Breaking: Romney apologizes for high-school pranks; Update: Audio added
posted at 11:26 am on May 10, 2012 by Ed Morrissey
Thankfully, our long national nightmare is over:
Mitt Romney apologized on Thursday morning for pranks he helped orchestrate in high school that he said “might have gone too far,” including an incident in which he pinned down a fellow student and cut his hair.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was responding to an article published a few hours earlier by The Washington Post documenting the episode with first-hand accounts from Romney’s classmates.
“Back in high school, I did some dumb things and if anybody was hurt by that or offended, obviously I apologize for that,” Romney said in a live radio interview with Fox News Channel personality Brian Kilmeade. Romney added: “I participated in a lot of hijinks and pranks during high school and some might have gone too far and for that, I apologize.”
Romney’s campaign hastily scheduled the radio interview for the candidate to call in from Omaha, where he is holding a campaign event later Wednesday, to respond to The Post’s report.
Politically speaking, this was the smart thing to do. Other campaigns would have tried challenging the veracity of the stories and/or the motives of the witnesses, but that’s a losing proposition. The more a campaign debates those points, the longer the story goes, and the more legitimacy it has in the media. Instead, the Romney campaign made it an old story before it began to grow legs by just expressing remorse over any cruelty that may have taken place in high school.
I eagerly await the next set of stories about how in middle school Romney refused to give cuts in line to kids from low-income families, or how he shamelessly violated the “exies-no-erasies” rule in elementary school with his female classmates.
Update: Via BuzzFeed, here’s the audio from Romney’s interview in its entirety:
“I don’t remember that incident,” Romney told Kilmeade, chuckling. “I certainly don’t believe that I thought the fellow was homosexual. That was the furthest thing from our minds back in the 1960s, so that was not the case.”
One e-mailer suggested that the hairstyle might have been the focus of the prank, not perceived orientation. Cranbrook would likely have had a fairly strict set of rules on personal appearance. Either way, it’s still a mean-spirited thing to do, but teenage boys (or girls, for that matter) aren’t known for their sense of proportion or maturity in every moment of the day, either.
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Mitt, never apologize… They caught you in their trap…
sandee on May 10, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Any word on if dogs were consumed?
Dash on May 10, 2012 at 11:28 AM
But Obama gets a free pass from the press on Ayers, Wright ect….Gotta love the “free” press….what a joke…
tpw on May 10, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Good Lord. Are you kidding me????
Rohall1215 on May 10, 2012 at 11:29 AM
In an ideal world, this wouldn’t even dignify a response. But then again, we have Barack Obama as our President, so I think we can dismiss any notion of idealism.
What this apology does at least is kill the story. Any so-called journalist who devotes additional attention to this nonsense is making a mockery of themselves.
Doughboy on May 10, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Oh good lord.
SouthernGent on May 10, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Good for you Mitt
I wish he could come back with you can check out my high school hijinx but can’t be bothered with dear leaders transcripts
cmsinaz on May 10, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Mitt, never apologize… They caught you in their trap…
sandee on May 10, 2012 at 11:28 AM
They didn’t catch him in anything. He’s attempting to neuter the story. Butting heads over something so dumb will keep it alive
blatantblue on May 10, 2012 at 11:30 AM
WTF????? Great! Elevate the story! It was years ago!!! Did Obama ever apologize for going to a muslim school? or eating dogs? or doing DRUGS!!???
Can.I.be.in.the.middle on May 10, 2012 at 11:30 AM
pinning someone down and cutting their hair isn’t a prank…it’s a crime…which is prob why Willard apologized, even if statute of limitations is long passed. it can be constituted as assault imo.
nonpartisan on May 10, 2012 at 11:31 AM
What did he do…eat somebody’s dog?
search4truth on May 10, 2012 at 11:31 AM
I didn’t realize rich people went to school. I thought private tutors and nannies schooled them in the limo on the way to the country club?
Clearly this is a mistake.
But on a more serious note, they will still push the “bully” meme. You can bet your last dollar on that.
