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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When the facts are inconvenient, hit the messenger...the Romney way. I wonder how many people Daddy Romney has fired because they gave him bad news, or just didn't agree with his way of doing things and dared to suggest a better alternative?
And almost half the country wants such a man as President? huh
Romneys son had to try and take a swing at the president because mitt thought about it then said no then said yes then said no then said yes then said no.. Then forgot he had a son
God help the setup if Obama gets elected again.
Tagg is afraid of Miichele.
Obama would have decked him in the first round.
Good for him! It's nice to see some respectful behavior for a change. Our culture is becoming more and more coarse.
I know. It must be frustrating when a man is rude to your father during a debate and disrespectful to the highest office in the land. I am sorry Malia you had to see this.
So, because your father is running for President, its okay for you to make this comment (even jokingly) about the President of the United States? Then it is shrugged off like people are supposed to understand the alleged inner turmoil that you were under because your Father was called a liar? (Even if it was shown that some of the things that your Father said was a lie.) Where is your respect for the President of the United States? Regardless of how you feel, where is the Respect?/ Or perhaps because you are the product of a Ivy League family, it is okay to make such this comment because the President looks like (as your father so eloquently stated) part of that 47%? You sir, should be ashamed..how dare you? Besides, if the Secret Service wasnt there., The President would have KNOCKED YOU DOWN!
Republicans: Still pandering to violence in the campaign process. Perhaps it satisfies their inner fantasies.
This is not worthy news. What the people want to know is who Mitt Romney really is. It is unfair to all the citizens of the US not to tell us what a candidate really stands for. Do we believe Newt Grinwich or Rudolf Gulliani? Who is Mitt Romney??
Swing! I'm not the brightest guy in town but I know when to shut up.... I guess stupidity comes cheap for the romney political mind... It's called a debate of 2 ... No one else was invited ...son was mad cuz he knows his dad did bad ... N it's over for daddy!
Class act....he should not have said it in the first place, but he did not need to apologize...but did. I admire him more now.
Good for him. At least he didn't apologize to the media or make some sad excuse. It takes a man to apologize to the person you offended, and for that he gets my respect.
However, his father still will not get my vote.
I don't like Romney, buy the comment was harmless and this young man was frustrated. Surely, he would not even attempt to do such a thing.. This is what we've come to. You can even jokingly respond to a question or everyone goes nuts.
And why hasn't the Secret Service questioned him? The guy threatened a sitting President! The fact the President is black doesn't make it understandable!!!!
Nice of him to apologize. Looks like Mitt did one thing right in his life.... raised at least one gentleman.
People really blow things out of proportion. Freedom of speech...what's the big deal
What about "No Apologies"?
But what about "No Apologies"?
A threat against the POTUS. Tagg Tomney should do jail time.
Thing is, President Obama got it right. Romney IS a liar, above anything else. This is plain to anyone who is paying attention.
Like father like son. Weasel, back pedal and lie and repeat............
Anyone that angers you, conquers you.
I can understand that feeling. I don't like Romney but in a competition like that its understandable that you want to get violent, men are men.
I'm no Romney fan, but this seems like a non-issue to me. It can't be easy to be the child of a presidential candidate. Although it would be a lot harder to call Romney a liar if he would stop lying. Just a thought.