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Subscribe to RSSIn an exclusive interview with Ed Schultz, Vice President Joe Biden described Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen's assertion that stay-at-home Ann Romney, the wife of GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney, has "never worked a day in her life" as an "outrageous assertion."
Vice President Biden called a Democratic consultant's assertion that Ann Romney hadn't worked a day in her life "an outrageous assertion" in an interview to air Thursday evening.
Biden joined a chorus of top Democrats -- from first lady Michelle Obama to re-election campaign manager Jim Messina and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- in distancing himself from comments made yesterday by Hilary Rosen.
"My response to that is that’s an outrageous assertion," Biden told MSNBC's Ed Schultz when asked about Rosen's comments.
Rosen said last night on CNN that Ann Romney, the wife of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, had "never worked a day in her life."
Surrogates for the Romney campaign pounced quickly; New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte called Rosen's remarks "insulting" in a conference call this morning. Moreover, the Romney campaign has sought to link Rosen to Obama, though Rosen has done no work for the re-election campaign or the DNC (though her firm has done some contract work).
Rosen apologized in a statement this afternoon, pleading with the campaigns to "declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance."
"Look, I fought my whole career, and I’m no hero, whether it’s the violence against women act or equal pay my entire career as a senator and as a vice president, to get to one point where my daughter is able to make whatever choice she wants and no one question it," Biden said. "My daughter happens to have a master’s degree, she’s a social worker, she’s getting married and if my daughter wants to be able to say I’m staying home and raising my kids no one should question it."
Biden was in New Hampshire on Thursday to deliver a campaign speech about the "Buffett Rule," the Obama administration's proposal that the wealthy be required to pay a minimum effective tax rate of 30 percent.
The full interview with Biden will air at 8 p.m. ET on MSNBC.
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Just shows Mitzi is a snake ! Cant be trusted to tell the truth ever !I must say i did enjoy seeing Romney's PRO ABORTION VIDEO !
The truly amazing thing about this tempest in a TEA cup is -
- even Ann Romney receives more support than Mitt Romney.
But, But, I thought this was a "Non-Troversy"????
Third story today on First Read about those idiotic comments.
Nah, you guys aren't worried. MSNBC - the Main media arm of the Obama Re-Relection Committee has been spinning so hard today they must be dizzy!!!!
This is brilliant, that's what it is.
When Ann Romney is attacked....
who is sticking up for her publically and loudly?
Right.
It is very nice for Ann Romney that her husband makes enough for her to stay home and watch the kids, the servants, and the Caddilacs.
For a lot of Americans, two incomes isn't optional anymore.
Did Romney make big money from Day 1? First of all Romney gave away his inheritance. Ann made the decision to stay home after the 1 child and so were they rich then? Lots of women have made that choice whether they had money or not. I pretty much stayed home because I had a sick child. My husband at that time made 7,000 and was a road worker. This was in 1973. Over the years we moved a lot due to my husband's work, and I stayed home to try to keep things running while he traveled. Because I did not concentrate on my career, I realized over the years that my salary would just get eaten up in expenses and taxes and staying home allowed me to keep expenses down and spend quality time with my family and friends. I have the very best memories of taking my son to the library, scouts, movies, hiking trips , etc. However, we had little money. At one time when my son was about 12, we had exactly 95.00 saved.
IMO, our society scoffs at women staying home. The liberal women's groups feel that staying at home limits knowledge, freedom and worse yet dependency on a man's income and his power so to speak. I can't tell you how many organizations I have attended as a guest and have been asked "what do you do"? If I replied I stay at home, that look comes over their face that they see me as a failure. Women are usually harsher on other women than men are. The truth is that most men are happy to come home to a meal, a clean house, the kids happy and playing in the yard, and hopefully some time later for adult affection. Unfortunately that is sort of Leave it to Beaver because stay at home moms are the ones everybody depends on. So we are the ones that attend PTA meetings, civic groups, favors for family member, babysitting, etc. When people find out somebody is home they are the ones checking on a neighbor's kids, dogs, plants, when people go on vacation.
My point is that lots of very smart women stay at home and find a lot of issues to get involved with that working moms are just too tired to do. We all only have so many hours in the day.