He was a “bully” in school and he was a “bully” at Bain. Meanwhile their present-day bully, President Obama, gets a pass.
ButterflyDragon on May 10, 2012 at 11:31 AM
OK…the door is open now. Thanks Barry.
I want transcrips, I want what he did in Pakistan.
Oil Can on May 10, 2012 at 11:31 AM
This is f-ing stupid. In every possible way.
Keyser-Soze on May 10, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Good. Apologize.
It only confirms what Anne has been saying about Mitt.
Let proggies cry he’s a bully. People will scoff.
budfox on May 10, 2012 at 11:31 AM
OK, I must be wearing my out of touch geezer hat.
What does “exies no erasies” mean?
22044 on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Why did he respond at all? Oh Mitt don’t ever take the bait.
Everybody did stuff in high school they aren’t proud of but you are also a kid too. It’s called growing up and learning right from wrong.
gophergirl on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
They didn’t catch him in anything. He’s attempting to neuter the story. Butting heads over something so dumb will keep it alive
blatantblue on May 10, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Maybe. We shall see.
sandee on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
What pranks did Obummer pull off in high school? Oh wait, his past may never be questioned, silly me.
FireBlogger on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Please Ed. What a wuss.
HerneTheHunter on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
I think he is “apologizing” to make the clowns at WaPo look as ridiculous as they are.
CycloneCDB on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
yeah, but what about 0bama’s HS pranks? Or was he the one getting stuffed into the locker..?
affenhauer on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Good. The “Evil Republican dipped girl’s hair in inkwell” story is now dead.
BRunner on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Yeah, he handled this stupidity about as well as anyone could hope to. Seriously, what else can he do? It’s like that idiot reporter yesterday who wanted to ask him about instate tuition for illegals, gay marriage, and legalizing pot. He answered the questions while also challenging her to ask him something about the economy or foreign policy. It’s how he’s gonna have to play the game between now and November.
Doughboy on May 10, 2012 at 11:32 AM
As a baby, Mitt Romney wouldn’t share his rattle.
Meanwhile, Dear Liar, who, as an adult, spend twenty years listening to the racist anti-American Jeremiah Wright, can’t run on his record of real double digit unemployment, $5 trillion in new debt, a weak economy and near $4 gallon gasoline.
rbj on May 10, 2012 at 11:33 AM
I agree, Ed. Now Romney should come out and ask obambi to apologize for the last 3.5 years. That would be good.
VegasRick on May 10, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Should of been arrested for some of mine. I want to apologize as well. Ok, now can we all move on from this silly $hit?
msupertas on May 10, 2012 at 11:33 AM
I’m glad the Washington Post is publishing such CUTTING EDGE reporting.
What’s next? Romney didn’t wash his hands after leaving a men’s room?
Glad that everything is going so well at home economically and that there are no major problems anywhere in the world.
Hell, I might even want to nominate that WaPo article for a Pulitzer.
GarandFan on May 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
What can be construed, is if this is a crime in your eyes, you’re a wuss with fortitude made out of play-doh.
budfox on May 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Eh, it’s over now. If PBHO keeps hitting on this thing from 50 years ago while the economy is burning down around us he is going to continue looking like a fool.
Bishop on May 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Now ask if Obama will apologize for eating Fido then writing about it.
teke184 on May 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
It’s not like he’s hiding his transcripts detailing sub-par grades…or masking all his anti-American theses or anything…….
search4truth on May 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
At least he didn’t date composite girlfriends.
Bitter Clinger on May 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Yippee-ki-yay. . . If WaPo feels the need to call Romney on school pranks when he was a kid more than forty-five years ago, I’d say the Dems are scared out of their wits and we just may have this thing in the bag.
SpiderMike on May 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Mittens is a ruthless mother f***er who will destroy anyone that gets in his way. Makes sense that he was a bully in high school.
angryed on May 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Hey, what about that time Harry Reid refused to produce a budget?
DanMan on May 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Neuter the story.
And in some way this humanizes him. He was not some weird, effete, yuppy Mormon kid.
