#WarOnWomen rhetoric disintegrates with Dem strategist’s cheap shot at Ann Romney
Hah. I love it:
The Obama campaign was scrambling Thursday to distance itself from comments made by a top Democratic strategist who accused Ann Romney, wife of presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, of having “never worked a day in her life.”
“Guess what, (Romney’s) wife has actually never worked a day in her life,” Hilary Rosen said Wednesday evening on CNN.
Romney immediately responded with a debut tweet, sparking a Twitter storm.
“I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys,” tweeted Romney, a 64-year-old mother of five and grandmother of 16. “Believe me, it was hard work.”
Top Obama campaign officials then took to Twitter in an attempt to distance themselves and the re-election effort from Rosen’s comments.
“I could not disagree with Hilary Rosen any more strongly. Her comments were wrong and family should be off limits. She should apologize,” Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in a tweet.
Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod tweeted: “Also Disappointed in Hilary Rosen’s comments about Ann Romney. They were inappropriate and offensive.”
Rosen continued to tweet herself, adding, “I’ve nothing against @AnnRomney. I just don’t want Mitt using her as an expert on women struggling $ to support their family. She isn’t.”
And later: “@AnnDRomney Please know, I admire you. But your husband shouldn’t say you are his expert on women and the economy,” Rosen tweeted.
Ms. Rosen’s finding out the hard way that it’s a bit crowded underneath Team Obama’s bus these days.
As I wrote last night on Twitter, Rosen’s not upset that she said what she did – and obviously is not apologetic. What she’s upset about is that she got caught verbalizing how the more radical “feminists” in this country feel about women who choose to be stay at home mothers, regardless of their income status. John Kerry’s wife Teresa made similar comments about Laura Bush during the 2004 presidential campaign:
“Well, you know, I don’t know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good,” Heinz Kerry said. “But I don’t know that she’s ever had a real job — I mean, since she’s been grown up. So her experience and her validation comes from important things, but different things.”
So much for “freedom of choice”, hmm?
BTW, let’s give a round of applause to Ms. Rosen for helping unite conservatives around Mitt Romney, something the man himself has a lot of trouble doing. Thanks, gal! =d>
UPDATE (Phineas): Can you say “backfire?” According to an informal Washington Post poll, more than 95% side with Ann Romney. The Romney campaign really ought to send Ms. Rosen flowers — and aspirin to Team Obama. (via Bryan Preston)