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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I don't blame Mitts son at all. It would be hard enough to listen to a regular debate. But Obama and Biden are evil snakes that are seriously deranged, not to mention chronic liers who are condescending, rude, and just flat disrespectful and have the worse character of 2 men I have ever been close to witnessing. It totally explains why we are where we are financially, with allies, etc. etc. I would have paid to see Allen West debate both of these slimy corrupt poor excuses for human beings. West would have mopped the floor with both at the same time with one hand.
So Tagg verbalizes the sentiments of millions of Americans, and he is some sort of outlier? I doubt it.
I can understand Tagg saying something like that maybe at home watching it and non-nonchalantly stating, but to say it on camera probably not smart. I'm sure he had zero intentions of really even wanting to do it but words have to be carefully chosen when now in the media light, especially when they are all Obama's friends. Lots of angry Obama fans on this posting. I'm sure you and Clinton can get together with Obama after losing this election and share each others pain...
This is ridiculous media-baiting. I am an Obama supporter and don't particularly like Romney, but I hate truly the idiotic media, trying to stir up people (and thus ratings) with this kind of garbage.
People of the United States of America,
Romneys son should not have apologized,did President Obama apologize for his DNC Staff insinuating the Gov was a Murderer,a Felon or a Tax Cheat. No he didn't.
Did Home Land Security give him a call?
Billy Glen... Seriously? Who is deranged?
He should have done it publicly, a pat on the back and words that everyone couldn't here on stage is not good enough!
Romney's son should not have apologized for vocalizing what he thought. He stated whet he felt then covered his ground by stating he realized that this is all part of the process. If this is how things should be, the everyone here needs to send a formal apology to Romney or Obama for being slanderous to them. Come on people grow up and get some back bone!
This guy threatens the president, and he gets off with just an apology?
Not in my book.
Apologizes to the President of the Untied States for saying "I could take a swing at him". When you have to apologize for something you know you shouldn't have said it. I think the Secret Service should have paid him a visit...you don't make threats against a President...sorry Tagg you are spoiled and arrogant.
I look at most of these posts and wonder where all the common sense has gone. It looks more like our education system is being brain washing kids rather then showing them to have a open mind. Most of you have found a media to just throw around insults and have no clue on what is really happening. I guess you all are making the point the democratic office has made that you are to foolish to think for your self. I think that is wrong I think you are to afraid to think for your self so you rely on others in the media to think for you. Most of those rich people you talk about are people with ties to the democrats, and whether you believe Romney is a great president is something you have to wait an see.
By the way being president is just a office, A true leader is seen by who he puts under him, and that is where the last two presidents have failed. They have flooded the goverment with idealist and hacks, and those hacks are protecting there money line which is those that pay taxes. Both President Bush and Obama made crucial mistakes on who they chose to work under him, and they should be accountable for it.
President has failed at mostly everything except for being a master maniuplater and great at casting insults to anybody that challenges him. He should lose, because the true problem is us for voting in house and senators that don't do what is best for the country, but what is best for there political clubs.
Politics is a game. Notice how they laugh and joke with each other etc. The joke is on us.
Another non story designed to put a negative spin on the Republican candidate by the "most trusted name in news".
comon on people, we all know the reason for all this hatred and disrespect for this president, especially from the right., because he is a BLACKMAN.simple. the romneys think they have money so they can say and do what the like.
When was the last time you heard President Obama threaten to physically hurt anybody, more or less his political rival.
As far as I'm concerned, Tagg Romney needs to apologize to both of the President's daughters. He threatened their father and that can never be taken lightly.
Peace.
And, Romney/Ryan have never lied? Sorry, but it does cut both ways. Are you big enough to acknowledge that? Or, too biased?
Republicans are bullys...no suprise there. They solve their hate filled problems with a fist first approach to everything.
There's just some things you don't say when you're in the public eye. Saying that you would like to 'take a swing at' our president is one of them. No matter how you feel about it, someone who wants to be the president themselves should raise their kids with more respect.
That was nice of him to apologize.
Apology not accepted
i thought taggs remarks as to defending his father were fine. i think he should be investigated for purchasing the voting machine company.
I don't see any big deal here. Plenty of us want to take a swing at Romney every time he opens his mouth and continues to do nothing other than lie or avoid answering any questions.
Well my mom always says the truth hurts,I guess if someone was talking about my dad and it's true I'd want to shut them up too. Mr President I hope you got your point across
I notice that Tagg avoids the core issues, which is that President Obama is factually correct in calling out Willard as a liar. I don't think Willard is even capable of uttering a true phrase.