Who thought Mitt was the alpha male prankster?
swamp_yankee on May 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM
The Washington Post, like the U.S. Military, is serving on Obama’s behalf…
cartooner on May 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Priorities…
Unemployment in the toilet, with former contractors, small businesses and consultants not even counted, 30% increase in energy prices, due to Obama EPA, 200,000+ jobs lost in coal industry alone…and
Yesterday all day gay marriage
Today Mitt pranks (if Obama would have had any he’d be declared a genius)
Here is the U.S. circa 2012
The Little Red Hen version 2012
“Who will help me plant my wheat?” asked the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the cow.
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Not I,” said the goose.
“Then I will do it by myself.” She planted her crop and the wheat grew and
ripened.
“Who will help me reap my wheat?” asked the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Out of my classification,” said the pig.
“I’d lose my seniority,” said the cow.
“I’d lose my unemployment compensation,” said the goose.
“Then I will do it by myself,” said the little red hen, and so she did.
“Who will help me bake the bread?” asked the little red hen.
“That would be overtime for me,” said the cow.
“I’d lose my welfare benefits,” said the duck.
“I’m a dropout and never learned how,” said the pig.
“If I’m to be the only helper, that’s discrimination,” said the goose.
“Then I will do it by myself,” said the little red hen.
She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They
wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share, but the little red hen said, “No,
I shall eat all five loaves.”
“Excess profits!” cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi)
“Capitalist leech!” screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer)
“I demand equal rights!” yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson)
The pig just grunted in disdain. (Harry Reid)
And they all painted ‘Unfair!’ picket signs and marched around and around
the little red hen, shouting obscenities.
Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, “You must not be
so greedy.”
“But I earned the bread,” said the little red hen.
“Exactly,” said Barack the farmer. “That is what makes our free enterprise
system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as s/he wants.
But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must
divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle.”
And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who
smiled and clucked, “I am grateful, for now I truly understand.”
But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked
bread because she joined the ‘party’ and got her bread free. And all the
Democrats smiled. For a while everyone was happy until all the little red
hens quit producing. Then there began to be shortages of everything, and
famine spread across the land.
Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; furthermore, no one cared so long as
there was free bread that the federal reserve was more than happy to lend
the government from money created from thin air, for which heavy, burdensome
taxes were levied on everyone’s labor, goods and services to pay the bankers
so they could rule the world through debt, thus abolishing freedom and
liberties.
EPILOGUE
Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.
Hillary got $8 million for hers.
That’s $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight years
repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn’t remember anything.
Don’t forget Louis XV and his Madame de Pompadour, and his two books about composites and eating dogs.
IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT?
Schadenfreude on May 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Really? Does that mean if a kid in high school gives a classmate a wedgie, they committed assault?
Doughboy on May 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM
So the media CAN dig into someone’s past…
Washington Nearsider on May 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM
cannot even believe this is being reported on and discussed.
Americans are idiots.
bridgetown on May 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Well at least Romney’s classmates actually remembered him. Where are all of Obama’s classmates who remember how brilliant he was?
ardenenoch on May 10, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Nah, AT THE TIME it was only a prank.
Now it would be considered a crime, but not then.
Gunlock Bill on May 10, 2012 at 11:36 AM
What did PBHO do to gay guys while he was a student in Muslim Indonesia?
Wait…did I just say that? Yes I did.
Bishop on May 10, 2012 at 11:36 AM
I’ve seen how these stories play out. First team Obama will try to make political hay out of Romney picking on an effeminate kid and then, like the dog story, next we will find out that Obama choked on a gay man.
MechanicalBill on May 10, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Apparently, Mitt and his boys are practical jokers. In the 2008 campaign, they videotaped a call Mitt got from one of his boys impersonating Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mitt thought it was real for at least a minute. There are many other such stories. I’m not big on practical jokes myself. But they seem to all be in good fun.
Paul-Cincy on May 10, 2012 at 11:37 AM
If you weren’t so adorable, someone might think you’re angry.
Bitter Clinger on May 10, 2012 at 11:37 AM
And Obama has a body-count surrounding him that would make Clinton blush. Oh, I know…all these execution-style murders of his past acquaintances are coincidences….
search4truth on May 10, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Weed.
