(CNN) - Hilary Rosen offered an apology Thursday after her comments about Ann Romney sparked an uproar and a debate over women and the economy.
"I apologize to Ann Romney and anyone else who was offended," Rosen, a top Democratic strategist and CNN contributor, said in a statement. "Let's declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance."
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The previous day, Rosen argued Ann Romney could not understand the struggles of women in the sluggish workforce because she "never worked a day in her life" as a stay-at-home mother.
Her comments quickly set off a spiraling controversy, as high-profile leaders on both sides of the aisle rushed to the defense of Ann Romney and that of women opting not to pursue their careers to solely focus on raising their children.
Read the full statement below:
"Let's put the faux 'war against stay at home moms' to rest once and for all. As a mom I know that raising children is the hardest job there is. As a pundit, I know my words on CNN last night were poorly chosen. In response to Mitt Romney on the campaign trail referring to his wife as a better person to answer questions about women than he is, I was discussing his lack of a record on the plight of women's financial struggles. Here is my more fulsome view of the issues. As a partner in a firm full of women who work outside of the home as well as stay at home mothers, all with plenty of children, gender equality is not a talking point for me. It is an issue I live every day. I apologize to Ann Romney and anyone else who was offended. Let's declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance."
Obama has not worked a day in his life either (at a real job).The dopes in the country still elected him
@ John & Blake. You must have missed the point of her comment. She was stating that Romney was being foolish to get serious economic advice from his stay at home wife. Someone who has never had even the most basic of economic positions, a job. This isn't any kind of bashing of stay at home mothers. It's pathetic that people are trying to make this some kind of "dems against stay at home mothers."
There are some, that should keep there mouth shut. Then, Democrats never learn...
I love all the liberals defending here on CNN. She apoligized, she knew what she said was wrong. She made the classic liberal mistake of speaking how she really feels. They can't win in the arena of ideas, because fundementally American's don't want a nanny state.
I bet the little piggy really got heat from the white house today. Hilary is just jealous she could never date anyone like Ann.
Look people, Ann is just a regular stay at home mom, like all the others. When she's not waiting for the car elevator repairman to show up she sometimes manages to sneak off for a relaxing couple hours away from the kids and nannies to ride the back 40 on her dressage horses. Really, she's just like you and me.
Female animals in the wild have lots of babies. They have to go out and hunt to feed their offspring. Many die doing it.
Ann Romney sits at home waiting on her husband’s money so that she can decide what designer clothes to buy for her offspring.
Ann Romney has never worked a day in her married life to feed her kids. This is a fact.
This is more of a faux apology about a real issue, than an apology over a faux issue.
Oh so typicla when a Dem steps in it. Ms Rosen at the site of a major crime would tell on lookers nothng to see here please move along.
Do you know why Obama will win in November? Because he is married to Michele.
Goes to show that "operatives" will say anything.
They don't care about facts only the negative response.
Anyone with common sense knows what she meant. She spoke the truth. I wonder how many nannies and house keepers helped Mrs. Romney raise those five boys.
I am so offended by this comment. I stayed at home until I divorced. Work at home was much harder than in the workplace. The Romneys started out struggling and Ann made a choice. Obviously, it worked for them. They are prosperous and happy family. This comment hurts all women – and men – who choose to stay home and raise their family. Many can't make that choice now, but if more parents made that sacrifice, families would benefit in all ways. I would be proud to call Ann Romney my First Lady.
What kind of "strategist" thinks stay at home mothers don't vote?
This woman needs to rethink her career choice.
Ann may not have had financial concerns, but money does not remove any of the work that is required to raise children. It takes a lot more than money to raise children that grow up to be an asset to our country. Generations of Romney's worked to get what they have and I trust that both Mitt and Ann have instilled that into their children. I don't see any of them looking for a hand out and seem to be very successful.
She shouldn't have to apologize because her statement wasn't cruel. Romney's wife is an obedient woman who stays home and pumps out children left and right. A Mormon woman's job is to make as many kids for their husbands as possible. Why do you think men were allowed to marry children?
"Let's declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance."
You should have been doing that in the first place. Remember, you started this war, not Ann Romney. You're supposed to be a "strategist", whatever that means. So why not focus your efforts on strategy for the Democratic party instead of stirring the pot with meaningless drivel?
Raising children, teaching them morals, suffering through their pains and struggles with them, and helping them to become productive members of society as they leave the nest and branch out into the world is not only hard but the most important job that any woman will ever have. All of these are required of mothers from any economic class or situation and are more important than any job that either father or mother could do outside the home.
Ann worked at home with the help of "housekeepers" (You remember Mittens – "we can't hire illegals, I'm running for President for God sake..." With housekeepers, you can take naps throughout the day while breakfast, lunch and dinner is being prepared for you... come on now, we know that is how it was because if I had $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, that is what it would be for me. MITTens also gave each of his kids $100,000,000 dollars... Jeez, get real!!
Hillary fumbled it out but she got it right; Ann cannot represent me and my struggles. By the way, isn't it MITTens that have the problem with women; maybe he should leave his wife out of it and try to make HIS problem go away.
Obama 2012 – The Only Trusted Way Forward!!
Rather poor apology by Rosen.
Hopefully, she falls by the wayside.
Do you really expect a lesbian to understand why a woman would stay home with children?
It's okay Hilary, we know you were referring to real working, not sitting on your but 'raising kids' kind of work. Fat Cat Romney can pretend he knows what it's like to be the average American, but the actual "average American" just laughs at him. Obama has the election in the bag and after November, phony fat cat Romney can get back to looking for more offshore tax havens to stash his money.
The prez and his crony minions wanted this said to pandering to their femz.
Nothing to do with his record of course
Stand by for more.
they are just a good old fashioned rich couple where the wife stays home with kids.
How low and dirty will you stoop attacking Ann Romney do you think any amount a money could take away the pain and suffering from breast cancer & MS plus haviing 5 boys to raise. Yes Mitt Romney is more clean then some of you are and you don't like it so you fire off at them . Stop the ugly negative stuff and get to the real issues this country has and it's people net help not sniping and ugliness like Hilary Rosen did . We switch sides, we are Crristians ,we are in the south and voting for Mitt Romney..Due to inefective Presiedent now who also does not understand the midddle and lower class needs either to the bad behavior of Rick Santorium & Newt Gingrich, What a mess you all have made!!!
We wish you meaning CNN would show some kind of true apology and Hilary Rosen should have some kind of action taken against her. Is is sad whne the people who report the news are so biased how sad that we cannot trust you not only to go after the truth but you are the ones in there attacking them.
So the Romneys are rich big news there, what about all the Christians working & represent this country who also wealthy you never hear that thrown around. We are truly sadden by this behavior.
IWe think Hilary Rosen needs to do more.
OK, sooooo, HIlary Rosen apoligized for her 'war on sstay at home mothers."
It's now the GOP's turn to apologize for enacting and trying to enact legislation around the country to attenuate women's reproductive freedom, control their medical and healthcare decisions, control their access to health care services and medical treatments, destroy PP, etc. AND show they mean the apology by getting rid of all that legislation.
*Crickets*