Conservative Media Fail In Their Attempt To Dismiss Report About Romney Bullying Incident
Right-wing media have rushed to dismiss the Washington Post's report that Mitt Romney held down a high school classmate and cut his hair, claiming that "the source" for the story "wasn't actually there." In fact, the Post story relied on accounts from five separate sources, four of whom were named, and as the Post's ombudsman noted, their "accounts remain unchallenged." Romney himself said that he's "seen the reports" about the incident and that he's "not going to argue with that."
Wash. Post Article Describes Romney Forcibly Cutting High School Classmate's Hair
Wash. Post: "Mitt Romney's Prep School Classmates Recall Pranks, But Also Troubling Incidents." From a May 10 article in The Washington Post:
Mitt Romney returned from a three-week spring break in 1965 to resume his studies as a high school senior at the prestigious Cranbrook School. Back on the handsome campus, studded with Tudor brick buildings and manicured fields, he spotted something he thought did not belong at a school where the boys wore ties and carried briefcases. John Lauber, a soft-spoken new student one year behind Romney, was perpetually teased for his nonconformity and presumed homosexuality. Now he was walking around the all-boys school with bleached-blond hair that draped over one eye, and Romney wasn't having it.
"He can't look like that. That's wrong. Just look at him!" an incensed Romney told Matthew Friedemann, his close friend in the Stevens Hall dorm, according to Friedemann's recollection. Mitt, the teenage son of Michigan Gov. George Romney, kept complaining about Lauber's look, Friedemann recalled.
A few days later, Friedemann entered Stevens Hall off the school's collegiate quad to find Romney marching out of his own room ahead of a prep school posse shouting about their plan to cut Lauber's hair. Friedemann followed them to a nearby room where they came upon Lauber, tackled him and pinned him to the ground. As Lauber, his eyes filling with tears, screamed for help, Romney repeatedly clipped his hair with a pair of scissors. [The Washington Post, 5/10/12]
Right-Wing Media Dismiss Article By Claiming "The Source" For The Story "Wasn't Actually There"
Daily Caller: "Cracks In The Washington Post Story On Romney's 'Pranks' Emerge." From a May 10 post on the conservative site The Daily Caller:
A question emerges in reading the Washington Post piece on Mitt Romney today: How can Romney's old pal Stu White tell the Washington Post that he has "long been bothered by the Lauber incident" -- and then later admit to ABC News that he was "not present for the prank" and "was not aware of it until this year when he was contacted by the Washington Post"?
This is curious.
The Washington Post story reports: "I always enjoyed his pranks," said Stu White, a popular friend of Romney's who went on to a career as a public school teacher and has long been bothered by the Lauber incident."
But ABC News, says: "White was not present for the prank, in which Romney is said to have forcefully cut a student's long hair and was not aware of it until this year when he was contacted by the Washington Post." [The Daily Caller, 5/10/12]
Doocy Claimed That "The Source For The Story, Stu White ... Wasn't Actually There." On the May 11 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy summarized the Washington Post article and then claimed that there are "cracks in the story." He referred to one person named in the story, Stu White, as "The Washington Post's source" for the article and said White "wasn't actually there" for the incident:
DOOCY: Another story that flashed across your computer screen and across your television as well was this 5,000-word story in The Washington Post yesterday where it's alleged that when he was in high school, Mitt Romney was involved in a prank where he and some other guys bullied a kid with long hair, got him down, and cut his hair. Some are now wondering whether or not it was a hit job because there's some cracks in the story. For instance, apparently, The Washington Post's source for the story, Stu White, who said -- is quoted as saying, "I was always bothered by the Lauber incident" -- he wasn't actually there. And he wasn't present for the prank, and he only heard about it this year when he was contacted by The Washington Post.
Co-host Gretchen Carlson then read a statement from Lauber's family saying that the "portrayal of John is factually incorrect and we are aggrieved that he would be used to further a political agenda." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 5/11/12]
Doocy: "The Facts Are Falling Apart, And Falling Apart Fast. So Is It Just Another Media Hit Job?" Later in the broadcast, Doocy said: "Meanwhile, chances are, you saw the report -- a mainstream newspaper calling Mitt Romney a big, bad high school bully. Problem? Well, the facts are falling apart, and falling apart fast. So is it just another media hit job?" [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 5/11/12]
Megyn Kelly: "The Key Guy On Whose Testimony This Is Based Now Admits He Wasn't There." On the May 11 broadcast of Fox News' America Live, host Megyn Kelly said:
KELLY: And yet, Chris, many in the media today -- I'm talking mainstream media reporting today -- still is not mentioning the fact that the key guy on whose testimony this is based now admits he wasn't there, and the sisters of the alleged victim have come out and said, "Not to our knowledge, and our brother would not want this being reported in this way." And so there are at least some questions about the accuracy that are not also being added by other outlets reporting the Post's front-page story today. [Fox News, America Live, 5/11/12]
Hannity Claimed "A Lot Of These Accounts Have Fallen By The Wayside" And Added, "That Person Has Rescinded The Story -- His Story." On the May 11 broadcast of his talk radio show, host Sean Hannity discussed the Post story with University of Pennsylvania professor Anthea Butler. Hannity claimed that "a lot of these accounts have fallen by the wayside" and claimed that "that person has rescinded the story -- his story." From the show:
BUTLER: I think, though, that's what important about this is something very, very specific. And you know, bullying is wrong on every count, but what the difference is, is that Mitt Romney says, "I don't remember," and you've got all of these accounts. And so if the people [unintelligible] --
HANNITY: No, no, no. A lot of these accounts have fallen by the wayside.
BUTLER: I don't think so.
HANNITY: Oh, yes they have.
BUTLER: I meant, there's a couple of people from the story who have said, you know, "This was really terrible."
HANNITY: OK. And there's also other --
BUTLER: "I thought about it for years afterward" --
HANNITY: And -- but wait a minute. But that person -- wait a minute.
BUTLER: And they [unintelligible]
HANNITY: That person has rescinded the story -- his story. And he said, I didn't know about this, they put my name in this piece, until they had contacted me. And the family is saying, the sister of this kid, by the way who died in 2004, she described her brother as a very unusual man. He didn't care about running with a peer group. And they say that what they're saying, this portrayal is factually incorrect, and they don't like this being used to further a political agenda. [Premiere Radio Networks, Hannity, 5/11/12]
But Five Sources Gave The Post Accounts Of The Incident -- And Stu White Wasn't One Of Them
Wash. Post Article Listed Five Sources For Lauber Story. The Washington Post article cited five students who "gave their accounts independently of one another," four of whom spoke on the record and one of whom asked to remain anonymous:
A few days later, Friedemann entered Stevens Hall off the school's collegiate quad to find Romney marching out of his own room ahead of a prep school posse shouting about their plan to cut Lauber's hair. Friedemann followed them to a nearby room where they came upon Lauber, tackled him and pinned him to the ground. As Lauber, his eyes filling with tears, screamed for help, Romney repeatedly clipped his hair with a pair of scissors.
The incident was recalled similarly by five students, who gave their accounts independently of one another. Four of them -- Friedemann, now a dentist; Phillip Maxwell, a lawyer; Thomas Buford, a retired prosecutor; and David Seed, a retired principal -- spoke on the record. Another former student who witnessed the incident asked not to be identified. The men have differing political affiliations, although they mostly lean Democratic. Buford volunteered for Barack Obama's campaign in 2008. Seed, a registered independent, has served as a Republican county chairman in Michigan. All of them said that politics in no way colored their recollections. [The Washington Post, 5/10/12]
Stu White Was Not One Of The Five Sources Who Gave Accounts Of The Lauber Incident To The Post. While the Post did issue a clarification stating that White "has been disturbed by the incident since he learned of it several weeks ago from a former classmate," White was not one of the five sources the Post interviewed who described Romney holding down Lauber and cutting his hair. [The Washington Post, 5/10/12]
Wash. Post Ombudsman: Accounts From The Five Sources "Remain Unchallenged." From a May 11 post by Washington Post ombudsman Patrick Pexton on his blog:
The Post changed the story after talking to White again and discovering that White only learned of the prank in recent weeks after being told of it by a Cranbrook classmate.
Kevin Merida, national editor of The Post, said on Friday that "We should have updated it with a note." I agree with Merida. I would have used strike-through text online to make it clear to readers that that part of the online story was changed. I think that's just the better part of candor. There is now an editor's note at the very bottom of the story. The Post is not calling it a correction. I think it is a correction, but not germane to the central theme of the story.
This part of Horowitz's story is tangential at best. It is only about how one person, who was not an eyewitness, felt about the incident.
Four of the five witnesses to the forcible haircut cited by the Post are on the record, by name, and remember it well. Their accounts remain unchallenged. I also think it's important to point out that Romney quickly apologized after the story was published, and although not a detailed apology, I think his demeanor in the apology seemed genuine. [WashingtonPost.com, Omblog, 5/11/12]
And Romney Himself Said He's "Not Going To Argue" With "Reports" About The Incident
Romney: "I've Seen The Reports -- Not Going To Argue With That." On the May 10 edition of his Fox News show, host Neil Cavuto asked Romney about the Post story. Romney said that he didn't "recall the incident" but that he was "not going to argue with" the "reports." From the show:
ROMNEY: Well, first of all, I had no idea what that individual's sexual orientation might be. Going back to the 1960s, that wasn't something that we all discussed or considered. So, that's simply just not accurate. I don't recall the incident myself, but I've seen the reports, and not going to argue with that. There's no question but that I did some stupid things when I was in high school. And obviously, if I hurt anyone by virtue of that, I would be very sorry for it and apologize for it. [Fox News, Your World with Neil Cavuto, 5/10/12]
Wait for it.
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IMHO
UTOPIA
They will make sure of that.
John
John
the media evil in this case is pretending that one qualification for president requires error free formative years. hogwash.
if mmfa lowers itself to disinforming in order to counterweight propoganda from the right the way the propogandists on the right defend their lies as justifiable in order to counter weight LSM, then mmfa is no different than fox. we don't need that. not now.
if high school behavior, perhaps isolated to a single incident, is the best media can do to highlight the threat of mitt romney as president of the u.s.a. over the next four years, then we will be doomed thanks to an impotent media.
i will not vote for mitt romney.
i will not vote for mitt romney because 'mitt happens'
i do not need another media orgy over...anything.
i need media to demonstrate the very real threats that are mitt romney.
this organization is called 'media matters'. act like media matters. because you're killing us out here with typical media hogwash.
please get relevant.
Now, as this [weak] issue is in the news (one component of relevance), several at the top are about it. Granted, they're a bit reactionary in response to all the vetting nonsense of late. But where's the "disinforming", whatever that means?
As the search indicates, there is much of substance here.
cool your jets.
The important story is not what happened 50 years ago, but how Romney responded to it three days ago. When everyone else who was part of this incident, and those who only heard about it, remembers it vividly, can you really believe Romnay's statement that he remembers nothing? When it's well documented how the victim carried long term scars, can you regard Romney's "if anyone (anyone? no, the victim) was offended (offended? give me a break), I would (would? talk about inappropriate use of the conditional tense)" as a complete failure of character?
it is not.
there are plenty of examples in romney's adult life of why he would be a terrible president.
those examples which might have policy implications would be relevant. that ALL teenagers do regretable things is not.
that all of media is atitter over this does not make it news or make it relevant to the campaign and it is disinformational to perpetuate this non-story because it creates a diversion from the very real, demonstrable incidents in romney's adult life which should more rightful to highlight to more people
Among the never ending stream of mmfa items correctly pointing out the baseless propoganda perpetuated by right wing media this item had the look and feel of something one would expect to find at fox news. right down to the condemnations in the comments section here. thaneb writes,"...vetting nonsense of late. But where's the disinforming?" When the vetting is nonsense, it is disinformational because it replaces relevant discourse of substantial issues with pap.
rtwmd also missed the point while demonstrating it; "...point out ONE PIECE of...", "Hint: you MAY want to read...", "...well documented...", "..COMPLETE failure of character?" This style of diatribe could easily have been culled straight from the fox website comments section. and that's the point.
