Romney friend making documentary
Posted: Sunday, December 09, 2007 4:32 PM by Chuck Todd
Filed Under:
2008, 2008 Romney
From NBC/NJ's Erin McPike
MIAMI -- Romney ventured out of his day of debate prep a little after noon today to thank his volunteers here.
Documentary maker Greg Whiteley was among the crowd, and he said he was gathering footage that may some day become a documentary about the former Massachusetts governor and his campaign.
Whiteley is the director of One Potato Productions, and he obtained his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University, as Romney did. He explained that there was a Romney sighting at a showing of his recent documentary, New York Doll, which is about a former musician who converts to Mormonism and has a job at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint’s Family History Center library but reunites with his band for a concert.
Whiteley said that he later spoke to Romney, who told him he saw it “not once, but twice” and was complimentary of it, which spurred the moviemaker to ask the candidate if he could gather footage on him. After the former governor hesitated, Whiteley tried the same trick that apparently worked in getting Romney to head to Utah for the Olympics -- he went to Ann Romney, who, according to Whiteley, convinced her husband to let him proceed.
Several times Whiteley reiterated that no documentary is to be expected any time soon and that he is simply gathering footage, but he did say that there is the potential for a production at some point.
The event he was shooting was a barbecue hosted by Romney’s son, Craig, at an area park. Craig addressed the crowd in Spanish before turning the mic over to his father, who spoke a bit of French.
He also talked about some of his heroes. “Another hero – this is kind of funny, I joked about this with [Al Cardenas] – you know I have to sort of tip my hat to Pancho Villa,” he said. “Now why is that? Well my dad was born in Mexico, and his family lived in Mexico, and if it weren’t for Pancho Villa pushing him out of Mexico, I probably wouldn’t be running for president. So thank Pancho Villa.”
Romney also mentioned before the heavily Hispanic crowd Spanish Prime Minister Aznar. “What a great Hispanic leader in the world, who’s convincing people around the world of the need for us to come together as the NATO nations to stop the spread of radical violent jihadism and terrorism,” he said.
Romney thanked volunteers for the work they’ve done for his campaign in Florida – everything from the calls they’ve made, to the signs they’ve put up, to the pins they circulate and the bumper stickers they’ve handed out.
He said he enjoyed meeting his volunteers and shaking their hands and added, “I like the hugs, too. The girls in particular. I appreciate that.”