I am not at all surprised by this attack by this democrat woman. I get what she was saying and I bitterly resent it. But this is a free world, sort of, and she can say and think what she wants. However, we all get to strike back as well.
I beg to differ with your comment about stay at home moms being the ones everyone depends on, attends PTA, etc. I was a working mother and when my daughter was in grade school it was me and other working mothers who were the "homeroom" mothers, the ones who always showed up for the parties, provided the treats, etc, and did all the other things you mentioned in your comment. Not ONE stay at home mother EVER was a volunteer during the whole time my daughter was in elementary school. I also fed my neighbor's dogs and horses when they were away for six weeks at a time on vacation, not the next door stay at home mom. Please don't lump every working mother into your worthless as a mother category. I was proud to be a working mom and our daughter is now a successful optometrist so it doesn't appear that my working did her any harm whatsoever.
Mrs. Ann Flip Flop Romney has a lot of experience.
Supervising her cook, maid, butler, housecleaning staff, nanny, etc are hard and stressful. And firing someone 'because they enjoy firing people' takes a special type of courage. So - let's give her credit for being able to make the 'hard decisions in life' - like:
- what to have the cook make for dinner.
- which caddy to have the chauffer drive today.
- which Cadilliac to put on the car elevator and drive that day
- which summer house to vacation this month.
These decisions are HARD and Ann deserves credit for being able to make them without loosing her hair or stressing out.
This clearly qualifies her to be able to advise Willard (Mitt) on the difficulties of a working woman. After all - she can clearly relate to the grocery clerk, all those admin assistants, and the numerous maids, cooks, and other women out there. And remember - she probably had to keep a close eye on Willard's admin assistants - to ensure that he kept his pants on.
This is an non-issue. Ms. Rosen should not have used the words she did -- but she has every right to HER opintion -- like any other American man or WOMAN. While i realize it is best for all concerned to get some space between her commnets and themselves -- i think that Biden's reaction is alittle too much going to other way. The fact of the matter is that stay@home mothers and raising children is hard work -- no debate about that -- the point that some people are forgetting (or avoiding) -- and the Romney campaign is now spinning --is that Mitt presented his own wife as a "expert' on raising children and the "real economic issues " effecting women today -- and the fact of the matter his she is not like most other working people -- Which is not the case -- she might be a wonderful person and a fine mother -- but her staying @ home (or at one of their several house) and supervising the hired help is not the same as working families or single-mothers having to raise their children on loe pay -- while the rich get rucher -- and the Republcans want to take way what little help they gets -- Mitt's dear wife is a lovely woman --but she knows about as much about the real problems of working class women as I (a white man) knows about giving birth to a black baby. --
Hilary Rosen owed NOBODY, and that includes Ms. Ann, an apology! Hilary spoke her feelings about the issue, as does Ms. Ann!
My fellow Democrats need to grow a spine, stop caving to a bunch a folks that have no moral compass, level inflammatory comments, and lies non stop. But cry foul at the drop of the truth!
So Chilled, why did Rush Limbaugh owe the world an apology?
WCA are you really comparing the two statements here. Kind of lame for you.
Chilled-- agreed to a point-- I'm tired of all the demands for apologies. Think carefully, say what you mean, mean what you say and stick by it.
Yes, Marla-####
It appears that the Democrats are always (according to the right-wing) the ones who must apologize for any and everything.
Chilled, I agree with you. Dems & the administration are too quick to eat their own. They did that to Shirley Sherrod and Anthony Wiener, too. They need to learn to stand up for their people instead of taking over the Republican bus, replacing the driver, and rolling over their own person.
Rosen's comment, while poorly worded, hit the nail on the head. Most parents don't have the choices Ann Romney did. Most people who are voting in this election don't have the privilege of foregoing a salary to stay home with the kids. That gives you an opening to the important economic discussion of what most people are faced with these days.
But I guess Dems just get too scared to think of those things.
Why is it lame, Tis the Season? The last time I checked the 1st Amendment gives everybody the same freedom of speech....whether or not some pompous libs think so or not. Gotta learn to take it, if you're gonna dish it out!