When it highlights tripe (disinformation), mmfa lends itself to exactly the same sort of venomous group think, preaching to the choir, condemnation rhetoric made famous by fox, rush, glen, et. al
The replies to my post indicate that this is already worse than i had feared, including professor/judge/?? abeck's parsing of obtuse intent trolling for the "regulars here".
There are a vast number of media matters the public should be vastly more aware of and mmfa is one of the precious few resources swimming against the tidal wave of media misbehavior.
But, boy, make one out-of-goosestep comment and look what happens.
Just like making an out-of-goosestep comment on the fox site.
I repeat; Please get relevant.
and 2 responses warrants "look what happens"?
At least you've come down enough to ditch the all lower case whisper-shout. You're making progress.
Bet Getznothing, picked up that "goosestep" from his military days, not! Or he would know it's two words.
What's with the no caps and no pharagraphs? That seems to be a common trait with them, and with the wing nuts that send me emails with the propaganda they are forwarding.
I really appreciate your information, I definitely learned something from it. It's great that you can support your family writing. Working from home and being your own boss for the most part? I wish you much success with your writing.
Yeah, no. All teenagers do regrettable things, yes, but this is way beyond the level of a "regrettable thing"; this makes teen-Mittens look like a f--king psychopath. Whether or not this is relevant to the here and now is another argument entirely, but you can't "boys will be boys" an honest-to-God assault motivated by hatred.
Not gonna excuse Romney here. Just plain stupid & cruel behavior. A jerk for sure. But a psychopath?
Would you also say the same of anyone involved in hazing in say, frats or athletics? We've all heard stories about hazing incidents that have crossed the line & involved humiliation & abuse.
While hate may not be the motive for hazing, would you also refer to those that participate in hazing as psychopaths?
Just curious.
"A jerk for sure. But a psychopath?"
Maybe, how many of these traits cane you check off regarding Romney?
"While hate may not be the motive for hazing, would you also refer to those that participate in hazing as psychopaths?"
Even if it's a one time thing, they did par take in psychopathic behavior by participating. If in later years an individual feels shameful, actually regrets his or her actions and can admit it. They probably aren't a psychopath. But if an individual laughs about it, still thinks it was clever, enjoys reliving it by entertaining him or herself through stories, has no regret over causing pain, humiliation, fear etc. to another individual, or worse could actually forget ever taking part in it, they are probably a psychopath.
Not all psychopaths are Hannibal Lecter types. ;>)
Are you running with scissors?
I bet you have your gray hair washed away by your hairdresser. Ha!
I do need a haicut though.
As for color, it's not because of grays, but because I'm not so enamored of mousy brown! Hey, things happen as we get into our "40s"! Lol!
I only run with scissors when I absolutely have to, which is more often than one might suppose! Ha!
What have we done for ya lately? Well..Um...ok I can't think of a thing. Ha!
Romney should have expressed remorse. Stated as much in his apology statement. But I still believe calling him a psychopath is a stretch.
I don't know, it probably has a lot to do with the severity of the deed, and the degree of remorse later. Some hazings actually cause pain and injury. I've never understood anyone getting a kick out of humiliating or embarrassing someone.
Most of us can chuckle at past exploits from our youth. At my reunion they were telling a story and howling, about the night on a dare, I shinnied up a pole to steal the big green letters, my boyfriends initials, off the Safeway billboard. Once up there everyone wanted letters and I pretty much cleared the sign. As I listened and watched them laughing I felt ashamed that I did that. I was 15 at the time and all though it was a fun night, I do remember feeling guilt at the time, too. I know I could never forget about it. And no one (except Safeway) got hurt.
I agree Romney should have expressed remorse and I don't believe for a minute that he doesn't remember it.
I notice most of my posts are getting thumbed down again, that had stopped for awhile. hmm
Yesterday it happened to me, you, Andy and Bintx. I wonder what we all have in common? Hmmmn, indeedy.
Okay you man stealing psychopath, take care of Jeter while I'm gone. ;-) You do know my prob/frustration is mostly with him, although you butting in (like I'm doing to you now, hehe) sometimes annoys a pyschopath compatriot!
I get thumb downs all the time. You never see me whining about it. Don't look at me like that. Are you both gonna hit me now?
Hehehe ;-)
Damn Bron, how did you know that was what I was gonna ask?? Ha!
I think most of us can recall our youthful escapades, or if for some reason we've forgotten we will instantly remember if someone reminds us of them. And if it was something that may have hurt someone either physically or emotionally, as adults we normally feel genuine remorse & regret. Romney is so full of sh!t pretending he has no memory of the incident. And instead of admitting to it & taking the opportunity to give a sincere apology & express regret, he tried to wiggle out of it. Doesn't necessarily make him a psychopath, just a colossal jackasss.
Hazing can get out of hand. Can even prove deadly. I left a link to an article about hazing that did just that. If you're interested in reading it, you can find it in one of my post to Miz Julia.
As far as those down thumbs go, I've seen Debby Downer around the past few days. I think she may be the culprit. I hadn't seen her for awhile, I thought we were rid of her. Fat chance I guess :-/
I will look for your article. And I never considered his one act of assaulting that kid, making him a psychopath. I did think of him though, reading the description of a psychopath.
On another thread aBeck and (the Aussie dude G...I just went blank on his name) both did what I thought was an excellent description of Romney and people like him.
You're welcome. Ha!
But my original post was simply asking if those involved in hazing should also be referred to as psychopaths if one felt Romney deserved that description. I was in no way excusing his behavior. So I really didn't need context. But thank you anyway.
And actually, it's been shown that many CEOs could be classified as your garden variety psychopaths. So it's not out of the realm of possibility at all.
I think hazing is utterly stupid and primitive, btw. Especially the lengths some go to. But at least it has some context. Mitt just seems to like to do cruel things. Why is it that you choose to bring hazing into the discussion? Just wondering. ;-)
Oh, and you're welcome again! (I'm being deliberately annoying so I may be a psychopath!)
I'm not happy with many of his business practices, but I'm not sure that or any of his behavior as a young adult qualifies him to be referred to as a psychopath. That term shouldn't be thrown around lightly. Romney is a turrd [spelt wrong to get it by MMFA profanity censors--they already got me once!!] & I'm not voting for him, & I'm 99% sure he'll be defeated & won't be back for a third try.
I am not an advocate of hazing in any situation. As I wrote in one of my other posts: We've all heard stories about hazing incidents that have crossed the line & involved humiliation & abuse.
I brought it into the discussion because Mitt cutting that kid's hair reminded me of a frat hazing story I'd heard [from a friend] that involved holding the pledge down & shaving his entire body. That, is humiliating & could certainly fall under abuse.
From an article in the NYTimes:
IN February, a 19-year-old Cornell sophomore died in a fraternity house while participating in a hazing episode that included mock kidnapping, ritualized humiliation and coerced drinking. While the case is still in the courts, the fraternity chapter has been disbanded and those indicted in connection with the death are no longer enrolled here.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/opinion/a-pledge-to-end-fraternity-hazing.html
Doh! Howie Carr?
Ha! No not Howie. I haven't listened to his program in ages. Mostly cause I got tired of Mr. Rich Dude crying about maybe having to pay more taxes. Cry me a river Howie ::eye roll::
Oh, and you're welcome again! (I'm being deliberately annoying so I may be a psychopath!)
Well of course you're a psychopath, but yer so purty so no one cares ;-) I'll read that article first chance I get.
Wow, I'm still laughing about that day, boo! It was getting ri-dick-you-lous! Lol! Okay, I'm gonna copy that in case the filter tries to get me! Doncha just hate that, btw? It's a fracking crime! Ha! I mean, eyes so elegant in my speech usually and they get me on the off chance I say something off color. Hey we're all adults here! Ostensibly...;-)
Okay, I'll stop laughing now, if I can. I mean it was haaaard, as in difficult, to say that with a straight face!