Coke.
But never smack!
VegasRick on May 10, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Boy oh boy are the d’s looking for anything they possibly can find to try and crater Mitt! They will not stop and probably have gobs of peopls looking 24/7 for krap?
L
letget on May 10, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Hey, let’s talk about cocaine and pot use in high school. What’s Mitt’s record on that?
a capella on May 10, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Ahh the good old days when you could assault someone for fun because he looked gay. Good times.
angryed on May 10, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Washington Nearsider on May 10, 2012 at 11:37 AM
In the WaPo story Romney dated Max Fisher’s daughter before Ann. The Fisher’s are Jewish. Funny that the WaP didn’t mention her religion because it didn’t fit their theme of Romney the snob.
No Niks on May 10, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Grrrrrrr….another day the MSM gets to talk about something besides the economy.
rockmom on May 10, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Paid Mitt-bot shills will defend anything.
angryed on May 10, 2012 at 11:38 AM
My brother would be serving a life sentence if things that were classified as assault now were classified as assault then.
tdpwells on May 10, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Show me Obama’s grades, the papers he wrote, his applications to the colleges, who paid for his studies, how, and etc.
WaPo, suffocate from what you eat, what you dwell in, for dereliction of duty. Alternatively you may also spontaneously combust, along with most of the media.
Schadenfreude on May 10, 2012 at 11:39 AM
You mad bro?
rockmom on May 10, 2012 at 11:39 AM
INDEED!!!
Mutnodjmet on May 10, 2012 at 11:39 AM
As good a time as any to watch this again
http://www.theonion.com/video/report-every-potential-2040-president-already-unel,27963/
schmitty on May 10, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Here is the video of Romney confessing to his crimes.
JVelez on May 10, 2012 at 11:39 AM
I like your style…
affenhauer on May 10, 2012 at 11:39 AM
I’m not a Mitt adherent buy you are riduculous. Focus.
Schadenfreude on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
That this became part of the WaPo gotcha moments of a young Romney, shows how desparate the lefty establishment has become! Truly, a ridiculous moment at the kick-off of the DNC campaign, which in reality began 4-years ago!
tomshup on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
You still haven’t gotten over what you endured in high school, huh? Let it go, ed, just let it go.
Bishop on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
What did PBHO do to gay guys while he was a student in Muslim Indonesia?
Wait…did I just say that? Yes I did.
Bishop on May 10, 2012 at 11:36 AM
What did PBHO do at all? No past except the one he? wrote for us, and that’s starting to crumble:see composite girlfriend. Who are you Barry?
sandee on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Obama is sending drones into Pakistan but Romney is the bully?
ctmom on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
No wonder right wingers are against anti-bullying efforts.
angryed on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
I can’t seem to find Obama’s apology to that dog which he consumed… must keep looking…
gatorboy on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
anychance we can talk about Obumer hanging with Domestic Terrorists now?
SDarchitect on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
You are so stupid that you make me laugh. Yes. I laugh right in your face.
VegasRick on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Obama also committed a crime when he snorted coke. Does that disqualify him from seeking reelection? And is this a relevant topic of discussion in the general election? If not, then why is this story about Mitt in high school important?
Doughboy on May 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
It’s a ridiculous story. We’ve all been idiots or mean at some point, but he had to nip it in the bud. He doesn’t need a theme taking hold that he’s nasty or insensitive. The only quibble I have with the statement is that it’s the classic weasel apology of “if anyone was hurt or offended”.
It would have been better to say something like “Back in high school, I did some dumb things and I apologize for the hurtful and offensive behavior. Raising my 5 sons to be good men has given me much more perspective on how important it is to be kind to one another”
Jill1066 on May 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM
I think apologizing is good for Romney. It may appease some who were offended by his actions, but it also brings up the fact that he is not the perfect robot he comes off as. It makes him more human. I don’t think Romney has any intention of downplaying the story at all.
