Letter: Romney and the poor

I'm responding to Eugene Robinson's column "Romney's indifference to the poor" [Opinion, Feb. 5], regarding Mitt Romney's recent statement about the poor that has gotten so much media attention and distortion. I really take issue with Robinson's last statement that "the nation should worry that he can't show what he doesn't have."

I believe that most reasonable people know that Romney, of course, cares about poor people and that what he was trying to say, and could have said better, was that there are supports in place for the poor.

Of course we need to help elevate people out of poverty and dependence on the government. But it's wrong to suggest that Romney doesn't have the capacity or empathy to care about the less fortunate because he's a rich guy.

That's just typical divisive rhetoric. Let's put things in perspective and look at the facts. Romney donates about 16 percent of his income to charity. His recent disclosure of his tax returns showed that. He gives 10 percent to his church.

Let's stop bashing the guy for being rich. He earned it. If he can get the economy moving again, everyone will do better: rich, poor, middle.

Linda Blatchly, Bayville