I'm glad Boo Hoo Howie doesn't have the svenjolly like hold on ya no mo. That should be reserved for me! I mean, being so loverly and awl! Geeze, I was gonna say "Pa" after thaat "awl", but even that's been co-opted from me! Oh well, I guess I should make up my own language if'n I want domain of my "darlin'", darlin'! ::eye roll::
Wow, I'm a handful, huh? But you still wuv me a widdle, wight?
I guess this thread is up at midnight, so I'll see you sometime if I can get online in Bermuda, Pa! Lol! Okay, boss! CT?;-)
You know, I still don't understand that hazing business? But then, I'm not the in-club type. And it sounds dangerous. Must be that primitive, tribal paradigm I hear about?
People! They're the worst!
Oh stop whining you commie lib moonbat...hey put down that frying pan!! Didn't your mama ever tell ya two wrongs don't make a right. And darlin that "they did it first" defense doesn't fly around here, or so I've been told, though that can be very selective of course. Ha! And anyway, the Left is always claiming to be above this sort of thing. So they should just button it. OUCH! Did you just pinch me?? Quit it!!!
Yeah that thread from several weeks ago was a riot. Not too often I lose my temper anymore around this here joint, but that DA, DH, AH, F'n Jerk [methinks you covered them all] wears on my last nerve, so we had to come to blows sooner or later. But you were very sweet to swoop in like superwoman & diffuse the situation. I'm still grinning about the asss kicking he got from you know who. He was left whimpering "strawman". It was priceless ;-)
Yeah you, & not Howie, still have a svenjolly like hold on me. I'd need to be some sort of Houdini to escape your powers. Ha!
Whoa, I forgot you were going to Bermuda. Lucky you!! Of course you'll fall behind again on the Y&R. No big deal, it's been pretty lame, eh? Hey Jack thought he felt his toe move today. He'll probably be walking by the time you get back ;-)
Have a safe & fun vacation darlin. Post if you can...if not, I'll catch up with ya when you return.
Please cite where the Washington Post article says anything remotely resembling that, o time traveler from an era where people said things like "hogwash".
Check out the link I posted above. I think one could check off most of the boxes regarding Romney.
We now know the difference. It doesn't make what Romney did any less offensive, but it likely explains why he felt it was okay to behave in such a disgusting way as well as explain why he was never held responsible for such behavior.
He IS showing his true character though. That mirror is reflecting something very ugly, despite his beautufully coiffed hair, perfect teeth and nice suits.
Romney didn't say it didn't happen. That he conveniently "forgot" about it, but which tells me, he remembers, probably fairly clearly that it happened.
The TRUTH does win - too bad you're not 'connected' to reality in this case.
Doocy Claimed That "The Source For The Story, Stu White ... Wasn't Actually There." - LIAR
Doocy: "The Facts Are Falling Apart, And Falling Apart Fast. So Is It Just Another Media Hit Job?" - LIAR
Hannity Claimed "A Lot Of These Accounts Have Fallen By The Wayside" And Added, "That Person Has Rescinded The Story -- His Story." - LIAR
Megyn Kelly: "The Key Guy On Whose Testimony This Is Based Now Admits He Wasn't There." - LIAR
Wash. Post Article Listed Five Sources For Lauber Story. - TRUTH
Stu White Was Not One Of The Five Sources Who Gave Accounts Of The Lauber Incident To The Post. - TRUTH
Wash. Post Ombudsman: Accounts From The Five Sources "Remain Unchallenged." - TRUTH
Romney: "I've Seen The Reports -- Not Going To Argue With That." - SURRENDER!!
But I promise I won't tell anyone because then you'd know I knew that.
Thank all that's holy they are not practicing at the Criminal Defence Bar - they'd render the Prosecution redundant.
You obviously don't understand how US style rightwing jurisprudence works. Hannity shows how one can invent one's own facts and strawmen, and his audience is incapable of following the sleight of hand.
Why do you think most FauxNoise viewers KNOW Saddam was behind 9/11?