That's not entirely what I meant-- it's both parties-- it's conservative, it's liberal, it's entertainers-- I'm not endorsing people go off half-cocked and act like horse's patoots. I'm endorsing a bit thicker skin on all sides-- and maybe, just a bit more sense when speaking. Freedom from being offended isn't a civil right. I'm offended daily by what I see and hear in the world-- it's life. If I demanded an apology for everything I see and hear that offends me and/or my way of life, my faith, et cetera I'd be demanding one every ten seconds. It's madness. Toughen up out there, people.
"never worked" equals "SLUT"? STRANGE EQUALITY...
Rosens comment had nothing to do with privilege, the ability to stay home, or any of that.
If you had watched the discussion live (which I did) you would know that Rosen was implying that Anns opinion on the economy (and therefore what matters most to women) did not matter because she had never worked a day in her life.
I agree with chilled... she should of put worked that the 99% of us... not like the 1% we all work just doing different things... one 6-5 and one shopping all day
I can't believe some Democrats still want to argue this one out. It's a losing argument. Push it too far and it could potentially grow legs in this campaign season.
Take a cue from your flag bearers - when the Democratic president, his wife and vice president quickly distance themselves from something a supporter says, that's a pretty good indication this is one the Democratic Party best put in the past as quickly as it can.
It was, all in all, the most tactically dumb comment I've heard all campaign season from either party - when the vast majority of attention has been on a ludicrous Republican nomination race with a bunch of not-ready-for-primetime candidates.
Good for you Vice-president Biden.
So Chilled, why did Rush Limbaugh owe the world an apology?
The right wing merchant of hate, Rush. Everyone on the right-wing seemed to agree with him, or at least, never called him out for it......I never said that he owed an apology...
WCA, you just agreed with me?
They haven't called Rush on his hateful statements for these possible reasons.
A. They are afraid of him.
B. They agree with him.
C. Both A and B.
C. Both A and B.
Yessir.......Probably more A.....Fear is a powerful tool and Rush is a 300 million dollar tool with a big following on the rancid radio.
And....the part you left out....Rush is protected by the same Ist Amendment as the bigmouth Dem from CNN!
Didn't leave it out because it didn't need saying, unless one of the posters above was advocating that Rush have his right to speak curtailed by the government. Nice strawman though.
Rush is great
Listening to the 3 time divorced, college drop out and drug addict I mean where else can you listen to the ravings and rantings of a right wing propagandist such as Rush an appropriate name for the addict. He would make Joseph Goebbels proud.
I, Joe Biden, wholeheartedly condemn those remarks....as long as you, the voters, are outraged. You're cool? Okay, then, carry on. No harm, no foul.
Marla if WCA is going to call chilled out for a comment then to be fair he should call you out as well. You have no knowledge on the Vice Presidents view of this anymore than chilled has on Rosen. I would stick to this being an non issue but I doubt Romney would agree since he is trying to make it one. The only issue here is ignorance on both sides.
Absolutely, tis-- and to be fair, I should make these jokes on Republican politicians as well. They all stick their finger in the wind and jump on whatever bandwagon will get them the most votes. Romney will ride this as far as he can. Sadly, he seems to be my candidate-- so, I'll hold my nose and vote.
Marla, who are you? At first I thought you sounded like a reasonable person. But Romney is your candidate? Never mind.
SSM-- give me anybody but Obama-- I don't like Romney, didn't like Santorum-- wasn't crazy about Gingrich. I'm a Christie gal.
Washington Post - Fact Checker
Quoting Reagan out of context
The Pinocchio Test
On a superficial level, Obama is echoing Reagan’s anecdotes when he speaks of the Buffett Rule and tax fairness. But it is misleading for Obama to suggest that Reagan was “pushing for the same concept” — and to label the Buffett Rule the “Reagan Rule”-- when the former president actually barnstormed the country to argue on behalf of a broad-based tax cut that reduced taxes for the wealthy, the middle class and the poor while greatly simplifying the tax system.
Two Pinocchios
I give up, you cant believe any of them.
Actually Reagan first raised taxes before lowering them a few years later.
Reagan raised taxes six times. It doesnt make any differency but the Bush tax cuts were Laws that said they were temporary. I guess the Republicans want to forget the Law and extend the tax cuts.
No, umm, no. Regan never lowered taxes. You are wrong sir and need a lesson in political history...
