Romney "Disses" Amateur Radio In Televised Town Meeting (and why he won't get my vote)

Eastern MA American Radio Relay League ^ | Wednesday 16 November 2005 @ 15:48:10 | Eastern Massachusetts ARRL

[Rick.Donaldson]

Romney "Disses" Amateur Radio In Televised Town Meeting Posted on Wednesday 16 November 2005 @ 15:48:10

Governor Mitt Romney dismissed the role of Amateur Radio operators in emergency communications during a televised "town meeting" program last night on WCVB's "When Disaster Strikes: Segment Two." The program featured public safety and volunteer organization officials from across Massachusetts among its audience.

Host and moderator Natalie Jacobson asked an increasingly-agitated Governor Romney questions about communications interoperability, and communication without commercial power. Romney was next asked by Jacobson, "...so does it come down to ham radio?..."

The Governor replied in a disgusted tone, "No, we don't need to deal with ham radio operators..."

Embarrassed public safety officials later tried to put in a good word for Amateur Radio. National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Glenn Field was prepared to state the importance of Amateur Radio, when Salvation Army Colonel Fred Van Brunt was called upon. Van Brunt remarked about his organization's quest to improve its communications capabilities and how Amateur Radio has aided his organization. "The ham radio situation helps a great deal," he stated.

"I have already written and submitted a letter to the Governor's Office," wrote Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. "I have also written an email to Natalie Jacobson."

ARRL Section Manager Mike Neilsen, W1MPN sent a section-wide email today to all Eastern MA ARRL members describing the incident along with actions he and his staff were taking to mitigate the situation.

"[Romney's] attitude about us sets an unfortunate tone within the state's executive branch," wrote Neilsen. "As a former military officer, I see this as a failure in leadership. My immediate concern is our working relationship within the [Massachusetts Emergency Management Team] environment." Neilsen intends to address the Governor's comments as "an urgent matter" at a meeting on November 17 with Don Carlton from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

"I was very disturbed about what the Governor stated on the program," wrote Ron Wood, W1PLW, the section's Public Information Coordinator. "It does show that more work is needed by all hams in the section. It's a great idea to write letters explaining the good we do." Wood is attempting to schedule a meeting with the Governor's office tomorrow so that EMA ARRL staffers might discuss the matter further.

Tom Kinahan, N1CPE wrote that Governor Romney's comment has made "a PR problem" for Kinahan in his role as MA State RACES Officer.

"I've got a roster of over 150 Amateur Radio operators that support local communities, and those of us that directly support the state government. There are at least double that in terms of people that are actually out there that I don't have formal paperwork on that support Amateur Radio emergency communications in some organized manner... The Governor has said that he 'certainly doesn't need to rely on ham radio' -- where does that leave the RACES program now?"

"I am ashamed tonight that I am a Republican!" remarked one ham radio viewer. "[Romney] speaks in derogatory tones about hams. He certainly shows an ignorance as to what we do and are capable of. I suggest a grass roots campaign of local hams calling the State House and The Governor's Office to protest."

The television program can be viewed at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/5334306/detail.html.

[gitmo]

Thank you for your service. You mentioned the time you spend serving the community, but neglected to mention the monetary costs to you. I don’t personally know what that equipment costs, but it’s got to be a pretty penny.

I’ve always had a lot of respect for the hams around the world. They have been the link that held the world together when everything else went to heck in a handbasket. The rest of the time, they’re just weirdos who sit up at night talking to distant voices across the void.

[CenTex]

Most of the money for the installations is furnished by the organization needing the support. However I have a lot of personal equipment that is used to support the network.

I also receive NO reimbursement for my time or travel. One of the hospitals is 80 miles from my house and another is 65 miles the other way.

I also attend many seminars and meetings on my nickle. I did have most of my expenses picked up last year to attend the Texas Hurricane Conference in Galveston.

[Rick.Donaldson]

This all seems to be an obscure meeting on an obscure subject held over two years ago. Did the ARRL seek to provide some information to the Governor after that meeting and did he step forward and refuse to sign the usual declaration of state Ham Radio Days that most states have?

Obviously you didn't actually READ the article then?

Did he step forth and announce that he felt it a wise bit of legislation to forbid all ham radio in Massachusetts? I kinda doubt it.

He can't do that. A state can not close down Ham radio. It's a federal program. It's not about ham radio.

Someone call the campaign and ask if the Romney platform is to oppose ham radio and all of its facets and get it formally quoted. If you don’t have an explicit statement of that sort, you have nothing.

