Romney's son apologizes to Obama for 'swing' remark
October 23rd, 2012
08:34 PM ET
10 years ago

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.


Filed under: 2012 • Mitt Romney • President Obama • Presidential Debate
soundoff (1,021 Responses)
  1. lindaluttrell

    Oh, those Romney Bullies! Guess Tagg's off the Watch List...now...

    October 24, 2012 09:35 am at 9:35 am |
  2. KenR

    I hope he hurt his Father's campaign and gets a butt whoopin for doing so (lol)
    Oh, and by the way Jessica, he is "President Obama", not "Obama". Getting very tired of the way we as Americans are becoming more and more complacent and laxidasicle (sp) in the disrespectful ways we address those that deserve our respect.

    October 24, 2012 09:35 am at 9:35 am |
  3. springsgranny

    I cannot believe that people are hanging on such trivialities. Each side has said things that, I'm sure has annoyed the other side. You can't take those responses as negatives for the candidate. PEOPLE, you have to depend on what the actual issues are and unfortunately, there's a lot of twisting of facts, so it's almost impossible to tell who's being honest. I do believe I'm voting for the person who has more character and who I believe has told the MOST truth...ROMNEY! There's too much baggage and secrecy around Obama's life. I don't think he's been totally honest with everything involving his life and his influential friends. What's he hiding???????

    October 24, 2012 09:37 am at 9:37 am |
  4. eroberts

    if some one called my Dad a liar i would want to punch his lights out to,most good sons would do the same thing

    October 24, 2012 09:38 am at 9:38 am |
  5. joe murray

    now that he has apologized for an honest response that never had any merit the dems are ready to throw some punches? and bad mouth mitt's family? obama is the man who pushed through and supported the late term abortion policy that kills infants at their time of birth. now, who appears to have the worse family. besides all this shouldn't we as a country and as a people try to find more ways to bring our ideas together and unite instead of divide ourselves?

    October 24, 2012 09:40 am at 9:40 am |
  6. Brad

    Tagg Romney feels he can use his aggression to take a swing at the president but he can't use his aggression to fight in Iraq, Afghanistan nor anything involved with the military!!! But when you're making ten million a year like Tagg is you don't have time to perform your duty defending this country as part of the military because in Tagg's terms, only the little people do that!!!

    October 24, 2012 09:41 am at 9:41 am |
  7. M1kael

    It's interesting to see all the comments about this off-the-cuff comment as if it's some actual threat against the President...jail time, etc. However, I don't see the same attention paid to the ACTUAL assignation threats being documented on Twitter against Romney as well as all the nasty names and talks of rioting should President Obama lose. A bit of a double standard we've seen throughout from the Dems....and that's a shame

    October 24, 2012 09:44 am at 9:44 am |
  8. Robert Smith

    To the people who claim Romney is a liar....it's politics for one. I am almost positive that I can name around 8 items that our president now said that he would commit to and hasn't, in a reasonable length sentence. To the people that are voting for Obama again... you need to have your voters registration suspended until you know how politics work. At least do some research before you go to the polls... Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on me...

    October 24, 2012 09:48 am at 9:48 am |
  9. cWhatsNew

    Both families are really decent and admirable, no matter who wins.

    October 24, 2012 09:48 am at 9:48 am |
  10. Brandon Lofton

    Thats a bunch of bull! Just like the 47% comment his dad said . One thing about truth is that it comes out when your confortable. They both were speaking their true feelings and thoughts and frustration is not an excuse. They are only trying to sweep it under the rug as all the other dirt they have let out in this election. I just hope the american people can see through the fake smiles, fake statements, and the fake Romney!!!!!

    October 24, 2012 09:48 am at 9:48 am |
  11. MRHD

    All the kid and young man comments are hilarious. This "kid" is the same age as Paul Ryan. Although with his behavior, I don't blame people for thinking he is much younger than that.

    October 24, 2012 09:48 am at 9:48 am |
  12. Jeff

    The vehemence and lack of sight continue to amaze me. How can one be blind to what we have endured? The first family is lovely – granted. Classy – often. Intelligent – you bet. Competent – never!

