I find the question galling.  “How many of your five sons are currently serving in the US Military, and if none of them are how do they plan to support this War On Terrorism by enlisting?” 

These questions tend to preclude the autonomy on the part of the candidate’s children.  I think that the public tends to be most sympathetic to this matter the closer the candidate’s child is to the age of 18, which sort of brings them closer to having financial dependence.  But I still have to balk, and ask you to kindly move along.  The history of these things is a little interesting.  The thought goes that Al Gore Jr joined the military during Vietnam in order to help Al Gore Senior’s re-election chances, and there’s even a Snopes-refuted rumor that “Fortunate Song”‘s subject matter has to be Gore.  (“I ain’t no Senator’s Son“).  This suggests that even if any of Romney’s children were to join, this might be perceived as a political stunt.  Or maybe that would only be the case if Romney were a Democrat.
The whole coverage of the Bush Twins I have found nearly as annoying, but at least there it falls into a storyline about Bush, somehow finding its way to their absolutely horrid RNC speech.  (“Compare Chelsea to the Bushes”, the quasi-argument goes.)

Mitt Romney’s answer was probably effective enough, in my mind, “Grown Adults” — a##hole — until he got to this money-shot quote.

“One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I’d be a great president.”

The cynical rejoinder is that the best way they can help elect Romney is by joining the military.  Or maybe that reminds the public too much of a war they don’t much like?

The funny thing about this is that it parallels something Rick Santorum said during his ill-fated Senate re-election bid last year:

“And yet we have brave men and women who are willing to step forward because they know what’s at stake. They’re willing to sacrifice their lives for this great country. What I’m asking all of you tonight is not to put on a uniform. Put on a bumper sticker. Is it that much to ask? Is it that much to ask to step up and serve your country?” 

It is an interesting mindset, which posits the election of ME as “Defending the Country”.  Freedom isn’t fee, I suppose.

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