Romney's son apologizes to Obama for 'swing' remark
(CNN) – Tagg Romney, Mitt Romney's oldest son, apologized to President Barack Obama Monday for saying he wanted to "take a swing" at him during contentious presidential debates.
Obama and Tagg Romney were seen speaking on the stage after Monday's final presidential debate, held at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Two Obama aides said the conversation included an apology for the remark, made last week during a radio interview.
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Asked in that interview what it's like "to hear the President of the United States call your dad a liar," Tagg Romney joked about his fantasy response.
"Jump out of your seat and you want to rush down to the debate stage and take a swing at him," he said. "But you know you can't do that because, well, first because there's a lot of Secret Service between you and him, but also because that's the nature of the process. You know they're going to try to do anything they can do to make my dad into something he's not."
"We signed up for it, we've got to kind of sit there and take our punches, and send them the other way," he continued.
One of Tagg Romney's brothers, Josh, downplayed the comments in an interview on ABC's "The View."
"That brother has slugged me a couple of times," Josh Romney said. "I'm sure President Obama has nothing to worry about."
Asked about the original comments on Thursday, Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said Tagg Romney was "joking about how frustrating this process can be for family."
CNN's Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report.
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It's also interesting the way the son doesn't even realize his father IS lying. The fact checkers have been working overtime in this election.
Apology much to late he has no respect for this President and he should be put on the Secret service watch list, which means he should be close to the President at any time.
You should not have to apologize in America for speaking the truth and your real feelings as long as no one is hurt. Obama has never apologized for all the lies and deception he spewed in the '08 campaign and many have been hurt from the outright lies he told to get a vote, Romney's Son was standing up for his Father. I agree with him.
He was just stating what many thought about a president that sounded more like a two bit hood bully than a president. Never mind the unflinched lying. What a farce, LOL. Good thing President Romney will restore credibility to the oval office which is sorely in need after four years. Even David Letterman is dissapointed with Obama and letterman is head cheerleader for this POTUS.
He's 42...they make it sound like he's a reckless kid. Mitt lies; our president told the truth. Truth hurts sometimes, and it's hurtful to discover that our parents are not perfect.
I would question the leadership skills of anybody that would name their kid Tagg.
I guess only the rich can threaten the POTUS. I bet my middle class butt would be in big trouble!
Obama is great and he will win agian-the election is already over, folks!
When will Obama apologize for everything he said, did and should have done but didn't?
Sorry about dad Mr President he is all the party has this time around, all the decent candidates won't represent us anymore.
Oh please. He's not sorry. At least not in an apologetic sense.
All sounds staged. Now we have the softer, kinder Mitt.
romney and all his sonsd are liars
Man you people need some education!!! Reading comprehention goes a long way!!! He did NOT threaten the pres., he said he would LIKE to swing not GOING to swing!!! Not a threat you uneducated losers!!! LOL
I'm voting for Obama (After considering both candidates for some time, with an open mind.) In my opinion, the comment was taken out of context. If national news made a big deal of every time I said "I'd like to slug that guy" when I was in Tagg Romney's age bracket, there wouldn't have been room in the newspaper for any real news items. (Kind of like now!) And, I never acted on those statements, just like hardly anyone ever does. It's just blowing off steam.
I think he did the right thing for all concerned by apologizing, but can we give this a rest now, and talk about real issues?
The real winner here is Josh Romney. Great way of handling the situation with a bit of self-deprecating humor. I won't be voting for Romney, but am still impressed.
When are Obama's supporters going to apologize for threatning to assassinate Romney?
If you flip-flop on an issue simply to say what your audience wants to hear, you've lied. Flip-flops by the dozens does not a truthful person make.
Do you think if some Arizona hispanic man or black man from Texas had made that remark, he would have been allowed back on a stage with the President and would be receiving the accolades posted here by the Republican tea partiers?
Whine, Whining and Whiners. "I'm gonna get the guy who tried to kill my daddy." Just like a Republican...they say the samething over and over. Give me a break!
How many more lies do we need to hear from Romney. I can't believe that someone who aspires to be the president of United States would lie so much or forget too quickly. It is scary and very disturbing and even more disturbing that his fans are so blind that they can't see his deception. If Romney becomes president, I will start reading terms and conditions before I accidentally agree to slavery.