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Subscribe to RSSThe Washington Post on Romney’s prep school days and one incident in particular: “Mitt Romney returned from a three-week spring break in 1965 to resume his studies as a high school senior at the prestigious Cranbrook School. Back on the handsome campus, studded with Tudor brick buildings and manicured fields, he spotted something he thought did not belong at a school where the boys wore ties and carried briefcases. John Lauber, a soft-spoken new student one year behind Romney, was perpetually teased for his nonconformity and presumed homosexuality. Now he was walking around the all-boys school with bleached-blond hair that draped over one eye, and Romney wasn’t having it.
“ ‘He can’t look like that. That’s wrong. Just look at him!’ an incensed Romney told Matthew Friedemann, his close friend in the Stevens Hall dorm, according to Friedemann’s recollection. Mitt, the teenaged son of Michigan Gov. George Romney, kept complaining about Lauber’s look, Friedemann recalled. A few days later, Friedemann entered Stevens Hall off the school’s collegiate quad to find Romney marching out of his own room ahead of a prep school posse shouting about their plan to cut Lauber’s hair. Friedemann followed them to a nearby room where they came upon Lauber, tackled him and pinned him to the ground. As Lauber, his eyes filling with tears, screamed for help, Romney repeatedly clipped his hair with a pair of scissors. The incident was recalled similarly by five students, who gave their accounts independently of one another.”
The Romney campaign responded this way to the Post: “Anyone who knows Mitt Romney knows that he doesn’t have a mean-spirited bone in his body,” Andrea Saul said in a statement. “The stories of fifty years ago seem exaggerated and off base and Governor Romney has no memory of participating in these incidents.”
“Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage on Wednesday but declined to condemn President Obama's endorsement of gay marriage, noting the sensitivity of the issue. Following a campaign speech in Oklahoma that focused primarily on energy, jobs and the economy, the presumptive Republican nominee reaffirmed his opposition to same-sex marriage in light of Obama's announcement today. "I have the same view on marriage that I had when I was governor," he said. "I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman.,”" msnbc.com’s Michael O’Brien reports.
Los Angeles Times: "Standing in front of an oil well, Mitt Romney blasted President Obama’s energy policy Wednesday, saying that he was taking credit for job creation that he is not responsible for while suppressing domestic energy production. "I recognize that what you're seeing in terms of growth of the energy sector is happening in places like this, where men and women working in oil, coal, gas, are able to create jobs, help keep the cost of energy down to the extent that we can -- that’s good not only for American families, it’s good for American enterprise and manufacturing. Now the president tries to take credit for the fact that oil production is up. I'd like to take credit for the fact that when I was governor the Red Sox won the World Series,” Romney told scores of supporters gathered in a pastoral field in this suburb of Denver. “But, neither one of those would be the case. It was not the president's policies that led to oil production being up. This is private land and private leases.” Obama’s campaign countered that Romney was being “dishonest” about the president’s energy record, and that under his watch production of domestic oil, natural gas and renewable energy have all grown, and argued that Romney’s policies favor oil companies at the expense of working Americans."
Ann Romney wrote an op-ed in USA Today titled "Ann Romney: Three Seasons of Motherhood."
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"Prep school prank"? Are you kidding me? Try assault. If some high school bully, and his henchmen, did something like this to my son, I'd have someone in jail. Romney is Flashman from "Tom Brown's School Days". I guess if your daddy is rich enough, and influential, you get to behave like this. I can understand why Romney "can't remember the incident", it is a most shameful memory, and one that he's obviously chosen to supress. I'll bet there is more like this. I hope that rocks are being turned over to find them. Disgusting!
Seamus the dog got pretty much the same sort of treatment from that tinman Romney, who has yet to get a heart. I would guess he doesn't rough people up with his pals anymore, but his views on this issue haven't changed one bit. This demonstrates pure cowardess on his part. We need no bullying, animal abusing, gay bashing, pension stealing tinman in the White House.
