varianst of these ensigns (usually blue for government, red for NGOs)

This worked until the colonials demanded autonomy, and selected either a red or blue ensign variant as the Official flag. And it got complicated again. Where the red ensign became the autonomy ensign (eg Canada, Bermuda islands) it was clear - everybody flies the one flag)

But where the blue ensign was the autonomy ensign (eg Australia, Cayman Islands) the practice conformed to the original rules: government (ie Customs) ships are blue. Merchant ships are red. Private (ie non-comercial) may fly either the red ensign or the blue national ensign.

And this is why when you google Cayman Islands flag it comes out their official blue, while Cayman Islands registered yachts can be flying either a blue or red ensign.

There's a reason the sunject is called Vexillology.

[Oztrich Boy]

Yeah, I sorta explain it here

[kcvl]

Hey, ABC “NEWS” he did BUILD THAT!!!

Gary Morse, the owner of the development company which created The Villages

A 2008 Census Bureau report ranked The Villages the No. 1 fastest growing micropolitan area in the United States. In 2012, Forbes magazine ranked The Villages as the No. 1 fastest growing small town.

Residents of The Villages have a high 80% turnout rate in elections, with Republicans outnumbering Democrats two-to-one. Some Democratic residents complain about the distinctly Republican coverage in local broadcasting and newspaper, an orientation attributed to The Villages’ owner.

he Villages developers (or their descendants) operate three media properties:

The Villages News Network (VNN), which is aired on the local Comcast cable network

The Villages Daily Sun, a local newspaper (in the process of being sold to an outside party)

WVLG AM-640 radio (a Fox News Radio affiliate).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Villages,_Florida

[Not A Snowbird]

As if Mitt’s not always trying to tailor his actions to what he thinks will please the most people anyway! Ha.

Yes, we know, you hate him. Got it.