Romney Apologizes For ‘Hijinks’ But Won’t Acknowledge Specific Attack

[ProSense]

Romney Apologizes For ‘Hijinks’ But Won’t Acknowledge Specific Attack

Benjy Sarlin-

Mitt Romney offered a qualified apology for his behavior as a high school student, without specifically saying whether a report that he bullied a student thought by his classmates to be gay was accurate.

“Back in high school I did some dumb things and if anybody was hurt by that or offended by that I apologize,” Romney told FOX radio host Brian Kilmeade Thursday. “If I did stupid things, I’m afraid I’ve got to say sorry for it.”

Romney, 65, noted he graduated from high school nearly five decades ago, and said, “I’m quite a different guy now.” He admitted “I participated in a lot of hijinks and pranks in high school and some of them might have gone too far, and I apologize.”

Five classmates described to the Washington Post on record an incident in which Romney, then a high school senior, teased and ultimately assaulted a student, John Lauber. According to their account, Romney mocked the student’s long blond hair, recalling that he once said, “He can’t look like that. That’s wrong. Just look at him!” before joining classmates in chasing him, pinning him to the ground and cutting his hair as Lauber screamed for help.

“I certainly don’t believe that I thought the fellow was homosexual,” Romney told Kilmeade. “That was the furthest thing from our minds back in the 1960s.”

<...>

“Just the qualities you want in someone who wants to be the leader of the free world,” Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said of the report on Twitter.

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/mitt-romney-apologizes-for-high-school-bullying.php

TPM's front page:

‘I Did Some Dumb Things’

Mitt Apologizes If Anyone Hurt By Prep School Pranks



Mitt Romney offered a qualified apology for his behavior as a high school student, without specifically saying whether a report that he bullied a student thought by his classmates to be gay was accurate.

I smell toast!

[Brickbat]

1. “If I did stupid things, I’m afraid I’ve got to say sorry for it.” This man's speech is an armchair

psychologist's dream.

[siligut]

2. I am surprised he isn't claiming to be the victim somehow

I guess his self-perceived alpha-male status prevents him from using the repugs SOP.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. I'm channeling all those Watergate-era excuses and the

lingo they inspired: "limited modified hang-out":

**************************

PRESIDENT: You think, you think we want to, want to go this route now? And the--let it hang out, so to speak?

DEAN: Well, it's, it isn't really that--

HALDEMAN: It's a limited hang out.

DEAN: It's a limited hang out.

EHRLICHMAN: It's a modified limited hang out.

PRESIDENT: Well, it's only the questions of the thing hanging out publicly or privately.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_hangout#Modified_limited_hangout

[monmouth]

4. Hijinks????? Are you effin' kidding me???? Hijinks (how 1940ish) is when you put glue on someone's

chair, hot sauce on their sandwich, etc. This was no hijinks sir, this is sociopathic behavior in an attempt to be popular amongst your peers and ilk. Shame on you sir, absolute shame on you. Sometimes karma takes a long while to catch up but this could be the moment in time. Kids who have been bullied, some of the parents out there who have been bullied themselves in their youth, will register this in the negative column. Hijinks my a$$..

[rustydog]

5. Hijinks? Hijinks? Really Willard? Assault with a deadly weapon

to a spoiled sheltered rich-boy is simply hijinks...How special.

[Vanje]

6. “If I did stupid things, I’m afraid I’ve got to say sorry for it.”

In what planet is that an apology?

[polly7]

7. 'Lauber cried and repeatedly called for help during the incident'

That part just broke my heart .... does it remind anyone of another thread heading here the last few days?. The student didn't get the same beating, fortunately ... but I imagine the fear was horrible. I wonder if he ever got over it.

[cali]

8. my guess is this means there is more to come.

[Kali]

9. being labled as some kind of aggressive asshole bully will probably just help him with the repukes

they LIKE that kind of shit. they ARE that kind of shit

[Va Lefty]

12. my thoughts too

sadly, this will probably help with the knuckledraggers

[ProSense]

13. Yeah, until he starts

apologizing and more comes out. Romney is a coward and a jerk.

[uponit7771]

10. Naw...naw...fuck naw, eat this you bastard.

[RadiationTherapy]

11. If your apology comes in the form of an 'if-then' statement, it is not an apology.

There is an absence of remorse for the behavior if you are apologizing for people being "offended" (political correctness runs wild!!), that is not the same as apologizing for behavior.