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Ann Romney Brings Personal Message to St. Petersburg

Mitt Romney's wife touched on her own battle with MS, when she visited a new therapeutic playground at All Children's Hospital.

 

Ann Romney delivered a message of hope and optimism Wednesday morning at the grand opening for a new theraupetic playground at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg: "Our little ones are our responsibility," she said. "It is our responsibility to take care of them and make sure their lives have joy."

"No matter our limits, it is important to know joy," Romney, 63, told the crowd, which included parents of children with serious disabilities and medical conditions.

Ann Romney's visit to St. Petersburg was her first public appearance since she made a heartfelt, well-received speech Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Romney offered a personal story of her life and love for husband, Mitt, in support of his GOP nomination for president.

Wednesday morning, her remarks were just as anecdotal, with Romney revealing her own struggles with multple sclerosis, an incurable disease that attacks the nervous system.

"I know someting about physical therapy, and I know something about joy," Romney said, noting that she used horseback riding as physical therapy when diagnosed with MS at age 49. Her comments also revealed a comfort for public speaking that seemed to belie a more corporate public demeanor.

She told the crowd how "grateful" she was for her visit and repeated some sage advice she received from an 11-year-old patient moments before walking on stage: " 'Let your light shine," Seth Morano of Sarasota told Romney upon meeting her. "You're going to be great."

Her appearance at the RNC Tuesday and at the ribbon-cutting Wednesday showed a softer side of Mitt Romney and the GOP presidential campaign. A small number of GOP leaders attended the event, including U.S. Rep. Bill Young, Florida Reps. Jim Frishe and Rich Glorioso, and St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster.

While Ann Romney spoke in St. Petersburg Wednesday morning, her sons, Ben and Craig, campaigned in Palm Harbor, speaking to a breakfast crowd of Florida delegates.

The Romney family's candor at both events seemed to charm people. "I wish every day we could have a grand opening day at the playground," Seth declared when the speech ended and the children could play uninterrupted.

Benefits of Therapeutic Playground

Seth has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. His parents, Jennifer and David Morano, said that Seth will be using the slides and swings at the new playground for his physical therapy. Jennifer drives Seth from their Sarasota home to St. Petersburg for his physical therapy.

Allie Ribner, his physical therapist, said the children can improve motor skills and benefit from sensory stimulation at the outdoor playground. The playground – with its soft surfaces and cradled swings – also enables young people with disabilities to enjoy recreation with their siblings and other family members, which often is denied to them because of their limitations.

David Morano lifted his son from his wheelchair and carried him up the steps of a slide and placed the boy in the chute, as Seth squealed with joy. Seth's 9-year-old brother, Noah, played nearby.

"We're here for Seth. We're part of his world here," David said. "This will be a place for him to enjoy, to have fun."

Story Behind the Therapeutic Playground

The playground was developed though fundraising efforts and donations of credit union members. The Credit Union National Association (CUNA), the League of Southeastern Credit Unions and the National Journal Group partnered to develop the therapuetic playground "as a leave-behind project."  CUNA has a history of developing projects that benefit communities where National Party conventions are held.

Related Topics: All Children's Hospital and Ann Romney

rick barasso

10:29 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

My husband is such a good man, sure he didn't fight for his country in Viet Nam but he does only have one wife and she's not a teenager

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cherylwithac

10:39 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Did Ann Romney wear her $990 designer t-shirt to the event? (Just google "ann romney $990 t-shirt").

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Jacque Mioff

11:24 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Hey Rick.....Did Clinton fight? Did Obama fight? You're trying to divert attention again from the fact your buddy isn't doing a damn thing positive to change things. Cheryl? Go feed your cat!

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Dick Cheney

11:38 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Hey "Jacque" -
Did you meet Bishop Mitt while he was in France dodging the draft?

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Lynda

3:48 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

President Obama was too young to fight in Vietnam. He opposed the Bush II invasion of Iraq. He is not cheerleading for war like VP Cheney (5 deferments) or Gov. Romney who wants to send Americans to fight the civil war in Syria and wants to attack Iran. Let people who support war go themselves or send their children. Neither of the Bush II twins entered the military. None of Gov. Romney's healthy five sons did military service. VP Biden's son did his service. Guess which party has real patriots and not chicken hawks.

Cisco

11:33 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Lets not forget the Hillary and Bill ordeal we all went through.

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cherylwithac

5:04 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Yes, I remember--a balanced budget, a robust economy--what an ordeal it was.

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Swiffer Wet Jet

5:09 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Late 90's Tech Bubble in the stock market, artificially inflated property values, ignoring terrorist threats (i.e. WTC '93, and a chance to make a preemptive strike on Bin Laden, USS Cole)....... shall we continue?