Quit trying to minimimze this. It's NOT ABOUT HAM RADIO, it's about ignorance. There's plenty here. I really think all you folks trying to minimize this and push it into the background "because it is 2 years old" are being very close minded - or trying to HIDE something. I don't care how long ago he did it, he did it, and that's the imporantant thing. Some of you sound like Bill Clinton Defenders now.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Yes we realize it is from 2005. This article indicative of things that this Governor has said in the past. It’s one aspect only of some of the things he has said and done. He’s incorrect in his statements, misinformed/ignorant and plain wrong. He’s never apologized. Yes, it’s “old” — but it is the truth. Sorry folks don’t like hearing the truth

[ElectricStrawberry]

That's what it was called.....we had a "MARS" building on-post where we could write messages to send just about anywhere over the HAM network.

In MA...we have loads of Guard units...69 active armories/units. Just my infantry Bn had 5 units of 100-120 each....and we've got 3 Inf. Bns.

The way emergencies work in MA is that there's a signals corps that sets up immediate communications for the guvna...with a mobile signals corps unit right in front of the Statehouse...so I'm just wondering why there would be a need to use the HAM operators at all. 69 Army units in a state the size of MA is a whole lot of communications support.

Really...what I don't get is how Romney saying "No, we don't need to deal with ham radio operators..." with reference to "communications during an emergency/crisis" is a "dissing HAM operators".....when the state has millions of dollars of military comms at its disposal.

[Scarchin]

Wow - the worst reason yet to vote against Romney.

Pulling out a 2 year old article about an issue 99.99999% caould give a crap about - nice work.

[devane617]

I am a “Ham”, and storm spotter here in N. TX...We have an important job...Just ask the weather service, and local authorities who rely on Hams to give pin-point locations of storms/tornados on the ground.

[devane617]

could give a crap about....yea, that is until you need them. I am a Ham, and storm spotter, and the weather service and local authorities rely on Hams to know the exact locations of storms/tornados on the ground.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Apparently ham operators rock and anyone who feels differently or is not familiar with the fact that ham operators rock, is an ignorant troll that lies.

[Rick.Donaldson]

“There is no backup that would survive a EMP anymore than a hamm radio would”

Well, Mr. ColdHeat, you're completely, totally wrong. I have several radio systems that not only would survive EMP have survive lightning strikes. My expertise happens to be radio theory and practice, physics and electronics. I also teach survival courses - and I train people to prepare for the unimaginable, including nuclear war.

So, Mr. Know-it-All, where'd you get your training in EMP? I got mine in the United States Air Force. I was a Senior Radio Technician for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. I was a combat communications NCO. I've worked with several "served agencies" in my life during disasters. I have a radio shack that, IF there were a nuclear emp that affected all other communications in the region, would STILL work (and I have spare equipment to replace anything that might be damaged).

I would actually suggest you do a little research on the subject before you go off making incorrect and untrue claims.

[Scarchin]

Let me clarify - I respect you radio folks - but this issue - not even in the top 500.

[Rick.Donaldson]

New Orleans, where I lived for 11 years, was crippled due to flooding. Generators failed due to flooding and then lack of fuel. They did have a antiquated system with repeaters, but the repeaters needed power from the grid in critical areas, and so it failed badly.

There are few communities that have covered all these simple bases, and I know this!

Hence the NEED to independent communications and communicators that are NOT paid for by a government entity.

But that is not why I posted on this ridiculous thread. Romney's quotes do not indicate a disdain for Ham radio or ignorance of same. The poster simply is looking for a way to bash him as dozens, and dozens of threads here on this forum have done. It's all about Fred.

The thread is ONLY "ridicuoulous" to you and other Romney supporters because it brings to light a problem with the man, a FACTUAL problem and a real incident where he shows his complete ignorance and utter lack of respect for volunteers. Otherwise, there's nothing ridiclous about telling the truth and making sure the world knows about it.

Well......Fred ain't gettin it done, and that is a fact. Attacking Romney is not going to make that better. Romney may well be the nominee, but that will not stop some conservatives from damaging him, or the Republican party.

Well.... this isn't ABOUT Fred, it's about ROMNEY so stay on topic. I'm a Reagan Conservative. Romney isn't.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Are you advocating that Mitt Romney, as president, should use Federal resources for your State and local communications?

Mitt ALREADY DID THAT in MA. He used Department of Homeland securty funding (as did many other governors) to shore up failing communications. I personally haven't a problem with that, and I doubt any one else does in LIGHT of 9-11. I'm pointing very simply to one fact. His remarks belie his thinking on such things. Regardless of the amount of money spent on a fixed infrastructure to put it IN, it will, in time fail. And invariably it will fail at the WORST POSSIBLE TIME when it is NEEDED THE MOST. To write off ham radio operators as "not needed" is flippant and ignorant. It's apparently IN HIS NATURE to do such things. THIS IS the point of this thread. Not trying to hide things he did, or imply he did something else, or point a finger at this poster or that, and try to say someone is saying "something other than what they are saying". And this isn't about Fred or other Candidates. It's about Romney's failure.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Romney is running for president.

As chief executive officer of the Federal government, he has no interest in what your State of local community does in regard to communications. It is a State matter.

