NBC's Alexander to Romney Sons: 'Are You Out of Touch?'

NewsBusters.org ^ | July 20, 2012 | Kyle Drennen

[Kaslin]

Earlier in the segment, Alexander explained the role of the sons: "For a candidate who at times has struggled to connect, the campaign hopes the sons can also help explain some of their father's more idiosyncratic moments." In a preview of the interview on Thursday's Today, Alexander proclaimed: "For a candidate who's been called aloof, even awkward, the Romney boys help highlight their father's human side."

NBC's Alexander to Romney Sons: 'Are You Out of Touch?'

In one line of questioning in the wide-ranging interview, Alexander bizarrely jumped from asking about their missionary work to grilling them on why they didn't serve in the military: "...they all went overseas on a two-year mission to spread their Mormon beliefs. All of you served your church going on missions. Did you ever consider serving your country by putting on a uniform, by serving in the military?"

After Matt Romney described how they "look at those guys [in the military] with a tremendous amount of respect" Alexander turned to Ben Romney and pressed: "Ben, do you regret you never served? Do you?" Ben, a doctor, replied: "I'm in residency and I spend a lot of my time at the VA hospital. I get to work with vets who have made great sacrifices for this country and I look at their lives and hopefully I get to serve them a little bit, too."

Near the end of the segment, Alexander tried to get the sons to react to attacks against their father: "They've called your dad a flip-flopper. They have said that he was aloof. Newt Gingrich called him a liar. Does any of that stuff sting at any point?...What got under your skin?"

Matt Romney dismissed such attacks: "...we know what a great father he is, we know how much he loves the country, we know how much he loves our kids, you know, his grandkids. It's not ambition that's driving him, it is really a desire to give back. And this is how he thinks he can give back and we agree."

Following the interview, host Brian Williams wondered: "The nice way of putting it is they don't make kids like that anymore. And the cynical way of putting it is they don't make kids like this anymore. So can they be that earnest? What are they really like?"

Alexander observed:

I think it's fair to say that they are guarded, they know they're role in this campaign, there's only so many places that they will go in the course of the conversation, and talking policy is not one of them. Talking Mormonism is another one that they're not as comfortable talking about....as the scrutiny gets a little bit more intense, you can see those moments where they start to realize this is the big leagues and the family has definitely put up its guard.

Here are portions of the July 19 interview:

10:23PM ET

(...)

PETER ALEXANDER: For a candidate who at times has struggled to connect, the campaign hopes the sons can also help explain some of their father's more idiosyncratic moments.

MITT ROMNEY: This feels good being back in Michigan. You know, the trees are the right height, the streets are just right.

TAG ROMNEY: He's a little goofy and that's just, you know, that's part of – part of his charm I think.

ALEXANDER: We were with him recently and he said, "I was guffawing when I looked at this old picture."

MITT ROMNEY: I'd lost it. I was completely guffawing.

ALEXANDER: Like when you hear him say some of those things, or at one point he was with you guys recently where he said, "I love them like they're my own sons, and they are my own sons."

CRAIG ROMNEY: It's the same corny jokes we grew up with, I mean, we're used to it. It's just kind of part of his personality.

ALEXANDER: We read that there was scripture in mornings – that each morning you started the morning with scripture. Tell me about, Craig, tell me about that, if you would.

CRAIG ROMNEY: You know, the scriptures every morning, I think, is a stretch.

[LAUGHTER]

ALEXANDER: But like their father, they all went overseas on a two-year mission to spread their Mormon beliefs. All of you served your church going on missions. Did you ever consider serving your country by putting on a uniform, by serving in the military?

MATT ROMNEY: You know, I think we can look at the guys that serve in the military, the men and women, and just say that's the biggest sacrifice you can make for your country. It's just, it's nothing any of us did, but we look at those guys with a tremendous amount of respect.

ALEXANDER: Ben, do you regret you never served? Do you?

BEN ROMNEY: You know, I look at my life that I'm leading right now, and I'm in residency and I spend a lot of my time at the VA hospital. I get to work with vets who have made great sacrifices for this country and I look at their lives and hopefully I get to serve them a little bit, too.

(...)

ALEXANDER: Politically, the image of this attractive, well-to-do family cuts both ways. Their life of privilege, plus a reported $100 million trust fund, continues to draw harsh scrutiny in a campaign season focused on the economy. The criticism is that a family like yours, the Romneys, can't really understand what the average American family is dealing with right now. I guess the question, very simply put, Matt, is, are you out of touch?

MATT ROMNEY: I mean, it's hard for us to obviously tell you that we're very much in touch, but we are. I mean, you know, we have problems just like everybody else. Health challenges, there's challenges with your kids.

CRAIG ROMNEY: You know, we've obviously been very blessed, and because of that, we feel a responsibility to make sure we can do everything we can to, you know, make this country as great as it can be.

ALEXANDER: The press and politics can be a tough place. They've called your dad a flip-flopper. They have said that he was aloof. Newt Gingrich called him a liar. Does any of that stuff sting at any point?

MATT ROMNEY: It's funny, we know our Dad so well that when you hear that stuff you just, you kind of shrug it off because we know who he really is.

ALEXANDER: No one ever said anything that you said, "Alright, alright, enough already." That you felt some obligation to shake the screen or to yell at somebody?

ROMNEY: Of course, of course, things that people say, I mean, you can't...

ALEXANDER: What got under your skin?

ROMNEY: ...you take certain things personally at times.

ALEXANDER: What got under your skin?

ROMNEY: But ultimately-

[LAUGHTER]

TAG ROMNEY: But ultimately-

ALEXANDER: Nice, nice, appreciate it.

MATT ROMNEY: But ultimately, you just kind of go, you know, it's okay because you know his true identity will come out and we, we know what a great father he is, we know how much he loves the country, we know how much he loves our kids, you know, his grandkids. It's not ambition that's driving him, it is really a desire to give back. And this is how he thinks he can give back and we agree.

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Peter Alexander, in off the campaign trail, with us for just one night. The nice way of putting it is they don't make kids like that anymore. And the cynical way of putting it is they don't make kids like this anymore. So can they be that earnest? What are they really like?

ALEXANDER: I think it's fair to say that they are guarded, they know they're role in this campaign, there's only so many places that they will go in the course of the conversation, and talking policy is not one of them. Talking Mormonism is another one that they're not as comfortable talking about. But the truth is, they seem to be a pretty good group of guys, they enjoy themselves, they've been nice to us, to the reporters that follow them throughout the course of this campaign trail. But as the scrutiny gets a little bit more intense, you can see those moments where they start to realize this is the big leagues and the family has definitely put up its guard.

WILLIAMS: Fascinating conversation. Back on the campaign with you, thank you for stopping in with us. Peter Alexander.

[presently no screen name]

Yeah because they know they have dumba**es who listen to them and are EASILY persuaded by them like YOU!!

And the media was ROMNEY - who you listen to for four years! And the media was Romney against NEWT - that you listened to!

You know who the DISASTER is - YOU!!

[presently no screen name]

What a dipshi** comment that was!

Imagine if all the military thought like the Romney’s - there would be no America.

[presently no screen name]

There are as untruthful as their father. Many Americans have no jobs and lost their homes because of it and their parents have 3 or 4 homes and brought up w/a silver spoon and they are trying to ‘act’ deprived? What a bunch of frauds! They cannot relate, they are like robots with their scripts of what to do, say, act.

[dupree]

With an all-volunteer military it’s not necessary for everyone to join. If that were to change I’m sure the Romney sons would fulfill their obligations. Be happy that we have people that want to serve. I wish they would be paid more with better benefits, but that’s another topic.....

[presently no screen name]

Sarah isn’t riding in anywhere. You are nothing but a walking mittbot who is clueless as them come. Wind you up and you repeat all of ROMNEY’s LIES spoken through his friends in the media for four years.

He’s known for his knife in the back and the mittbots think, never to them!

[presently no screen name]

Romney bragged how he is to the LEFT to Kennedy. KEEP IT HONEST!

He doesn’t drink because his cult needs their members to give the ‘appearance’ of good to hide their godlessness. They need something to attract clueless new members.

He certainly made those who claimed to have certain values drop them like hot potatoes to support him. See how evil works?

[presently no screen name]

Send your dollar to multimillion Romney who has 3 homes and their kids $100 million trust fund and quit your b*^ching what you ‘think’ Sarah has.

[Nifster]

again you missed my point. I am not making any comments about romney at all....none. I will not fight with anyone over their opinions about him either. My comment was my comment. End of story

[presently no screen name]

You are a dip*^it and your posts prove it. Enjoy your same sex marriage, pro homo pervert supporter, socialistic healthcare with baby killing provided candidate. Evil ISN’T for everyone - so enjoy it!

Everything Romney has done in MA is anti- American so no one expected him or his 5 sons to serve America! So don’t make dumb@** excuses for him/his sons to me!

[lentulusgracchus]

(Article) [H]ost Brian Williams wondered: "The nice way of putting it is they don't make kids like that anymore. And the cynical way of putting it is they don't make kids like this anymore. So can they be that earnest? What are they really like?"

Breathtaking display of cynicism and partisanship by Brian Williams. I was willing to give him a trial period, see how he worked out. Here's my answer, I guess. He's as bad as Peter Jennings and Dan Rather/Mary Mapes.

Elite journo scum.

[presently no screen name]

And my comment was my comment. And the end of the story comes when the end of America comes - until then it’s about America and those who are so hell bent to lead it - they will do whatever it takes to CONTROL America with LYING their way through for it to become One Nation Under Evil!

In 08 evil won on one side of the aisle - now it wants the other side and just as easily as the other side fell, this side fell quicker and easier!

I’ll have NO part in voting EVIL for America!

[presently no screen name]

they don't make kids like that anymore.

I can we will never know with both godless Romney and Obama being PRO ABORTION!

[SatinDoll]

dupree & newzjunkey -

Your two are full of crap. “MOVE ON”? You must work for the Democrats!

Sarah Palin is enormously popular with Republican Conservatives and with independents associated with the Tea Party, just the people Romney has trouble attracting as support and needs to pump-up his poll numbers.

Why should any of us care a wit what Democrats or Liberal think about her?

No, the advice you two tout is silly and is exactly wrong for the Republican Party.

It is exactly WHY so many Conservatives see Romney supporters as being liberal Democrats who will only turn and vote for Obama come November.

[presently no screen name]

You are right - dumb@**es are liberal and will vote for anyone and repeat the liberal talking points against a conservative. And those two are star examples!

[9YearLurker]

It started the moment McCain picked Palin rather than Romney as his running mate, but Romney operatives are to this day trashing her regularly in the press.

Yeah, Mitt’s not doing it himself—he’s merely having his staff do it.

[RginTN]

Aww, now you sound like a liberal going on about their wealth and if having it means one can’t relate. I’m no Romney fan however as a Conservative their wealth is irrelevant. Being wealthy doesn’t mean one can’t relate.
I won’t attack the children as being frauds. Judging a Romney’s children because you don’t like Romney is wrong.

[presently no screen name]

Hey, get your facts straight and see who started it about money. Someone complaining about Sarah making money - so zip the lip CLUELESS one!

You don't know what it wrong if it hit you in the face! And his sons spoke for themselves on TV, chump! Romney had NO problem attacking Sarah children through others (THE COWARD).

So tell the pro baby killing candidate your dribble about talking about children and HOW IT IS WRONG, EVEN THOUGH HE HATES SARAH. Got it?

You guys who think you are going to keep his feet to the fire - START NOW and see how successful you are! Tell ROMNEY how KILLING BABIES is WRONG, you wuss - DON'T PREACH TO ME about what is WRONG!

[presently no screen name]

Aww, now you sound like a liberal

And NEWBIE, don't be going around telling conservatives they are liberals, Got it? GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT before you open that trap of yours.

[Rocky]

I love irony. Who is more out of touch with America than the Mainstream Media? They live in their own little bubble.

[Ann Archy]

Bravo....now if you would just tone it down....our entire country and culture is at a precipice....thank you.