(CNN) - Mitt Romney made his first public remarks Friday on the controversy over a top Democratic strategist criticizing his wife for her past as a stay-at-home mother.
While speaking at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in St. Louis, the likely GOP presidential candidate introduced Ann Romney as "a hero of mine."
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"I happen to believe that all moms are working moms, and if you have five sons, your work is never over," Romney said, as his wife joined him on stage.
Hilary Rosen, longtime Democratic analyst and a CNN contributor, sparked an uproar when she argued Wednesday that Ann Romney was out of touch with most working moms and had "never worked a day in her life."
Leaders from all over the political spectrum, including President Barack Obama, swiftly hit back, with many of Rosen's friends even publicly scorning her comments.
Romney's surrogates also pounced on the remarks and held a conference call lambasting Rosen, while Ann Romney herself took to Twitter to respond followed by an interview on Fox News.
Apologizing on Thursday, Rosen said she meant to imply that because of the Romneys' wealth, the couple could afford to have one parent at home, unlike many families in the still struggling economy.
After her husband's brief introduction Friday, Ann Romney took the opportunity to speak out on the issue.
"Let me give a shout out to all moms that are working and, by the way, to all dads that are working. We love all of you," she said.
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Man, she is ugly.
The toughest job Mrs. Romney likely ever had to face in her running a household was deciding which maid would have the weekend off.
He is now using his wife as his sixth appendix. No, I take that back the fifth is limp. Never mind.
"I happen to believe that all moms are working moms, and if you have five sons, your work is never over," Romney said, as his wife joined him on stage.
You happen to believe it today. I bet you wouldn't know what the word work inside or outside the home means if it hit you in that silly false teeth face of yours. Yes, bishop a woman's work is never over and when you have the nannies and chaufers and the cooks it is never ending. Hypocrite.
@Chistine WA..I really don't think it's jealousy, it's more the fact that she shouldn't try to put herself in shoes that don't fit her. She should be very ashamed of her husband commenting that he will take away low or middle income mother's preventive services to a disease that she shares with these mothers. That is what disgusts me the most. The thought that I should be happy for her because of her money is really something and morally I can't do. Does she realize that many people have lost their jobs so her and her family can be wealthy and she can drive two Cadillacs? So, Women! Come on, Ann does not having anything in common with low or middle class working or stay at home mothers and I just can't support a woman like her.
Best comeback from the left and it shows their mentality - "Man, she is ugly."
No one is jealous because they are rich. I love my life and am proud of who I am, not these two. They are too scared to let you know about their taxes and faith.The world cannot believe how out of touch they are with regular people and he is a candidate for president. Of course he thinks that he deserves to be president because of his money. TheMmittens family cares about no one but themselves. Ask her how much things cost. I bet the only way she knows is if she looks at receipts, but I seriously doubt that she does. All she does is pass the bills to the accountant to pay them. You republicans really need to wake up and smell the coffee. Mittens is nothing but a puppet for the republican party. He is so scared that they will not like him that he will do anything that the big dogs say. He has no convictions. This man is nothing but a wimp. Look at how he carries himself on the campaign trail. No backbone what so ever.
SOUTHERN HOTTIE - Man, she is ugly.
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CAT FIGHT!!!!!
She's not ugly though. You want ugly, check out Pelosi and Wasserman-Schitz. Now THAT is butt ugly!!
Carpe – Its because FDR and JFK never tried to offset their wealth with pathetic pandering ploys to sound like a regular person. Anytime Mitt speaks he shows how he just doesn't get it. His attempt to pander to NASCAR fans blew up his his facec when he talked about being friends with team owners. Despite his wealth, he jokes about being unemployed as if he has struggled during his unemployment. His attempt at support for the auto industry revealed that his wife has two Cadillac SUVs. If he would have just manned up and said something along the lines of "I have been fortunate in my life to not want for much, but it has given me the opportunity to be in public service....:" people would have respected him a lot more. But he just can't do that. That's the difference.
She has no clue of whatsoever. No wrong on Hillary Rosen. 5 caddies, no knowledge of women problems. Disgrace to our nation. Bain-capital.
I have worked and I have stayed at home. They are both difficult in their own ways. Romney is being disingenuous in trying to stir up controversy where there is none. This is no "attack on stay at home mothers" AT ALL. Ms. Rosen, who unfortunately said "never worked a day in her life" instead of "never worked a day outside of the home in her life" clearly meant "working" as in "working at a paying job.outside the home." Ms. Rosen only brought this up in the first place because Romney says that his wife gives him advice on women's economic issues and Ms. Rosen rightly pointed out that Mrs. Romney has never had a job outside the home and lives a very different lifestyle than 99% of American women. It certainly doesn't score any points with this Mom that Romney is trying to turn a valid comment about his wife into "an attack on stay at home moms" when clearly this is not the case.
Talk about a nasty piece of baggage. Whew. And yes, raising kids in work, but this woman has no clue what the majority of women in this country have to do to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. No matter, she will never be FLOTUS.
Who cares if Anne Romney is privileged.. She's still a mom who raised five kids. To fault her for being "well off" is reaching.. very tacky of Hillary, but she's just doing what she was told... She is the hired help after all... Romney 2012!!!
Sorry Mitt, this and your cherry picking stats aren't going to woo women voters to you. Neither will selecting a female VP. McCain insulted women by assuming they would vote for him because he selected Palin and there were many PUMA's who thought Obama's campaign was nasty to Hilary Clinton. In the end, they choose policy over gender.
carpe diem says : "I'm curious where this new "wealth" litmus test comes from...the "ability to relate" litmus test. Why were JFK and FDR not subjected to this litmus test?" - When a politician such as Romney plans to give tax breaks to the ultra wealthy and large corporations while cutting spending on things like student loans that the middle class depends on, people start to wonder about their motives in giving more to those like themselves who don't need help right now and taking away from others who are struggling. When a politician such as FDR advocates for the poor and middle class even though he himself is not included in that category, his motives are not questioned because he is not doing anything to benefit himself, he is working to benefit others who have less and need help.
The next time Romney does an interview outside of Fox the reporter needs to ask Mitt this: You stated over 92% of jobs lost in the first 14 months of Obama's presidency were women. Please explain what policy or policies caused this to happen. Please be specific and don't use generic talking points. I guarantee you Romney will have nothing to say or babble some nonsense and not answer the question.
@ ReallY!!?
I'm sure Ann Romney suffers but so do MANY other Americans and she is all FOR her lying husband taking away their healthcare. Twist it ALL you want but I work to provide my son his healthcare and he is going to have it just like Ann has it. As far as being jealous of the Romney's, I want even respond to that because you people will never understand this is NOT about jealousy. Good luck to you in your quest for Willard's "economic expertise"
These two are pathetic. I am so sick of the whining. President and Mrs. Obama have been treated like dirt by the right. They have been called apes, monkeys and many other terrible things, yet I have not once seen any of those incidents get press like this one. Mittens, if you and Missy Anne want to be in the White House, you better grow thicker skin. And to all that will say, "but she has MS". Well so does my sister and guess what? She drives for Fed Ex and has raised three kids without nannies.
OBAMA 2012!
SERIOUSLY PEOPLE!
Just wait until women calm down and really think about what Willard is offering (which is nothing). Ann won't be pretty, helpless or fake enough to keep them from voting AGAINST Willard. Like I said just wait.