Research, read and research again. The truth will set you free....
Looks like another war on women from the liberals.
Trico you are funny but then looks are not everything. The only ware being waged on women is by the GOP. Seen any news lately about probing, birth control, small government really. Put your nose back in its parking space between you cheeks.
Yep thats it. I see the democrats fighting to rid the US of abortion rights. Ummm....
Looks like another bigot weighing in without adding anything.
You're kidding, right? History shows us how compassionate and supportive the Right-wing has always been of women, education, science, the middle class and American workers.
About the only freedoms Republicans have ever actively defended are the right to bear arms and the right of Big Business to gain unlimited tax breaks and obscene levels of profit.
Ignoring all the rhetoric and propaganda, all anyone has to do is peruse our political history to find out what Republican priorities are, always were and always will be: money, money and...wait for it...money!
Acoustictherapy, they have expanded that I think to now include control of your religious beliefs, and birth control. Every good Repug needs less Government involvment in your private life.
Chilled, you are spot on. Ann Romney is clueless as to how the 99% live, and her attempts to appear like she does are just as fake as her husbands.
Democrats need to quit acting like dogs seeking approval. They are never, ever going to get it from Republicans.
Nothing to do with her approval.
It's the ability to publically defend a woman from an unnecessary attack.
It's even better that it's a prominent REPUBLICAN woman.
Who's willing to reach across the aisle and defend the defenseless?
Democrats.
BAM.
Game, Set, Match.
Women don't forget stuff. My wife still beats me over a slight done 14 years ago when we were 17.
Team Obama is hoping they don't forget who stuck up for Ann when she was attacked. Champion of the Working Class AND the Ladies!
All Rosen meant is that this lady, like her husband, is very wealthy and out-of-touch with 99% of us.
@ Trusslady & George B.
My points exactly!
George Rosen was talking about Michelle? Who knew. Thaks for pointing it out.
Bullshiite. I was part of house cleaning service in Belmont MA and we cleaned the Romeys house. This was in the early-mid 80"s when the boys were toddlers or infants. We would arrive around the same time the boys Nanny did (8:30ishAM) Ann was then out the door to her tennis lessons, horseback riding, etc. Once she left before the nanny showed up. Ann was in her tennis whites and had to make her lesson on time. She left the cleaning crew (us) watching the babies for 30 minutes. Our cleaning company didn't want the liability so they dropped the account soon after.
Why doesn't this surprise me?
Not even one little bit!
Great point how many multi millionaire wives actually do raise their kids w/o a nanny?
Got to give her credit, she waited for the cleaning crew before she left.
Or Sister Wives...
So...if Romney gets elected...
does that mean he gets more than one Vice President?
Only if he beds them both. Oh are we talking male or female I get confused sometimes.
KWL, watch out, the right-wing will be demanding an apology. lol
Ah.
I've already called mormonism a 19th century cult in previous threads.
Just like WICCA.
I think religions gain establishment status after they've been around for 500 years :) I'm a traditionalist that way.
Impressive that someone with MS could play tennis and horseback ride KWL. Most have trouble walking.
Hateful envy spewing from "can't cut its" is a disgusting thing.
Rocco...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Romney
Read and learn (and also look at all the citations)...
In my twenties I used to lead bicycle tours for kids in New England, Canada Europe. I remember talking to kids who felt they really didn't know their parents. One said, "I go to a boarding school all year, see my parents for a couple of weeks at Christmas, and I spend my summers with people with people like you!" It made me sad for a boy who would probably never have to worry about money.
Distracting fodder... but nowhere in the leagues of what the Pubs do/say (how many socialists are there?...).
I'm surprised the Romney campaign hasn't tried to tie Obama to negative remarks against women made by Josef Stalin in 1938.
Don't give them any ideas, they will gladly try anything since they are short on original ideas.
36 white house visits paid over $560,000 from the general dnc fund since 2010 I don't think it's a stretch this women is in our president's ear.
No Acoustic, just the negative ones made yesterday and today. Nice try.
not very classy for someone that should know better. she has been on CNN enough to know that. this is a distraction, but I must admit the Dems are quick to throw her under the bus.