Interesting that all the other boys involved in the incident can remember it in detail, but Romney can't remember it at all.
‘He can’t look like that. That’s wrong. Just look at him!’ an incensed Romney told Matthew Friedemann
Yeah, sounds like Romney. That's the vibe I pick up from him when he talks about just about any issue. That there is a "right way" ie. an order to the universe that dictates who shall have dominion over whom, and Mitt, naturally, is at the top of the food chain, because he was born there, and because he's a "good boy."
To: Amy:
Leave it to the left to come out with something like that and make an issue out of it. But you did not make an issue when then Attorney Obama associated with the un-rependant Bill or for associated with a religious person who Dammed the US. Wait, lets say that you have proof of it (not hearsay) and let us used the words that were said by now President Obama "He has evolved". Please give me a break and grow up Girlfriend AMYB from ME. Same old talking points.
So, Romney's an entitled creep now because he's always been an entitled creep. Too bad that school never focused on enforcing honesty or integrity.
This as ridiculous as the Dog stories of Romney and Obama. Way to focus on important issues.
I keep saying it but they can't focus on important issues. They have no idea or plan on actual issues so all they can do is divide and lie.
Wow. What a big man. He has to have a posse to protect him so he can assault another young man. I agree with the first post. Call this what it is ASSAULT.
Someone needs to interview the young man that got attacked.
The young man who was attacked can't be interviewed. He's dead.
I'm sorry to hear that Jeffrey.
He is a perfect representative for the modern republican party, conform to their ideals or be punished.
A lot of people in this country are sick and tired of being "pranked" by republicans.
Yes, perfect representative given what he did in High School. Using your logic Forrest (good handle by the way - it perfectly represents your intelligence), Obama's self professed drug use in High School makes him the perfect representative of the modern democrat party. If you guys want to go back to what Romney and Obama were doing in High School - we'll happily go down that road.
It is far less about Romney's action against some kid who was put in a situation where he could not defend himself, and more about recently proposed republican legislation against those who don't see things their way. BTW the more you go into the candidates past and how they got to where they are now, Obama wins on that issue. It's a case of self determination and hard work against Daddy's money. Go there all you wish.
Exactly, Forrest. I am tired of the excuses from the right wing. This is wrong, they need to say it is wrong.
Did you forget Actualintellictual (not so good handle-you have no intellect at all) Forrest Gump was really vary smart in the movie, he made millions. See that's the problem with you tea people Koch republicans, you only look at the outside of a person and make your judgement. That's why the majority of America doesn't like or respect you.
Yes, many Americans would be very excited to find out about the marxist teaching which Obama soaked up in his youth from the likes of Frank Marshall Davis and Saul Alinsky, and the irresponsibility of Obama's drug use. Those are conscious choices that Obama made. Romney didn't choose his parents. Also, you may want to do your homework - Romney is self made, he gave his inheritance away. Other than convincing people to vote for him, what are his big accomplishments that were a result of his self determination? Editor of Harvard law review - but no published articles. No major sponsored legislation as a senator. He's a charasmatic demagogue who got where he is today because he's good at getting people to like him - but in terms of actual achievement - the resume is pretty thin. I feel really sorry for people like you that simply hate people because they're successful or because their parents are successful.
God, I love people like this. Even the misspelling of the word "intellectual" tells you all you need to know about him. Do you even know what an Editor does? HE EDITS!
As to equating your President with the list of people the "teabaggers" like to use, you just make yourself sound like what we know "teabaggers" are.
Undereducated illiterates.
I would respectfully ask people like "ActualIntellictual" to read so-called radicals like Alinsky. His writing is pragmatic and hopeful. Further, Romney in his "successful" business experience simply found a way to manipulate struggling businesses by paring away less profitable parts. Then he sold what was left at a profit. The social costs didn't matter. This is not a character trait I want to see in a U.S. president.
