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Romney Motorcade, Escorted By Local Sheriff, Broke Speed Limits And Ran Red Lights
You may recall that back in June we wrote about top Romney campaign aide Jay Garrity, who'd repeatedly gotten in trouble over the years for impersonating a cop -- complete with flashing lights and fake cop equipment.
Well, at least the Romney folks used real law enforcement types this time:
The motorcade of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney exceeded speed limits and went through stop lights Friday as local law officers escorted him, blue lights flashing, to campaign events in two South Carolina counties.Traffic pulled over for Romney's caravan as Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth, a Romney supporter, led the candidate's motor home and staff cars with his blue lights running from the Aiken County line through Saluda County to the Newberry city limits, according to an Associated Press reporter following the candidate.
The caravan traveled between 10 mph and 15 mph over posted speed limits. The posted speed limits were 45 mph and 55 mph.
"We wanted to make sure he stays safe and gets to where he's going," Booth told The Associated Press.
Asked whether it's proper to use flashing police lights to escort a candidate, he said, "I'm not getting into this with you, sir. I have no comment."
Romney spokesman Kevin Madden tells Election Central that neither Romney nor his aides asked their cop escort to flash their lights, speed, or run traffic lights, saying that such a request would only be made if safety concerns dictated it.
Incidentally, the Romney aide who got in trouble for playing cops eventually resigned from the campaign. Looks like the Romney people have found some real live replacements...
"We wanted to make sure he stayed safe ..."
Really? They they should be driving at or below the speed limit, not above. Have them talk to NJ governor Corzine about speeding.
August 31, 2007 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, doesn't add up, does it
August 31, 2007 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republican=above-the-law.
August 31, 2007 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Next time you're running late tell the officer that pulled you over you're running for office. Bill Richardson's (State Police) driver here in NM has a reputation for driving the governor around at very high rates of speed. Can't just blame it on R's. Something about power that makes these guys think they get to make exceptions for themselves.
August 31, 2007 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
"We wanted to make sure he stays safe and gets to where he's going," Booth told The Associated Press.
Apparently the Romney campaign feels rural South Carolinians are to be feared.
August 31, 2007 7:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
What can you expect from a person who puts the family dog in a dog carrier on the roof of the car until runny poop slides down the back window of the family station wagon ?
Just askin', don't ya know.
August 31, 2007 9:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Were all five of his sons in that Motorhome? Maybe they'd be safer in the Military. At least then they'd be separated an no one incident would, god forbid, kill them all in one fell swoop.
August 31, 2007 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'm not getting into this with you, sir. I have no comment."
"No flatfoot.. you WILL get 'Into this' with me. we pay your fucking salary!"
August 31, 2007 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
. . . But was his dog and kids safely strapped to the top of his car? I would hate to think that his dog and kids were not safe . . .
September 1, 2007 2:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wanted to e-mail the sheriff and ask him if he'd escort me through the town, but they don't have e-mail..... strange.
September 1, 2007 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Those back roads from Aiken county line through Saluda to Newberry are some of the most dangerous in South Carolina; they're narrow, winding and often farm vehicles pull out from side roads. That was a foolish thing to do, but the rural county elected sheriffs are not the brightest bulbs around, and I'll there'll be repercussions. I hope this gets shared with the State newspaper, since there's also been lots of flack around elected officials driving habits - particularly the Lt Gov - who recently had to be made to use a driver because of his speeding tickets.
September 1, 2007 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Were there any Irish Setters involved? Romney is just a plain old fashioned slime ball, that's all -- but you knew that, huh?
September 1, 2007 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have no idea why Romney would need a rural sheriff to keep him safe isn't that what his magical underware is for?
September 1, 2007 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Typical redneck southern cracker......
September 1, 2007 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I have no idea why Romney would need a rural sheriff to keep him safe isn't that what his magical underware is for?"
Funny, John. I hadn't thought of that little Mormon idiosyncrasy in years...
Another little borrowed ritual from the Freemasons of Europe..
September 2, 2007 4:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sherriff Jason Booth should not speed a candidate through his county. The law is good for cops, candidates and " other Americans" too. Booth should be fined for speeding and Mitt perhaps should try to be on time so he doesn't endanger lives in the state of SC
September 2, 2007 6:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can assure you that Senator Chris Dodd doesn't drive around NH like that.
September 2, 2007 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anybody got time to check the SC laws regarding public money and political campaigns, and then ask the campaign how much they reimbursed the Sheriff's Office, and the Sheriff's Office how much public money was spent on a partisan political purpose, along with a copy of the invoicce to the campaign?
September 2, 2007 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink