“This was a really stupid remark on Romneys part. I mean really stupid.”
He apologized.
Apology or not ... it still was a stupid thing to say.
My mom used to say, “sorry is as sorry does”.
That's makes it ok then.
(I predict a variation of this tactic soon to be found in this thread!)
More accurately, his campaign spokesperson cleaned up after Romney.
But regardless, the significance of Romney's remark is not that it required an apology. The significance is that no one fit for the office of U.S. President would ever say such an outrageous thing in the first place. Romney might as well have praised the humanitarian efforts of Osama Bin Laden, a la Patty Murray.