The American Spectator

home
ADVERTISEMENT
Print Email
Text Size

The Spectacle Blog

Man Up, Mitt

Mitt Romney had a somewhat testy exchange over health care policy with Bret Baier in an interview on Fox News last night (as Aaron noted this morning). The interview itself actually didn't strike me as that big a deal, but Romney's off-camera reaction, as recounted by Baier on Bill O'Reilly's show, was apparently pretty absurd:

"How'd you know he was irritated?" O'Reilly asked. "Did he slap you, or what'd he do?"

"Well, he just made it clear at the end of the interview," Baier responded, later adding that Romney had thought the interview was "overly aggressive."

"Wow," said a rather surprised O'Reilly.

"As we were walking in the ‘walk and talk,'" Baier continued, "and then after we finished, he went to his holding room and then came back and said he didn't like the interview and thought it was uncalled for."

Nothing that Baier asked was remotely uncalled for. Indeed, Romney can expect to face questions about his support for an individual mandate in Massachusetts pretty much every day for the rest of the campaign. If those questions are getting under his skin, he'd better grow a thicker skin ASAP.

View all comments (12) | Leave a comment

Clint| 12.1.11 @ 7:14AM

The RINO-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney Is The Guy,Who Gave Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

louisc| 12.1.11 @ 7:29AM

I said despite all shortcomings newt is a fighter. This and the thin-skinned mitt post shows romney is the exact opposite: a whiny sissy.

WJ| 12.1.11 @ 12:13PM

Fat pasty soft Newt nomination assures 4 more years Obama. Gingrich is simply not a serious focused leader. He is a gadfly who was for Global Warming initiatives before he was against them. He is for open borders and more illegal immigration. This punk as our nominee is dooming the GOP and the USA.

hook| 12.1.11 @ 7:39AM

I saw both Romney and Gingrich (with Hannity). Gingrich is so impressive as an interviewee and as a debater it is almost scary. He has challenged Obama to Lincoln Douglas debates and will do just what Lincoln did when Douglas initially refused. He will speak several hours after he does wherever he goes.

Newt isn't perfect and the media is already sliming him. Chris Matthews tried to get Barney Frank to call him evil after Barney's dissembling about Fannie and Freddie and even Barney Frank wouldn't do that.

What a formidable intellect Gingrich has. How did Obama ever get to be editor of the Harvard law review?

teflon93| 12.1.11 @ 7:46AM

No one's supposed to ask Little Lord MittleRoy anything except "What can we do for you today, Mr. President?"

er| 12.1.11 @ 9:29AM

Cheap shot, Mr. Tabin. Let us conservatives be very careful when we hurl aspersions about a decent man's "manhood" . Why don't you "Man Up" and start vetting the sitting President? Or how 'bout some articles about EVIDENCE from the accusers of Cain? Think it might be of interest to know the latest "accuser" was convicted of LIBEL, and had restraining orders for STALKING? Man Up, Mr. Tabin, and do some real political reporting!

rd| 12.1.11 @ 10:09AM

er, let's be cautious about calling Mr. Romney a decent man. Or do you know him personally? Not sure, but you should ask (as I do): Did Mr. Tabin choose the American Spectator Online blog title "Man Up, Mitt?" Often the writer does not choose these.

I agree that many journalists ought to be going after what and who are behind the Cain smears.

At the same time, Brett Baier owes all of us a bit more fact (no gossip) on what went down in his interview with Mr. Romney.

Bret Baier is okay, but he's no tough interviewer. If he got opportunity to do the sit down interview, it is only because Mr. Romney agreed to do it (or his proxy(ies) did) This was all prearranged.

I would agree with Mr. Tabin that Mr. Romney will face various questions about his Massachusetts role in health care there for the next 100 - 330 days. And that's perfectly legit. No issue other than egregious government spending and jobs/economy weighs heavier on American voters' minds.

Bill| 12.1.11 @ 10:08AM

Mitt Romney!

He will never change because he was born this way, a RINO.

Wayne| 12.1.11 @ 11:09AM

Somtimes when I read these comments and articles on "conservative" websites I think I'm reading the Huffington Post! When the cannibals are all done eating who will be left? Obama most likely. There is no one candidate who totally reflects my political views so I guess I'll bash them all and stay home next November!Stop for a moment and think about who the real opponent is in this race. A half glass of water is better than no water at all. Or perhaps you all love the Jobmaster we currently have as president.

reason| 12.1.11 @ 11:59AM

Wayne, I'm not seeing anything done wrong here by Mr. Tabin. He actually wrote only about 90 words. He's essentially encouraging us -- as readers and those who want to be informed -- to look at the interview between Bret Baier and Mitt Romney.

That's what we as citizens must do.

Yes, the bigger picture is to unseat Obama and move his czars, entourage, Michelle's staff of 40, appointees, etc. out the door -- pronto!

That is job #1. But tied to it is job #1a. Job 1a is a new Chief Executive for the nation who will not just keep America's leaky, creaky ship afloat, but repair it, overhaul it and make it the supreme cruiseliner in the world again.

We don't want a man who'll just do a bit of patchwork here and there between January 2013 and, well, the then inevitable sinking.

Bill| 12.1.11 @ 11:36AM

It's too late for Mitt. Better luck in 2016!

Mike| 12.1.11 @ 12:15PM

With this pathetic crop of GOP contestants we are hosed. Romney,Gingrich, Perry , etc. are all midgets in terms of beating Obama.

Leave a Comment

N.B. We encourage readers to share and discuss their thoughtful and relevant comments about this Spectator article. Comments are routinely monitored and will be deleted if profane, bigoted, or grossly impolite. Please be respectful. (And don't feed the trolls!) Thank you.

More Blog Posts by John Tabin

http://spectator.org/blog/2011/11/30/man-up-mitt

ADVERTISEMENT

SPONSORED LINKS

Special Feature

Better that we become a nation of choosers rather than beggars. Our symposium on choice from the May, 2012 issue:

A Time for Choosing

James Piereson

The Road from Serfdom

Stephen Moore and Peter Ferrara

FLASHBACK TO: 1984

Clip of the Day

Most Popular Articles

Meet the Flukes!

F. H. Buckley | 5.25.12

The Wisconsin Turning Point

Peter Ferrara | 5.23.12

In Search of Muhammad

Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi | 5.25.12

Age and Kyl

Quin Hillyer | 5.25.12

Follow Me

Jay D. Homnick | 5.25.12

A Test of National Honor

Hal G.P. Colebatch | 5.25.12

How About the Record of DOE Capital?

William Tucker | 5.25.12

The Great Debate

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. | 5.24.12

ADVERTISEMENT