(CNN) – Mitt Romney on Thursday took credit for sending a rowdy group of hecklers to disrupt an Obama campaign event earlier in the day, saying he was merely giving some tit-for-tat.
"If the president is going to have his people coming to my rallies, and heckling, why, we'll show them that, you know, we conservatives have the same kind of capacity he does," Romney said at an event outside Solyndra headquarters in California.
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Earlier Thursday, a round of vocal Romney supporters showed up for an Obama campaign press conference in Boston on the steps of the Massachusetts State House, in which former and current state officials took to the microphone to blast Romney's record as the state's former governor.
Their remarks, however, were largely drowned out by the small crowd of about 30 hecklers, who booed and jeered at the speakers, which included Senior Obama Campaign Adviser David Axelrod, as they stood just a few feet in front of the stage.
The event organizer's microphones amplified the attendees such that television viewers could clearly hear their remarks but also the cacophony from the Romney supporters.
A Romney spokesman chronicled the attempts at disruption via Twitter, posting pictures of the barricades blocking the area and a top Obama official making his way through a clump of protesters to the podium.
At one point, the top Obama adviser, David Axelrod, shouted back at the crowd.
"You can't handle the truth, my friends," Axelrod said to the protesters. "That's the problem. If you could handle the truth, you'd quiet down."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Romney's campaign was organizing an event at an undisclosed location, acknowledging they feared the Obama administration would somehow prevent them from staging it.
Responding to the tactic, Obama's deputy campaign manager described Romney as "paranoid."
"I'm not quite sure what paranoid world Mitt Romney is living in, but that is just absurd to me for someone who wants to be president of the United States," Stephanie Cutter said in an interview to air on CNN's "The Situation Room."
At the privately-planned Romney event, which turned out to be the press conference in front of Solyndra headquarters, Romney was asked about the secrecy surrounding his surprise visit.
"I think that there are people who don't want to see this event occur, don't want to have questions asked about this particular investment…," Romney said, referring to the Energy Department's $535 million loan to Solyndra prior to the company's bankruptcy in 2011 and political contributions some of the company's executives had made to the 2008 Obama presidential campaign.
"This is a serious conflict of interest. This ought to be a big story. And I don't think there – I think there are a number of people among the president's team that don't want that story to get out. We wanted to make sure it did," Romney added.
He was also quizzed about the hecklers earlier in the day. Taking credit for the move, Romney said he has held a number of events that have been disrupted by Obama supporters and decided to give a taste of their own medicine.
"At some point you say, you know what, sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. If they're going to be heckling us, why we're not going to sit back and play by very different rules," he said.
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Bishop wingnut and his birther friends.
Will Willard show us the evidence that Mr. Obama sent paid staffers as hecklers to a Romney event? One thing is clear. Willard inherited a healthy penchant for political dirty tricks from Pres. Nixon's 1968 campaign against George Romney.
your Everything Sucks & Everything Blows Tabby Nackle 2012 tour is plain STUPID. Youre voter Surpression Ass shoul just quit now & avoid a whole lotta Embaressment. Ya got nothin Bishop!!!!!
Great. We now officially have children running for the highest office in the world. At this point I hope the mayans are right, I'm sick of being smarter than people who have power.
That is so juvenile. I can see him on the gradeschool playground yelling "I'm gonna get my buddies to get even with you".
the Ron Paul supporters are the ones heckling Robme - but that MUST be ok because they are all part of the republican clan..
What a juvenile person. Yeah. That's who we need with a finger on that button (Not).
Oh My thats pretty strong stuff Willard, Sending a bunch of White, Whiter & whitest Stupid Tabby nackles to heckle for your dumd ass,. bishop, Ya got Nothin!!!!!!!!
I used to think that at the very least, Romney's not a dirt bag, but I've just been proven wrong. He is a complete dirt bag.
Mittens never grew up mentally. He is still in high school running a little group of elitist thugs.
so where are all the GOP'ers who express outrage when Mittens gets heckled? Anyone? Anyone?
The difference is that Obama didn't send hecklers to Romney's events.
I Head Tabby Nackle Of Boston do solemly Swear to Enforce the WHITES ONLY Policy for the Elders in my Cult of 14 MILLION. Willard, Bigotry should Disqualify you for this & Yall Stupid Ass Racist Religion should be REVOKED from Tax Exempt Status....
After the first debate there will be no more "tight polls" Obama will have this wrapped up... and yes, Patriot Awesome I agree 100%.
What an infant. You took my lollipop, so I am going to takes yours. I wonder if this shell of a man will ever talk to reporters other than those at Fox or if we will have full disclosure of his tax returns? No matter, this wierdo will never be president.
Just what this country needs frat boy Romney running for President. The CEO games will not work for our country Romney. We are tired of the games you and your rich buddies play. We don't want someone playing with our lives and the world is watching your childish stunts. Being President is not a game and it will backfire in Nov. 2012.
Is Romney in 2nd grade?? What a whiner. He lacks so much!
Mitty, Obama didn't "send" anyone to heckle you. Those people did so because they genuinely think you stink. The fact that you have paid staffers harassing the Obama campaign is yet another reason to despise you. You are living proof that money cannot buy class.
Romney, never a low road he wouldn't take.
This how President (god help us all) Romney tackle world diplomacy? By sending hacklers to Russia and China to drawn-out their voice? Just wondering.
when they come to your rallies to heckle you should hold them down and cut off their hair !!! lol wink wink
Wow! How childish. I lost ALL respect for Romney now and I no longer believe he is fit to be President, although I never really liked him anyway. He still thinks he's that prankster in prep school.
I disagree with you Patriot Awesome because I always KNEW Willard was a dirt bag so no surprise here. I'm just glad others are finding out.
This one act shows Romney's true character. This is the behavior of a spoiled rich boy who's used to getting his way. Very, very low class move!
If the American political scene was "Harry Potter" who do you think Mitt Romney would be? Hint... he has very blonde hair...
Is this guy really 65 years old? My 20 year olds act more mature then he does, jeezs
ok so Mitt has to "hire" hecklers to go to an Obama event wheras the ones that may show up at his come at their own free will? Says a lot about the support for Mitt if you ask me that you have to ASK somebody to go heckle for you.