    October 24, 2012 09:49 am at 9:49 am |
  13. nolimits3333

    If you want to privatize Social Security and Medicare, lower taxes for the rich, outlaw abortion, and start a new war with Iran, vote Republican.

    October 24, 2012 09:51 am at 9:51 am |
  14. S.R.

    Give me a break. If he did take a swing at President Obama the President would give him the beating of a life time. The Romney BOY'S look like a line up for a wimp contest. None of the Romney's have ever been in a fight and wouldn't be able to fight their way out of a paper bag!!!

    October 24, 2012 09:52 am at 9:52 am |
  15. Bode

    He was wrong to have said what he said, he downplayed it and apologized. Its time to move on and I'm an Obama supporter. Except there is a law that indicts him and require him to be prosecuted, whats done is done, can't be undone. POTUS has pardoned him, thats a presidential pardon. Hopefully, we would all learn to be passionate and still relate respectfully and courteously when we differ in opinions with others. Might be a situation that the guy wished with all his heart he could reverse, alas it cannot be undone! He takes that label with him for life, the guy who would swing at the POTUS to protect his father, if he could.

    October 24, 2012 09:53 am at 9:53 am |
  16. Ken

    Sure will be glad when the election is over!! I'm sure tired of so much being made over comment like these. Talk Shows thrive on pulling comments like his out of their guests, Life is too short!! Let's get on with what is important.

    October 24, 2012 09:53 am at 9:53 am |
  17. Really???

    Obama continues to astound with his lies. Here are Obama's own words in 2006, brought to you by the letter "O" and the number "16 Trillion:"

    "The fact that we are here today to debate raising America 's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America 's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that, "the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."
    ~ Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

    October 24, 2012 09:53 am at 9:53 am |
  18. Belle

    Time to move on; the Romney's have gotten all the publicity this comment merits.

    October 24, 2012 09:54 am at 9:54 am |
  19. Anonymous

    Saying you want to take a swing at someone, and swinging at someone are two different things. He did not say he IS going to take a swing at obama. Learn your laws... freedom of speech allows us to speak our thoughts without persecution. Stating something you are felt versus stating something you're planning to do, are two completely separate things. In fact, if what he said were to put him in jail, everyone on this entire forum would be in jail for stating similar statements.

    October 24, 2012 09:54 am at 9:54 am |
  20. Dot8

    Judging by the look on Michelle's face from the top photo ... it looks like she wants to " take a swing" at Tagg.

    October 24, 2012 09:54 am at 9:54 am |
  21. greg

    That's a picture of Obama telling him. If you ever say anything like that again I will kick your butt and the Secret Service won't stop me.

    October 24, 2012 09:54 am at 9:54 am |
  22. Sherlocked

    So many are acting like what Tagg did was the first time anyone has ever said anything like this to a POTUS. The overtly disrespectful ways this nation behaved towards former President Bush was beyond reprehensible - regardless of how you felt about him or his policies. Was Tagg wrong for saying that to the President, yes, of course, but lets not pretend like this man is the first to do something of this nature.

    October 24, 2012 09:54 am at 9:54 am |
  23. M-W-T

    They want to fight the POTUS but they won't fight For The United States of America
    The whole family is a bunch of COWARDS
    MITT ROMNEY IS STILL THE WORST REPUBLICAN ON THE PLANET FOR PRESIDENT........PERIOD!

    October 24, 2012 09:55 am at 9:55 am |
  24. TheMagusNYC

    The issue with these greedy guys is: Tagg is in the takeover business with all its tax advantages, and Josh owns a network of for-profit charter schools. Like their dad, it's all about advantage for their family and church, and nothing about service to our nation.

    October 24, 2012 09:55 am at 9:55 am |
  25. Ed

    Seems Tagg went against dad's rule of no apologies.

    How embarrassing.

    October 24, 2012 09:57 am at 9:57 am |
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