MPC on May 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Pssst…the people who are most homophobic tend to be closet homosexuals. Pass it on.
angryed on May 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2110437/Revealed-Barack-Obamas-gay-transgender-prostitute-nanny-cracked-trying-mothers-lipstick.html
Apparently he forced them to put on lipstick for his own entertainment.
HumpBot Salvation on May 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM
I think you’re all downplaying how evil this was. pinning down someone or making fun of someone is one thing.
cutting their hair forcibly IS a crime. If you dont think it is, go on the street and randomly pin someone and start cutting their hair and see if the cops think it’s just a ‘prank’.
This is serious, more serious than you guys make it out, and Willard seems to recognize that.
nonpartisan on May 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM
I’d be executed for what I did to my little brothers.
Bishop on May 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM
The dog? How about an apology to the millions who are still out of work thanks to this bozo’s policies!
rockmom on May 10, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Haha. :)
BocaJuniors on May 10, 2012 at 11:42 AM
I’m becoming more impressed with the way Romney’s campaign is responding to this kind of stupidity. This isn’t a repeat of 2008.
Of course, Lauber inconveniently died in 2004. Obama can’t trot out the “victim” himself to declare that if he had a gay prep school son, he would look like Lauber.
Happy Nomad on May 10, 2012 at 11:42 AM
This does stink of fear and desperation, doesn’t it?
swinia sutki on May 10, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Obama admitted he did that in his book. It’s out in the open for anyone to read. It’s relevant because it shows Willard’s character. He’s not the aww shucks, straight arrow he’s portraying himself out to be.
angryed on May 10, 2012 at 11:42 AM
????
pseudonominus on May 10, 2012 at 11:42 AM
I suppose there are middle-aged adults who behaved perfectly during high school, but I certainly wasn’t one of them. The question should be, how far has that person come since then?
I’m not talking about real crimes, but about the stupid things teenagers do. I cringe at the thought of the person I was back then.
Look at the photos of your classmates — and yourself — in your senior yearbook, and then tell me that you and they haven’t changed since then, in more ways than one.
KyMouse on May 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_Haole_Day
Del Dolemonte on May 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM
I knew it!!
/
mankai on May 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM
So, we know what color socks Mitt wore as a 2 year old, but no transcripts or voting records from Dear Leader? Way to go Lamestream Media.
Mini-14 on May 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM
LOL. Keep f%$ing that chicken.
rockmom on May 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM
I’m against them because I don’t want the federal government dictating to kids how they can and can’t behave. Let the schools discipline the misbehavers and bullies at the local level. Let the parents get involved. Keep the politicians and bureaucrats out of it.
Doughboy on May 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Yeah, I’m a bit baffled over those who keep calling this “teasing” or “a prank.” To me, this was little Willard being a full-blown gold-plated @sshole.
Oh well, it doesn’t matter much now, unless we’re debating how far kids should be allowed to go in “teasing” one another before it becomes time to open a can of whoopass on the “teaser.”
Aitch748 on May 10, 2012 at 11:43 AM
So tell me, do you think this disqualifies him from running for President?
Bitter Clinger on May 10, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Whhhaaaa? Radical right wingers are violent? I. Am. Shocked.
angryed on May 10, 2012 at 11:44 AM
You mean “he wasn’t a straight arrow when he was FOURTEEN,” right?
Thought so.
Washington Nearsider on May 10, 2012 at 11:44 AM
…you got “snuggies”…wore “kick me” signs…had ‘deep heating rub’ on your jock strap…and got stuffed in locker’s didn’t you?
KOOLAID2 on May 10, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Does eating dog?
angryed on May 10, 2012 at 11:45 AM
This is a great story for Mitt because it humanizes him, it brings him closer to the average Joe, which has been his only real negative up til now – that he might be too aloof. Since everybody pulls high school pranks, Mitt is suddenly more like them.
Liberals don’t quite understand how this game works, do they?
keep the change on May 10, 2012 at 11:45 AM
The media tried to keep Obama’s life from the time he graduated high school until he entered politics, yet Romnay’s high school pranks are front page news.
bw222 on May 10, 2012 at 11:45 AM
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