First lady stands up for Ann Romney
(CNN) - Michelle Obama became the latest high-profile figure to weigh in on the stirring controversy over comments made against Ann Romney.
The first lady responded on Twitter after a top Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor criticized Ms. Romney, who stayed at home to raise her five sons, as having "never worked a day in her life."
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"Every mother works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected," the first lady's Twitter account read on Thursday.
While Obama's staff typically handles her account, the tweet was signed with her initials, "-mo," meaning the first lady supposedly typed out the tweet herself.
Hilary Rosen made the original comments Wednesday night on CNN, arguing Ann Romney was out of touch with working class women because she chose not to enter the workforce and stay at home with her children, instead.
The remarks immediately set off a wave of responses from Republican and Democratic leaders alike, including staff members from the president's re-election campaign, condemning Rosen's comments.
Rosen further clarified her statements in a column Thursday, saying she meant Ann Romney was not the best example on the campaign trail as her husband's "touchstone for women who are struggling economically."
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Rich DC spouses have to stand up for each other. This was as predicable as getting wet in a rain storm.
@Howard – "What a bunch of B.S. !!!"
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Exactly howie.. .what BS ! Rosen was correct. Ann Romney has never raised a family and had to work a 40+ hr week at a job OUTSIDE the home AT THE SAME TIME. She.. luckily had the choice open to her. Most middle class women DO NOT!
Raising kids is tough (read – hard work), but so is doing that and holding down a full-time or multiple part-time jobs. Ever met a WORKING single Mom with 3 kids? With all due respect to Ann Romney, both her and Mitt have nothing in common with real people.
Ann Romney's children are in their late 20's to 30's. Ann could have gone to work after they left the compound, but chose to stay at home. There is no way that the work that Ann had to endure with her 5 children could compare to a working women with children who has to make rent payments, car payments, and juggle a career at the same time.
Ms. Romney was not criticized for being a stay at home mom; this is not the issue the issue is real woman rights - all woman and please DEMs don't back down "again' what was said was right on Target! At some points DEMs will have to stand for something...they appear so weak will give the election to Mr. Romney's spend group.
What a load of BS. --– Mrs. R was VERY fortunate to be able to stay at home with her kids. The greater majority, especially single mothers work AND take care of their kids also. -- Mrs. R`s worries were nothing compared to the "working" moms.
So Rosen apologized and Ms. Obama has come out to defend Ann. Ms. Rosen's poor choice of words does not, however, excuse Ann from claiming to understand the experiences of average women when Ann has not lived any sort of normal woman's life and neither she or Flipper Rmoney can relate to the average person because they are way out of touch with Main St. America. Full stop.
From Oblameo's mouth to Ms. Rosen's loose lips
White House visitor logs indicate that “Hilary Rosen” visited the White House 35 times
Mitt McCain nudges his wife into the fire . Our great First Lady stepped in to defend her. Ann wouldn't do the same if the tables were turned.
Ann raised 5 kids with the help of fleet of nannies. Around the same time, she had fleet of cars, enjoying horse rides, making deposits into her Swiss accounts to hide money from IRS etc.. Can any working women claim so much hardship?
Ann Romney also has FOUR MAIDS!! How is it that everybody is neglecting this fact?? That's a luxury that ZERO single moms have, so nobody can even compare this woman to other women in the country. Nice job Rosen on calling it like it is!!
Mrs. Obama is a true class act. Love her!
My mother also stayed home to raise five kids (and no, she was never as rich as the Romneys, not even close). She is one of the hardest working people I know. My parents struggled and sacrificed just for the ability to allow my mom to stay at home, because she believed the job was much more important than anything my dad did.
Bill from New York has said it the best, use common sense people:
She had nothing to apologize for. Mrs. Romney is trying to make it seem like she was at home slaving over hot pots and changing diapers, but the reality is that she had(has) maids and nannies the whole way(Hey I've got two car elevators in my house). Just like those phoney balony Romneys trying to connect only to disconnect even more.
The word "work" was taken in the literal sense whereas Rosen meant it in a general sense – which is work out side the home. No matter how you slice it, people who work outside the house to make a living AND inside the house to raise a family – that struggle can be compared with Ann Romney's who even probably had hired help.
I really doubt that Ann Romney had a maid cleaning her house; or a nanny tucking her children in at night; or a personal chef cooking meals for the family; or a tudor homeshooling her children; or any of that stuff that like that. No, I really dobut it.
We have a great First Lady. Beautiful. Intelligent, Compassionate. I hope she runs for something after her husband's second term.
I don't have anything against Mrs. Romney, but they are part of that world of very rich, very detached Americans. I don't think they have a clue about how most of us live.
Wether you are rich, poor or middle class rasing children is not easy. But I do have to agree with the Rosen remarks,because Ann Ronmey never had to go apply for Day care, or wonder if her child support check would come, or paying a gas or electric bill or wether your enemployment check will come on time . Even though a woman may be out of a job but she still needs health care coverage also. I remember when I made six dollars and hour with two kids. I was able to still take my children to the doctors office and go to the doctors office myself with the help of the state Medicaid program. When my circumstanses improved I was able to get a better paying job. Now Romney wants to cut the programs such as Head start, WIC, Planned Parenthood. Insted of talking about the economy which nothing is wrong with that but when the day is domn he still wants to this program. These women who are representing him probably never used palnned Parenthood becuase they could pay out of their pockets. beofore I got my job I used these programs during my teen years. So Ann Romney can't tell me nothing. Her husband is agianst minumum wage period either if it benefits a man or woman.
Rosen is right what family with a combined income 65000$ a year can afford to stay at home in new york city. Im sure Mrs Romney didn t have to worry about combined income
The question now is does anyone think Ann Romney would stand up for Michelle Obama?! While Ms. Rosen may have used a poor choice of words, her intent was not evil. Unfortunately, I think we all have witnessed MUCH harsher talk from the radical republicans!
Are you kidding me? Rosen was right on and then Michelle backs up the rich chick....argh!!!!
@Patriot Awesome – Remember Laura Bush coming to the defense of Michelle Obama during the 2008 campaign when Michelle made that comment about how her husband's election made her feel proud to be an American for once. Laura told conservative critics to back off and Michelle was very thankful to Laura.
Tony – I'm a "real woman" and Ms. Rosen's comments were out of line. Nasty, mean spirited and divisive. And when you say "all women" are you including rich women who have more than you or only women who work in diners in Nevada? Dems are weak and the party has been infiltrated with angry, nasty, bitter losers.