When did it become a Federal issue? Is that some new Conservative idea???? Does the federal government the new responsible party for fostering the use of Ham radios?

LOL! This is too much.....

And you people call yourselves conservatives......

You're right. He was GOVERNOR at the time he made those comments too. It's not about Ham Radio, it's about his attitude. Again and again I keep saying this and you and others keep trying to change the subject. You're NOT getting away with that.

It's about his IGNORANCE as GOVERNOR. It will extend to a Presidency as well, if he is elected.

Oh, and yes, I DO call my self a Conservative. And a Republican.

[Rick.Donaldson]

They do it for nothing more than a Quebec Serra Lima card back. Romney is an asshat.

There's no requirement even for a QSL card either :) In fact, hams do their jobs, and sometimes they are very difficult jobs in the face of adversity, for nothing at all. They are volunteers, trained at what they do and very good at that job. I'd just like to see Romney take back his remarks and say "Good job, thank you and please come help us again".

[Rick.Donaldson]

Actually, “relatively long wavelengths hams use” isn’t usually correct. While we DO use High Frequencies in some disaster scenarios for long distance communication across states or to other countries, normally we provide LOCAL UHF/VHF communications which are NOT dependent upon the power grid. We can and do bring our own generators and battery systems, set up local area repeater systems and when communications have failed on police/fire/ambulance systems we can and do relay message traffic for them. We also keep in practice during things like Walk-a-thons and other local events. Here in Colorado almost every communication on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb race is done by hams. I’ve personally participated in Skywarn for as long as I’ve been a ham radio operator. I’ve also done work with RACES and ARES (though I am no longer as active as I could be)...

basically though, vhf/uhf and packet radio systems are generally our backbone, with HF for long distance communication.

[Rick.Donaldson]

I also receive NO reimbursement for my time or travel. One of the hospitals is 80 miles from my house and another is 65 miles the other way.

YOU CAN take some deductions on your income taxes for travel when you're doing volunteer services (and there is a place about hobby stuff where the costs are associated with such things)-- though I've never done this, never saw the need. For folks who are traveling great distances like you though, I'd say a 160 mi round trip should probably be placed in your "tax" folders :)

[Young Scholar]

Apparently there’s a reason a certain social stereotype exists about ham radio enthusiasts.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Really...what I don't get is how Romney saying "No, we don't need to deal with ham radio operators..." with reference to "communications during an emergency/crisis" is a "dissing HAM operators".....when the state has millions of dollars of military comms at its disposal.

Not living in (but having visited there many, many times) I can't say for sure how your military units are going to provide information for the public, nor for the Police/Fire when they lose their communications. In fact, National Guard units, while they are certainly better trained today than they were 10 years ago, simply don't have the funding to supply things like stand-alone repeater systems. I'm pretty familiar with nearly all the military equipment used these days, and all of it is job-specific. In fact, UNITS are mission-specific.

Unless a military unit is directed to be trained and equipped for, say disaster communications, then their mission simply doesn't incorporate either the training for message traffic handling, or even how to deal with other government 'units'.

Hams have the ability to come in on a moments notice, set up equipment that would take hours, days or even weeks for the military to set up and install. And the military doesn't even OWN most types of equipment needed to set up local repeater systems.

Hams bring their own stuff, and they are training to set it up quickly and efficiently, AND operate it. Radio operators, by the way in the military are few and far between these days. Even the Air Force "got rid" of the AFSC for awhile. As a MAINTENANCE guy I became both. Yeah, they still exist, but they don't set up equipment. The walk into a site with existing stuff and use it. That's all.

Hams generally have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the equipment they are operating (and many times can even fix it if it breaks, in place). The MILITARY you're talking about CAN'T do that. You can argue with me about that if you like, but trust me, you'd be wrong. Most military units, and especially military personnel are trained in "ONE JOB SPECIFICATION" only and they don't set up, fix and operate equipment. That one piece of gear usually takes 3-7 people to maintain and operate.

It takes one ham to get it up and operational, and other hams around the area doing the same thing can do the same job in less time, more efficiently and with greater accuracy (in message traffic) than ANY MILITARY UNIT ON THE PLANET.

[Rick.Donaldson]

No, not a troll that lies or is ignorant. Just a dumb blonde and a techno mage that are ignorant. haha

No, Justa, that’s NOT what this is about. What it is about though is understanding that - let me give you a quick scenario - the State of Mass has a nuclear device detonated somewhere, say around Boston.

The Internet is going to be GONE. No computers will work, radio and television stations will be off the air. The government is in disarray trying to determine what happened. The military units there aren’t on duty and have to be called in (give them a few hours).

In the mean time the Emergency Operations Center in the area will call up — not the Marines, but the Hams. Because most of the hams already KNOW about the blast, they are going to be on their way, without anyone having to get in touch with them. /shrug.

It will be a cold day in hell perhaps if that scenario occurs, but if it occurs, the hams will both be needed and be there.