Biden and the rest had to repudiate this statement whether or not the agreed with it. The fallout was swift and it was going to negate the lefts attack on the GOP's weakness with women. This will no doubt hurt Rosen in this election season...she is now toxic and this is going to cost her financially.
Moreover, the Romney campaign has sought to link Rosen to Obama, though Rosen has done no work for the re-election campaign or the DNC (though her firm has done some contract work). Uh she has been to the white house 36 official times and now they are just coming out with a list were she has been paid around $560,000 from the DNC general fund since 2010. Yet she has no ties to the white house or the party right.
Jimmy, that's a so typical Faux News ploy, to take a few slivers of fact and draw a completely unrelated conclusion. To the statement is that she has no connection to the re-election campaign, you reply that she had been to the White House. One does not mean the other. Her firm has done some contract work for the DNC, and you reply that she has been paid about $560,000 since 2010. That merely shows that the DNC paid their bill.
Obama and his Democrats are causing some real divisions in this country. Every issue is turned into a hate-fest against the other side. Obama actually found a way to not run on his record after all. The sad thing is Obama is too stupid to know that his supporters are taking this hate to an unsafe level. Stop dividing the country!
To those Democratic women who can think on their own, and who are tired of this fake "war on women", I would like to extend a warm welcome to you to consider becoming Conservative. We'd be happy to have you! Leave this kind of riff-raff behind and move on.
Oh miss Jody,
It appears that you are too studpid to recognize being brain washed. It is most definitely the right winged GOP who are separating this country. No, not the liberals. Your so called "fake war on women" is for real. Just wait until you or your daughter don't have the option of birth control or God forbid, an abortion.
Bombing planned parenthood clinics? Nah, doesn't sound like a war too me.
"Leave this kind of riff-raff behind and move on."
Also, please leave your opinions, right to choose and expectations of equal pay for equal work behind. Those things mean you are probably a hairy-legged femiNazi or something.
Post -- "Just wait until you or your daughter don't have the option of birth control or God forbid, an abortion."
I assume that you speak better than you write.
Birth control is always an option. At issue for me is why it needs to be free (not really free though, someone has to pay).
Abortion as a medical procedure, while troubling to me, is necessary. Abortion as a form of birth control is not as clear. I understand the impact of this in criminal situations and again, while troubling, do support as a procedure in those cases.
Jody -- Obama is dividing the country? I think you had better rethink that. The Republicans have been "the party of "NO", as they said themselves early in Obama's administration. Saying "no" to EVERY thing that Obama is trying to accomplish may make it more difficult to accomplish his goals, but the American people (esp women) will eventually wake up and see that Republicans are desperate to see him fail. They are cutting off their noses to spite their own faces. Come on, really?!
A typical Democratic blend of ignorance, misogyny, and pure nastiness.
Why does telling the truth require an apology. Ann Romney has not worked a day in her life! She has not! It the truth...so what!
So what, so what, so what.....
Oh, no skill for being first lady? You're dam right!!
why apologize?
say what you mean..
most of the mean spirited words are coming from the mouths of the ugly left..
let it all hang out..
While the consultant's comments could be taken as reverse sexual prejudice and insulting in that women who work at home and not being paid ignores the fact of the hard, hard work of mothers, Mrs. Romney's lack of paid work experience and Mr. Romney's perspective of women may be quite divergent and out of touch with the many, many single parents (most female) and the poverty and the difficulties of working mothers having to raise their kids (out of necessity). Whether or not a Romney Presidency would even be able to identify or understand this huge population of the United States and their needs is indeed a substantive question that is worth examining further instead of being caught up in some elitist reverse bias political campaign tactic.
Hilary Rosen's comment was extremely ignorant. It is the typical, uneducated nonsense that comes from liberals.
If you're really paying attention Jeff, you'd know that liberals are condemning that comment.
The more we learn about Ann Romney, the more we realize she would make a TERRIFIC First Lady!!!
We don't vote for first lady. At least I sure as hell hope you don't.
VP Joe Biden and President Obama were right to admonish Rosen for her remarks about Mrs Romney. I have to give them a lot of credit for their quick response and kind words. It would also great if the left, right, middle, and all Americans could get together and compromise, especially Congress.
The wheels on Obama's campaign bus go round and round.....as it runs over Hilary