Jacque Mioff

11:37 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Yeah but NCIS.... at least there was a steep rise in the employment of blue dress dry cleaners for a short period of time.

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rick barasso

11:43 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Obama was not old enough to serve during nam... Mitt was as were his FIVE sons after 9/11

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Jacque Mioff

11:46 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Then you are the uninformed idiot I always thought you were - BECAUSE Clinton is one year OLDER than Romney...... LOL! You wackadoodle!

Jacque Mioff

11:44 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Mr. Cheney - just one question - How did your parents know at birth your first name would be so applicable? Good day all :)

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rick barasso

11:44 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Has anyone else noticed, where's GW?????

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rick barasso

11:45 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

They really do hate the reminders

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Robert W. Kurilich

11:51 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012

"I know something about physical therapy, and I know something about joy," Romney said, noting that she used horseback riding as physical therapy when diagnosed with MS at age 49. (It must be tough to be in a financial position to take the best therapy you can find. cost, No problem.)

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Walt Kowalski

7:31 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Envy is a terrible thing to exhibit, wouldn't you say?

Cisco

12:09 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

A First Lady that loves America, been a while.

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Cisco

12:56 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

A First Lady whose Husband wont destroy MediCare.

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rick barasso

1:58 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

What kind of moron thinks a "socialist" would distroy medicare? Come on you guys, pick a lie and stick with it. That's how lies work! Did you see the thing on FOX about all the lies Ryan had in his speech? Thats right FOX! Where do you guys turn now?

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Cisco

2:18 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

ObamaCare is Funded by the transfer of 716 Billion from MediCare. SIgnals the end of MediCare.

92635954

2:35 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Queen Ann in her shirwaist dress and hubby Mitt busy throwing people out of work and secreting profits away in foreign bank accounts. It's certainly what America is all about! A real Republican fairy tale, paid for by the poor schleps who actually have to work for a living! The way things should be - how trickle-up economics are supposed to work - empowering the white ruling class!

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Cisco

2:43 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Romney hits Obama for cutting $716 billion from Medicare to pay for ObamaCare

The Romney campaign has released a powerful new television ad contrasting the Romney/ Ryan plan, which strengthens Medicare and protects the commitments made to current seniors, against Obama’s $716 billion cuts from Medicare.

http://www.redstate.com/california_yankee/2012/08/14/romney-hits-obama-for-cutting-716-billion-from-medicare-to-pay-for-obamacare/

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Michael D.

3:02 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Half the story, because that The "Affordable Healthcare Plan" is going to be funding Medicare. As most stories about this it is half the story. Read the actual Bill instead of Propaganda pieces on it.

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Lynda

3:40 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

One more time, the "cuts" to Medicare in ObamaCare are to insurance companies (and some other providers) who were getting paid 114% of the Medicare premium to provide so-called Advantage care which included gym memberships for seniors (popular, but no evidence health care costs are controlled with this benefit). Insurance companies are making record profits, why should my Medicare dollars pay for their CEO's huge compensation packages? ObamaCare put an end to this insurance industry welfare benefit. It is not a "cut" to Medicare in the same way that Rep Ryan's plan cuts benefits to actual seniors.

Cisco

3:43 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Obama is playing a shell game with MediCare money. Put the damn money back and stop screwing around with Seniors. You democrats are trying to fool the millions of Seniors from Florida.

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Lynda

6:21 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Remember "Pay as you go'? Just which party held the country hostage until every single thing needed to shown as paid for in advance of passing? Not that the GOP bothered to pay for the Iraq war, the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy or any of the spending done during the Bush II years. ObamaCare is paid for. It will provide needed healthcare to millions who are suffering now and dying too early because of poor access to heathcare. Shame on you for your double speak.

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Cisco

6:27 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

ObamaCare is paid for by taking the money from MediCare. The President chose his plan at the expense of the Elderly.

Cisco

4:15 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Ryan: Medicare should not be a piggy bank for ObamaCare

Ryan then went on to slam the Independent Payment Advisory Board as a rationing system, a message that Mitt Romney also delivered in a podcast earlier today. “In addition to that,” Ryan continued, “he puts a board of 15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats in charge of Medicare — who are required to [cut] care in ways that will lead to denied care for current seniors.”

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/08/18/ryan-medicare-should-not-be-a-piggy-bank-for-obamacare/

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Lynda

7:11 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

"A board of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats"? You mean unlike those "elected, accountable bureaucrats' employed by my for-profit insurance company" who has hired a foreign call center? Dream on if you think the current system is better for anyone except the for-profit insurance companies. Rep Ryan is clueless about health insurance because he has always had the nice safe, single payer, generous Federal plan just for Congress.

