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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Matter of Opinion

The Chickenhawk Debate

Froma Harrop had a great syndicated column on our editorial pages today about the five Romney boys and the reasons given for not serving in the military.

Mitt Romney has five strapping sons, and not one of them has ever served in the military. When asked about this in Bettendorf, Iowa, the Republican presidential hopeful said that "one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected." He noted that his boy Josh had driven a Winnebago to all of Iowa's 99 counties – all 99 of them!
There's been a lot of back-and-forth over this tactless comment. Jim Geraghty wrote on National Review Online that he's "tired" of the "chickenhawk line of attack."
...So while the "chickenhawk" label could stick to most of the candidates, there's something especially jarring about the Romney family portrait: six hunky males, all untouched by military service. (During the Vietnam War, Mitt obtained a draft deferment to do missionary work in France.)

Chickenhawk or squawking media chicken? You decide.

(Romney family photo via AP)



A Matter of Opinion is really a matter of three opinions – those held by the people responsible for the opinion pages of The Spokesman-Review. Check in regularly to find out what they’re up to, what they think and where they differ and to joust with them if you want.