Romney: Candidates shouldn't detail their youthful indiscretions
Romney said presidential candidates shouldn't get too detailed about their youthful indiscretions.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Saturday presidential candidates shouldn't go into detail about indiscretions in their youth because they may set a bad example for children.
Romney's comments came in response to a question about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's recent comments in Iowa about his past marijuana use.
"I agree with the sentiment that nobody's perfect and most of us, if not all of us, in our youthful years have engaged in various indiscretions we wouldn't want to have paraded in the front of a newspaper," Romney said. "On the other hand, if we're running for president, I think it's important for us not to go into details about the weaknesses and our own failings as young people for the concern that we open kids thinking that it's OK for them.
"And so I think I subscribe to what President Bush said during his campaign," Romney continued. "He said when he was young and irresponsible, he was 'young and irresponsible' and he left it at that."
Earlier Saturday, Obama was asked by an Iowa voter if he ever inhaled while smoking marijuana.
"I did," the senator from Illinois said to light applause. "It's not something I'm proud of. It was a mistake as a young man."
The question was a reference to a line made famous by former President Bill Clinton who, while admitting to trying marijuana, said he did not inhale.
"I never understood that line," Obama added. "The point was to inhale. That was the point."
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This is so stupid. It's one thing to brag about the dumb things one does as a youth, which Romney seems to think Obama is doing.
But it's another thing to admit to having done something wrong in the past and be contrite about it, which really Obama is doing.
I applaud Obama for being able to answer an invasive question and teach a message to today's youth at the same time.
Romney: Candidates shouldn't detail their youthful indiscretions
OK – what is Mitt trying to hide?
Yea, like how they cheated on their third child bride?? lmao
Yep and everything you do is kept in the closet. HIde it from the kids while the kids hide it from you. Can we say "DISFUNCTIONAL" Family
Why, Mitt? You got something to hide?
Hiding the truth and not being honest, specially when running for president, does not make you, Mitt, presidential material, sorry!
Hey Romney, Obama revealed these childhood experiences waaay before becoming a Presidential Candidate. Most people are mad because Obama isn't status-quo. If Obama had not revealed these things, I bet every opposing candidate would have no problem bringing his past to light in order to create dirty laundry.
Obama was just inexperienced or stupid in telling his indiscretions when young. Or, was he forced to do so because he feared that Novak might diclose his indiscretions?
Anyway, it is funny to see Obama's supporters has glorified his "sins",and made them appearing to be a cult.
If you can not be truthful about your past, you should not be running for president.
It is really good to see Mitt getting Nervous of Obama. He never counted him before now he is afraid he is going to be shown dust. What a pity to come around the last minute!
This is soo rich from a candidate of the party who endorsed the swift boat ads. My "God" their motto is destroy the character of the opponent with any lie, and hide my dirty linen as though it was a state secret. Just calling it as I hear it!
Focus on your party Mitt. Can you tell us alittle about those being fund raised by Brothels?
Mitt Romney is right, it is shameful behavior, that kind of candidate is a negligible person for the President.
I can't believe we are deciding whether to allow an admitted criminal into the white house. He violated the law when he smoked the marijuana. Unfortunately, he failed to pay the price because he managed to avoid being caught in his crime. This is reason for Obama to step down.
To get a sense of what kind of leader - and what kind of human being Mitt Romney truly is, take a look at this video. (It's short.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwtqe9lp4kM
I think Romney has reached a point of desperation especially now that Oprah is hitting the trail for Obama. What a looser!
Obama 08!
Hmmmm....sounds like he's avoiding the topic. C'mon Mitt, none of us buy that you are a perfect as your press image.
yes ...let's all keep our secrets ... do as I say – don't do as I did .... how do you spell hypocrisy? If Mitt (like Bush) won't tell the truth on these issues, we can be sure they continue to tell us just what they think we "need to know" –
Don't look at the man behind the curtain ...
I find that troubling since in this day that the media and other up to smear people will do that - dig into a candidate's past. If someone is up front about it and honest that he view that time in his youth as wasted, that is a good thing. Obama did note that he considers the time with drugs as wasted.
Perhaps it might be better if you had no youthful indiscretions that were in fact violations of the law to begin with. I think its called taking responsibility for yourself.
Mitt did you ever think that people actually stood up and took responsibility for their actions we wouldn't be in such a pickle that we are in today?