Washington (CNN) – A top adviser to presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said Sunday that recent allegations coming from rivals in President Barack Obama's campaign were debasing the office of the presidency.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Romney senior adviser Ed Gillespie said the GOP candidate scheduled five interviews with major broadcasters on Friday to clear his name, after an Obama campaign official suggested he had committed a felony by listing himself as CEO of Bain Capital when he no longer carried leadership responsibilities at the private equity firm.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
"There were questions that Gov. Romney wanted to address, and make sure people understood that he's not a felon," Gillespie told CNN chief political correspondent Candy Crowley. "That's what this campaign, on the Obama side, was reduced to. And it's sad to see."
Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter charged in a conference call with reporters this week that Romney "through his own words and his own signature was misrepresenting his position at Bain to the SEC, which is a felony," or was otherwise "misrepresenting his position at Bain to the American people to avoid responsibility for some of the consequences of his investments."
Romney himself said in an interview with CNN on Friday that charge was "disgusting" and "demeaning," and called on Obama and his campaign to apologize.
"It's something which I think the president should take responsibility for and stop," Romney told CNN national political correspondent Jim Acosta.
On Sunday, Gillespie echoed that sentiment, saying the charges reflected a "say anything" stance adopted by the president's campaign.
"We now know that this president will say anything to keep this highest office in the land, even if it means demeaning the highest office in the land," Gillespie said.
Calls by Democrats for Romney to release additional tax returns, Gillespie said, were distracting from an important conversation about how to increase the number of middle-class jobs in America.
"We're putting out there his tax returns, more than is required by the law," Gillespie said. "The reason we're talking about these things is because he put those tax records out there, the blind trust and some of those accounts. The fact is the American people are very concerned about, 'How am I going to get a job?'"
Romney released tax return information from 2010 and has vowed to release his 2011 information when it's completed by his accountant. Democrats, however, are pushing the GOP candidate to release more years of documents, claiming the additional disclosure will answer questions about Romney's offshore investments in places considered to be tax havens like the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Switzerland.
Asked for an update on the search for Romney's running mate, Gillespie refused to divulge any new details, including on the timing of the announcement.
"He's narrowing the list, but I'm not going to betray any confidences," Gillespie said.
– Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Hey Mitt, what is really "dishonest" is at a time when the top tax rate is about the lowest it has been in 80 years, you continue to suggest that still more tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy will somehow help to balance the budget.
And Romney will say and do anything to get his Job !
I wish the Democrats would step up top the plate and stop worrying about just the next election and do whats right for my country. CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and NBS all will be the down fall of my country and should realize this before its way to late. Also why are the Democratic party is backing this President when everything he is doing is destroying our country, see its all about power and being relected more time and not fixing the economy and healthcare and our government.
The Ultimate Job Mover Overseas = Obama. Where are all the jobs at today president? Why are they still overseas? Looks like there is a lot of cleaning up to do in Washington and you have failed. Don't beg Americans to give you a second chance. That is embarrassing to you and insulting to the American people. It's time for new leadership. It's time for Romney to come in and cut government spending and actually do the hard work and balance the US budget! Someone with an Education and real world experience outside of the political scandals arena. That's Romney. 2012/2016
Mitt is such a cry baby. He like to dish it out but he cant stand it when it gets dished out to him. I hope the american people are seeing through him now and wont vote for this shady flip flopper.
No, actually it's the other way around.
Mitt "The Master Panderer" will say anything to win Obama's job.
doesnt matter who you support we can all agree this economy is garbage
Obama is an embarrassment.
Isnt this the same Robmney y that will say anything to destroy his Republican rivals. He needs to stop crying and take it as he gives it. This is not going to change. No doubt he is sayng and will conitnue to say nasty things sometimes true often not about Obama. Welcome to the club. '
Funny, Mr.1% still has not answered how his signature got on the forms at the SEC in 2001 when he supposedly was NOT doing anything with the plundering of working folks pension plans and foisting their plight off on the taxpayer thru the guaranty trust fund.
Of course, he did pocket the 102 Million he made off the assets of the dissolved corp.
The cash must be in those Cayman tax evading accounts!
Is Etch-A-Sketch Mitt RobMe AFRAID of President Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter?....
how can he stand the president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad if he is afraid of woman....who was just laying out the facts that mitt robme committed felony by lying to the SEC?!!!....
when is this crybaby idiot mitt robme gonna stop this wah waaaah waaaaah whinning and release his TAX RETURNS!!!!
I wonder if Obama would like to explain his mansion in Illinois he got at a reduced price due to connections with Tony Resko back in Chicago.
Ed Gillespie is a typical GOP big fact liar, with no sense of shame. He lied just about everything.
We heard that yes I did, no I didn't story before, in 1976" I am not a crook" speech.
This is a rerun – so sick and tie of these filthy rich hide and seek DUMB episode.
Ed Gillespie and Romney et al get lost.
What about Obama's association with Frank Marshall Davis?
I appreciate American citizens who want to see the current president do well. They project what they believe onto this man based on their own American experience. But this man does not have that same American experience. He did not live in this country during those important years growing up. He does not share your views. If you look critically at everything he says and does you will see that he is interested only in downsizing America (God damn America) believing that everything that we have and do is at the expense of someone less fortunate. And it is his self-appointed duty to CHANGE that. So if you have more than you need then you are obligated to give it to the government and Obama will decide what to do with it. Is that the American way? How long before people stop working to attain anything more than what they themselves need. Then what? Isn't it better to keep America prosperous so that we continue to have all the resources needed to do the good works that we do? Obama is a one trick pony, an ideologue. You can not lead the country with only one idea.
ok, ok,
we have 11 Million unemployed underemployed.
Romney solve the unemployment issue: hire them all paying 100K each for doing nothing
THAT IS ROMNEY SOLUTION TO UNEMPLOYMENT.
Greg C – you likely the Romney newly hire 100K for doing nothing.
any more offer?
politics as usual
to your disappointment, President Obama does not have a Swiss bank account, does not engage in offshore tax haven, does not offshore American jobs.
Well, to sum it up. He killed Bin Laden, saved GM et al, and His middle class focused health care reform just endorsed by the high court.
Isn't it enough to make you sick? GOP blow it big time, isn't it?
Who has never shopped in Walmart, staples, target, ......
CAST YOUR FIRST STONE.
You need cheap imports to satisfy your thrist of shopping, if the economy went bust, you are the one who cause it.
Consumer is king? You consumer cause the American job lost.
YOU HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT YOURSELF. – PLAIN ENGLISH.
OBAMA 2012! I will NEVER vote Republican again! They are horrible do nothing fiends that what to see this country tank for a win!
yes and Mitt will say ANYTHING to get elected..I think that has been proven Mr "Cheesy grits"
To 2020 100k for doing nothing sounds better than billions for welfare and the utter hopelessness of poverty and welfare democrats seem to believe in.
Obama is a disgrace. Maybe if he"d ever held a job and had a successful career – he's failed terribly as a president (and it doesn't count anyhow) – then he'd hold overseas accounts too.
2020 why won't the LSM report on the REAL unemployment rate which is at 16% or higher. Why hasn't it gotten any better under Obama?
when talking heads say american made products are to expensive its because they have to have 10,000 % profit.