Rosen: It's not personal, it's politics
(CNN) - Responding to a downpour of criticism over comments she made about Ann Romney, top Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen said Thursday she was not taking the heat too personally-even that coming from within her own party.
"I've clearly been on the other side where I've jumped on peoples' misstatements, so I'm not claiming victim here," Rosen said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."
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She continued: "When people go for their respective corners, I understand it. It's not personal."
Rosen, also a CNN contributor, sparked outrage among Republicans and Democrats alike when she said Wednesday night that Ann Romney, a former stay-at-home mom, had "never worked a day in her life."
Clarifying her point, Rosen apologized Thursday and said she meant Ann Romney was not the best example for her husband to use on the campaign trail as a woman who understands the struggles of working class moms.
While Republicans had quickly seized on her original remarks, top Democrats–including first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz–also railed against her remarks.
Asked about the flurry of attacks from her own party, Rosen said she was "comfortable" with the resulting firestorm and understood their concerns.
"People who know me know that I didn't intend that. But my words were not very good, you know, if they want to play politics with it, that's fine," she said.
Rosen added she's had supportive calls from friends, but wasted no time commenting on the lighting fast pace of an election season.
"The modern-day campaign and the swiftness of the charges and the counter charges and the intensity of it is enormously frightening for campaign professionals and for consultants and for candidates alike," she said. "This is going to be an ugly campaign season and if this ends up being the start to it, so be it."
Apologizing again, Rosen said she saw no need to meet with Ann Romney face-to-face to discuss the issue.
"I hope Ms. Romney knows that I didn't mean it personally," she said. "I was trying to talk about economic issues."
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First -being a parent is the hardest job in the world. Correction -being a good parent is the hardest job in the world, Correction – being a good working parent is the hardest job in the world, correction – being a good working parent with a variety of other disadvantages in society is the hardest job in the world, that being said, Ann has the easiest hardest job in the world. To say you're sorry for a mis speak is one thing but the point should not be loss, the Romneys have no idea how the 99% manage their lives....
To all hateful Democrats,
Mitt and Ann Romney started married life in a $62 dollar a month apartment. Do some research and gather a few facts. One of the tables in this apartment was a large door. They started with very little. They worked hard and succeeded. I know that is anathema to whining liberals, however, it is the truth. Go ahead and keep attacking a breast cancer surviving, MS suffering, mother of 5. That will work. Democrat = Hate
Go Ms Rosen! My question is: was she correct in her assertion?
Watch out, folks-it's the Democrat war on stay-at-home moms! I've been an at-home mom for years and I'm proud of it!
Rosen: "I hope Ms. Romney knows that I didn't mean it personally," she said. "I was trying to talk about economic issues."
Here we have the very same "personal" putdown....that stay-at-home moms are somehow incapable of understanding "economic issues" like the big girls. Talk about a war on women! This is yet another pompous mysogenist who Obama values enough to have at the WH 35 times.
I am glad that someone is actually standing next to what they originally said. I understood what she meant. i agree with what she said. just because ann romney is a woman, does NOT mean she and I have anything in common. In fact, I came from a blue collar construction family. i also have 3 kids and work fulln time. nope... still nothing to relate to...
Rosen is right stick to what you stated oh wait the spin is on. .
Millions of women single and two income families don’t have the option of staying home even if they only have one kid. The GOP and Romney continually work to destroy the American family also after school programs where kids learn and have a reasonably safe environment while parents work. The GOP hates the working class so much that they have no problem putting our kids at risk. Millions of kids are home alone many in very unsafe situations and are at risk. Because after school programs are the first to be eliminated, law enforcement cuts also makes the situation even less safe. So there is a huge difference in real working women earning!!! A income most that must have 2 incomes to survive the Bush attack on working families. Maybe if these people paid their fair share of taxes we could keep some of these latchkey kids safe. How can anyone fight against sports and educational programs for KIDs, against the KIDS really!! Interesting how thin skinned these fake Christians are.
Easy to twist words around. Everyone knew she meant working in the real world, paid. She could afford to stay home with her kids, with staff. She didn't have to juggle work, sick kids, go grocery shopping, having to select what to put back because she didn't have enough money. She never had to choose which child needed shoes more than the others. The truth hurts, pick another fight.
Kool-aid drinking liberal democrats, what a bunch of hypocrites...you know you'd be making a different argument if the shoe was on the other foot, so sad to see such desperation.
"It's not personal, it's politics." What a remarkably cowardly thing to say. Rosen is just one of those jealous lesbians that are upset because she is ugly and never had a chance to find a man that would have a profession. This isn't even envy of those that work hard vs. those that are lazy and foolish. It's just plain rich vs poor envy and a shake of ugly and lazy vs. attractive and smart.
Obama, the Great Uniter. Right.
DAILY he pits Blacks against Whites, Men against Women, Rich against Poor, This country is more divided under this president than at any time in our history. All because the only way he can get elected is to keep people divided. Sad really. And why do all these liberals hate success so much...except for themselves?
Bravo! You all were able to take an extremely important point made by Hilary Rosen and twist it around and use it against her. In context there was absolutely nothing wrong with what she said and the statement was true. It was not personal against Mrs. Romney we all admire her personal struggle with two illnesses and her ability to raise five children but that had absolutely nothing to do with what was said. The statement was intended to point out that Mrs. Romney did not have an economical struggle while raising her family like most women are facing today. Let's be mature in this sensitive matter, the point that Mrs. Rosen was making is vitally important let's agree to stop playing games with words and address the issues at hand. Did Mrs. Romney have economic struggles while being a stay at home mom? Did she have to wonder about how she was going to pay for her healthcare during her illnesses? This is not a negative thing, it's truly a blessing but it's not the reality of most stay at home moms today and certainly something that will have to be a concern of the next President of our United States.
Woman in California, What a snob you are. Hating someone because they are rich.