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Cisco

7:47 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Death Panels .Those Unelected Unaccountable Bureaucrats in ObamaCare.

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Cisco

8:09 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Death Panels. Those that will decide whether Granny deserves to be given treatment, or to put it bluntly stay alive.

Jack Sprat

5:13 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

I cannot understand why liberals are always condemning success - Romney worked smart, worked hard and made a lot of money. So what? That tells me he is a manager and a leader who knows how to motivate people and make money. Having a community organizer as president means we have more debt than ever thought possible and all he wants to do is borrow more and give it away.
I suspect that the liberal posters here are either jealous of success or are receiving govt support and don't want to lose it. Or both.
Anyone here willing to trade their health and take on MS and breast cancer if they could get a lot of money? Who among you has spent two years volunteering to work for your church? Who among you is giving $3.5 Million a year to charity? Who among you would be willing to give all of a sizable inheritance (or lottery winnings) to a charity?
Please tell us why you criticize success.

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Swiffer Wet Jet

5:20 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Jack....you honestly think you're gonna get an HONEST answer? The Kool-Aids drinkers among us posters will go silent so quickly you'll hear a pin drop!

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Lynda

6:52 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Jack, I am really tired of your "liberals are always . . ." comments. I doubt you read enough to know what liberals think and you certainly don't have any liberal friends who tell you what they think.. Stop attacking "liberals'. No liberal is condemning success. Not President Obama, not VP Biden, not any Democratic member of the House or Senate and certainly not the Democratic Party Platform. Liberals work very hard towards establishing a level playing field so as many people as possible can achieve success in all the ways success is defined. Many of us are successful, donate substantially to charity and are great community volunteers. Many of us volunteered to do our military service during Vietnam unlike VP Cheney and Gov. Romney and other chickenhawks who love war but don't want to dirty their own hands by serving in war. We appreciate the advantages the Romney's have; we want make sure other people can have those advantages too. If you think Gov. Romney made his money "working hard" or "motivating people" it is obvious you have never been in a business in which you made millions. Try doing research about Bain's history. One thing I love was the guaranteed contract Mr. Romney had so he took absolutely no risk. Just like so many CEO's today. They get golden parachutes (Progress Energy) for a day's work and workers get laid off. And then there was all that money invested in Bain from "Latin America . . . Right. That's what I call working hard for your money!

Allie's Grandpa

5:27 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Romney/Ryan will destroy everything that is Medicare, EXCEPT for the name "Medicare."

My children, and my grandchild, will have nothing but a voucher that will become worth close to nothing, bupkis, nada.

I could sit on my keester and say "no worries" for (1) me and my (2) wife, as I am already a recipient, and she is over 55.

But my kids and your kids will get screwed by Romney/Ryan's voucher substitution for true Medicare, and my grandchildren your grandchildren, or your neices and your nephews, will get screwed by Romney/Ryan's voucher substitution for true Medicare.

So, unless you care only about yourself, and unless you don't give a tinker's damn for the next generation, and the generations to come, you should not allow the GOP to get away with the lie that they are "saving Medicare," because all that they are saving is the name "Medicare."

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Jack Sprat

6:00 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

I see that you know everything. Thank you for your input.

The way I see it, I am already getting screwed and my children and grandchildren will definitely get the same treatment if we allow Obama another four years of making sure that happens.
I would rather have a president who has proven beyond a doubt that he knows how to run a business and balance a budget. I know, you want to make the handouts permanent and keep the debt running up and passed on to our kids. You are quite clearly looking out for yourself and want the next generations to pay it back.

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Sahara

7:51 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Jack...your assumption that government should be run like a business is fundamentally wrong. Government is a completely different entity that should not make a profit, just like churches. Oops, another organization that didn't listen to it's founder in regard to this matter. Remember, Jack, you don't have to believe everything you think.

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Lynda

8:45 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Love the last line in your comment! Wish I weren't too irritated to be as clever!

Dad of Three

1:02 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Jack Sprat responded to the comments of Allie's Grandpa about Medicare, who had noted how the next two generations of Americans would have that turned into no more than a voucher program (i.e., Romney & Ryan would kill Medicare, except for the name), but Mr Sprat chides Allies Grandpa by telling him "you want to make the handouts permanent."

Sorry, Mr Sprat, but Medicare is NOT a handout, and millions of Americans today, and tens of millions over the next several generations of Americans, will be healthier in their old age because of this essential program.

My mother and father counted on Medicare, and they did not consider it any handout; they paid their contributions over the years, and the government program helped them in their old age.