I'm no saint by any stretch, nor a bully, either. But I do remember almost every kid I punched or who punched me. What is missing from Romney's story is any indication of contrition if not for this kid, then surely there was someone else. A lack of contrition is a lack of empathy.
And a lack of empathy makes for a dangerous individual. Good post, Wm.
people like romney are what schools are fighting today. hes a bully plain and simple just look at his occupation. he buys companies, raids their pension plan, sells off all assets to china, leaving hundreds of workers on unemployment and food stamps.
yes, he has never changed and never will. he knows nothing about people and their lives and anyone who gets in his way, gets taken down by his followers, and he has his way with them.
Drink the kool-aid kr...
As an independent voter, I can see how articles like this are merely hack jobs on "alleged" events of nearly 50 years ago when Romney was a minor. Hate against Romney and Republicans is the only viable tactic the Democrats have for 2012.
I'm concerned about the federal deficit and how reckless government spending will hurt ALL of us if not addressed. I want a stronger economy so we can improve the standard of living of ALL Americans.
In these areas, I've been very disappointed in the Obama administration and their failures to address these issues rather than pointing fingers.
So it is all right for a Romney to assault another student, using a gang to do so?
As long as he is a Republican, right, geo?
Newday, he's an independent he just hates Democrats. Yea right.
Don't you just love tea people Koch republicans like geo who doesn't want to be associated with them so he claims to be an independent.
The worse thing is, Mo, that they aren't clever enough to disguise it.
"Back on the handsome campus, studded with Tudor brick buildings and manicured field.."
Another Washington Post liberal journalist practicing class envy... sounds like Faber College in "Animal House"...
Hey MSNBC...psssst....I have a story for sale that you can headline, that Mitt Romney when he was in preschool wet his pants.....
Any day now, the Washington Post will investigate Obama's past life....it has only been 4 years... we all have faith in objective journalists, dont we?
Bit delusional, even for you Bob: So is it right or wrong to assault another student in school?
No Bob we do not.
Man it's hilarious watching Bob and rukidding trying to defend Romney. There's no defending someone who buys his posse to bully someone. This is just another rich kid story, Romney has many.
Hey Bob and rukidding, if you hate MSMBC so much why do you keep watching?
I got a sneaky suspicion that he copped a feel when he had the kid down.
I read the carefully researched article in The Washington Post on Mitt Romney's physical assault on John Lauber at the Cranbrook Academy, Romney's prep school. I also saw Chuck Todd's MSNBC panel discussion on Thursday's show. Why on earth are Todd and his panel apologizing for this dispicable behavior? Why does it seem that Democrats are living up to the cliche that the left flees from playing political hardball at every opportunity? What would the right do if they found a similar story about a prominent liberal candidate? Oh wait. They don't even have to "find" a story. In the case of John Kerry and the "Swift Boat" campaign THEY MAKE IT UP. The left needs to press this point. The planets and the stars have lined up perfectly. Press the point.
Yeah, shows Mitt Romney as the creep he really is. Liberal Bias, no it's just telling the Non-Fox truth. He's a jerk, he's a jerk ,he's a bonafide Rush Limbauigh loving jerk.
Any kind of smear campaign like this is ridiculous!
What about the serious issues America faces concerning the economy, fiscal policy and focusing on uniting our country rather than juvenile hear-say and worthless conjecture.
Wake up America! We deserve better from our media, our government and our leaders.
Character counts, remember the Republicans pontificating about that geo? And someone so divorced from empathy for another that could do this sort of thing has no character.
Get it now?
this guy's a candidate? his real name is Willard.
Sad, this educated and highly privileged man continues to dodge issues, feign lapses of memory, and reverse previously stated beliefs ... all part of his indignant and entitled posture ... how dare anyone question the scion? Disgusting behavior - and yes, even behavior from his prep-school days is pertinent.
Wonderful. Now we have to put up with lying and senility?
Romney is like an elderly Eddie Haskell.