I am now a Medicare recipient as well, and I want to make sure that my parents grandchildren, and my grandchildren, will also have Medicare to help when they reach old age.

Medicare is extending a hand, Mr Sprat, not a handout as you like to instead call it.

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Jack Sprat

2:28 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012

If you bought and paid for your Medicare, why is it going bankrupt? You did nothing other than pay an insurance premium and nothing is guaranteed - you don't even have a written contract that spells out what you are "entitled" to receive. The govt makes that decision. So far, it has been a great ride and everyone gets far more than they paid for - yippee! Something for nothing! That is a handout. Designed to buy votes. Always supported by both parties and all politicians - they cannot tell the truth, it might cost them those valuable votes.

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Jack Sprat

2:30 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012

Of course Obama is telling you what you want to hear - after all, he was elected once based on promises, so he is trying the same strategy again.

You won't get what you think you were promised if we continue on the current path - you should be glad to know that someone realizes that and has the courage to tell you and the intelligence to propose a plan to save it for you and future generations.

Everyone knows all entitlements and/or 187 welfare programs (and all govt spending) are out of hand and we can't keep borrowing a trillion dollars every year. So Ryan comes up with what could be a reasonable reform proposal that might save the program - and we do not have to pass the bill before we can see what it does and does not provide.

By the way, Ryan never proposed a voucher program to the exclusion of the standard Medicare plan, it was proposed as a choice. Obamacare doesn't make healthcare more affordable, it just allows/forces taxpayers to pay more to insure non-taxpayers.

http://factcheck.org/2012/08/outdated-attacks-on-ryan/

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Dad of Three

12:03 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

Oh, Mr Sprat, get off the deceit and deception bus.

The Ryan scheme is called "STARVE THE BEAST", and the radical right designed this process and strategic objective decades ago; the right wing starts to de-fund essential programs by diverting revenue flows to other competing parallel systems, and at some point the original program - namely, TRUE Medicare - collapses by lack of critical mass.

Then the Starve-the-Beast plan leaves only the "private & for-profit sector" competing plan, which leaves all future generations, my daughters and sons, and my nieces and nephews, and my grandchildren and grand nephews and nieces, and all of the future generations of posters reading this thread, receiving a measly voucher which cover less and less of their health care costs, and all along the private insurance companies make obscene profits and their executives receive huge bonuses.

In other words, Ryan is hoping that his little scam will not be realized by those who actually care about future generations. He will not leave true Medicare undamaged, and that is his actual plan, eliminate true Medicare as we all know it.

TaterSalad

12:18 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012

Barack Obama's second term in office will be a dictatorship if not permanent and here is why.....in his own words:

http://therealrevo.com/blog/?p=82380

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gg

7:31 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012

It will be he*l on earth and we don't deserve that.

Jack Sprat

11:53 am on Sunday, September 2, 2012

In case you did not take a look at Obama's comments referred to by Tater:

“So my expectation is that there will be some popping of the blister after this election, because it will have been such a stark choice. Where Republicans refuse to cooperate on things that I know are good for the American people, I will continue to look for ways to do it administratively and work around Congress. And a good example of that is, for example, making sure that homeowners around the country can take advantage of these historically low rates and refinance.

There’s no reason Congress can’t move forward and at almost no cost to the federal government really boost the housing market and our economy. But if Congress won’t do it, we’ll keep on looking for ways to get that done without legislation.”

....I KNOW what is good for the American people....
.....I WILL CONTINUE to work around congress....
......we’ll keep on looking for ways to get that done without legislation.

Really? Is that what the DEMOCRATIC system is all about?

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92635954

8:41 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012

More racist rants from supporters of the extreme right wing. Curious, when you pleasure Grover Norquist do you spit or swallow? Of courrse you swallow!

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martin, bob

4:53 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

More racist rants from supporters of the extreme LEFT wing. Curious, when you pleasure Barack do you spit or swallow? Of courrse you swallow!

Jack Sprat

1:33 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Obviously we have a lot of expert OPINIONS posted here, alsong with some understandings and misunderstandings about who is going to do what to whom.
Here are some irrefutable facts:
1. We have $16 Trillion in debt to repay, with interest.
2. So far, this president has borrowed over $1 Trillion a year since taking office, running up our debt another $5 Trillion in 3 1/2 years.
3. 23 Million Americans are unemployed or underemployed.
4. The majority of the population believes they are not better off today than 3 1/2 years ago.
5. If we do nothing to save Medicare and Social Security, they will not exist in the future.
Do we really want four more years of unresolved problems that he promsed to overcome during his first four years.

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