“On Mother’s Day, Mitt always brings me lilacs, a tradition he started the year I became a mother. When our home is filled with their fragrance, it reminds me of so many things, and stirs so many emotions…” ~ Ann Romney

◆

A true story by Mike Adams caught my eye a couple of weeks ago. It was published during the latter part of April on Townhall.com and is perfect for today (Don’t skip ahead to the ending!):

Mr. Adams, or Mike as I shall refer to him, had just come back from being out of town. With the weekend approaching, he was in a frantic rush to complete necessary errands. One of the important items on his to-do list was to make some deposits at his bank. As luck would have it, he chose the worst day of the week and the worst time of day to take care of his banking:

There was only one teller working and the line was about fifteen people deep. After waiting patiently, I got close to the front of the line. Looking back at the dozen or so people who had entered the line after me, I was relieved that the wait was almost over. Unfortunately, the elderly woman who was making a deposit was requiring a lot more assistance than the others who had gone before her.

She must have been 85 years old. She held a cane in one hand and wore a thick pair of glasses that were visible only after she peeled away her sunglasses. They were the kind of sunglasses that fit over her regular glasses and were big enough to block harmful rays from even the nastiest of solar eclipses. They were the kind that retirees used to wear to watch shuttle launches in south Florida. The kind people older people wear when they are consumed by practicality and no longer care as much about fashion.

When she was finally finished with her transaction, she started to make small talk with the teller behind the counter. She did not seem to notice that there were so many people in line behind her. The teller smiled and nodded at everything she said. The old lady told her she reminded her of her daughter. Then she asked the teller whether she had children. She just kept making conversation while the young woman behind the counter provided her with full and undivided attention. She seemed to feel sorry for her. It was as if she appreciated sitting where she was rather than occupying the elderly woman’s shoes.

Mike continues his story by elaborating about a younger, exasperated man who was standing in line. The guy made it very obvious he wasn’t happy with the old lady’s dilly-dallying:

He [the young man] glared impatiently at the teller as if to say that she should tell the elderly woman she was holding up the line. He even held out one of his hands and waved at the teller. He was signaling that he had been waiting long enough and that it was time his needs were met. But the teller kept nodding politely and giving the elderly woman her undivided attention.

Feeling someone should have said something to the impatient, agitated young man, Mike writes:

He should have understood why the elderly woman was clinging on to the conversation with the young teller. It was probably more than a reminder of her children. More likely, it was a reminder that she had not seen them or talked to them in quite some time.

Continuing:

As soon as she finished talking to the teller, the elderly woman walked out of the bank and headed across the parking lot towards her car. She was walking slowly and labored with every step as she leaned upon her cane for support. She had no one to help her. No husband. No son. No daughter. There was nothing to lean on but a cane.

As he watched the elderly lady make her way slowly and carefully across the parking lot, Mike felt a brief prick of conscience – that he should have given up his place in line – offered a helping hand and a kind word.

But, he didn’t.

After all, he had “places to go and things to do.”

Remorsefully, he concludes:

In case you haven’t figured it out, the impatient man in the line was me.

While speaking to graduates at Liberty University yesterday, Governor Romney said, “We are all prone, at various turns, to treat the trivial things as all-important, the all-important things as trivial…” He spoke of how easy it is to get caught up in the “busy-ness of life” and how “glimpses” of the creator’s work in our lives can “reawaken our hearts”.

Because of her own significant health challenges, Ann Romney often speaks of her increased awareness and compassion for those who are going through dark moments or suffering.

Mike Adams’ experience in the bank reawakened his heart to the value of an elderly woman; he saw her as someone’s mother.

If we’ll let it, Mother’s Day has the power to reawaken our hearts. In our own “busy-ness’ we can choose to allow time today to reflect on the marvelous, irreplaceable work of mothers – to think on the influence our own mothers have/had in our lives. If possible, today is the day to share our appreciative thoughts with them – to do something kind for them or any mother.

Here’s a fun video celebrating a few things Moms have passed down to their children (not promoting the sponsor):

Were you grinning while watching the video? I was! It reawakened deeper thoughts about my own mother. She instilled within me the joy of hard – really hard – work, being creative when cupboards were nearly bare, the love of reading, the trick to serving a mean overhand volleyball, how to bake a luscious pineapple-upside-down cake and fry a perfect easy-over egg. She rarely watched television, but did make time to giggle over old cable episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. Hence, I have the goofy inclination to relish re-runs of Barney Fife’s antics in Mayberry! (That Thelma Lou was a saint…)

What physical attributes, personal qualities, or lessons did your mother pass on to you? While you’re thinking of your mom, here are a few good quotes on mothers:

“My mother’s menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it.” – Buddy Hackett [Soo my mother...]

“Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends—but only one mother in the whole world.” – Kate Douglas Wiggin

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” – Washington Irving

My new favorite:

“Cherish your mothers. The ones who wiped your tears, who were at every ball game or ballet recital. The ones who believed in you, even when nobody else did, even when maybe you didn’t believe in yourself.

Women wear many hats in their lives. Daughter, sister, student, breadwinner. But no matter where we are or what we’re doing, one hat that moms never take off is the crown of motherhood.

There is no crown more glorious.” ~ Ann Romney

From everyone at Mitt Romney Central

to Ann Romney and Moms the world over

Thanks for all you do!

Happy Mother’s Day!

› Jayde Wyatt

Check out the Mother’s Day video from the five Romney sons/campaign, Governor Romney’s statement, as well as the MittFitts cartoon for Mother’s Day below the fold. Read more…

America’s Newsroom co-anchor Martha MacCallum (FOX News) caught up with busy Ann Romney to talk about the presidential campaign. The two-part interview aired today:

While it’s presumed that Mitt Romney will be the GOP’s nominee for president, still up for debate is who he’ll pick for his running mate. Martha asked Ann whether they discuss the topic and who she would want to see get the spot on the ticket.

“It’s fun to talk about,” Ann disclosed. But, she wouldn’t say more than that. “I cannot come down and say [if there's someone I'm rooting for] … the wonderful thing right now is that there are wonderful people out there who are very qualified.”

MacCallum asked about Ann’s title given to her by campaign staffers – ‘Mitt-Stabilizer’:

“That is true. I think both of us enjoy each other’s company … and also I think when we get together we recognize what’s really important in life,” she said. “We’re able to laugh a lot and talk a lot about things that are not in the political realm.”

Ann was asked how she would feel if Governor Romney should lose the election:

Ann said she’s not too worried. “It will mean that we’ve given it our college try and done our very best,” she said. But in the end, she believes they’ll be taking up residence in the White House following the 2012 election.

(emphasis added)

Part 1:

MacCaullum mentioned the fact that Mrs. Romney could be celebrating Mother’s Day next year in the White House. Ann was asked about First Ladies she admired and issues she would promote as as America’s 47th First Lady:

. . . As for her mission as first lady if husband Mitt were to get elected, she said she would bring her own personality to the ‘job.’

“For me, of course, it’ll have something to do with the things I care about,” she said, mentioning her concern for breast cancer and MS research and awareneses. “I also worked for many years with at-risk youth, so I know I wouldn’t be able to give that up either.”

She has plenty of role models to pull from, as well. “I love Barbara Bush and her frankness … and yet her realness,” she said. “Laura Bush was so lady-like and just wonderful.

She also weighed in on the current first lady, Michelle Obama. “I think she’s lovely, and everyone can appreciate that it’s a very difficult position to be in, where your husband is under enormous scrutiny all the time and attacks from one side or the other, and to be able to keep your calm and composure – we appreciate that and see that in her.”

Ms. MacCallum brought up the topic of religion and also asked how Ann’s health challenges affected her and Mitt.

Part 2:

Needless to say, Ann Romney interviews are always a great pleasure to view. Not only does she possess the very qualities she admires in the First Ladies she commented on – the composure of Michelle Obama, the grace of Laura Bush, the realness of Barbara Bush – America will have the great pleasure of learning more of Ann’s humor, intelligence, compassion, wisdom, and tenacity.

Ann Romney is going to be an outstanding First Lady!

> Jayde Wyatt

Once again, President Obama leads from behind. Vice President Joe Biden (the first major decision Obama made before being elected) committed the ‘oopsie’ by spilling the beans on same-sex marriage. And boy, this guy does not stop making gaffes, speaking his mind out of the blue, and creating some serious trouble for the President. Biden forced the President to do what he basically knows best – react.

Not that Obama took a dramatic turn, or as reported, evolved on the issue of same sex marriage. As Buzzfeed reports, Obama had the same position in 1996, before he opposed it in 2008. My observation is that Obama will do anything possible to energize the base, to get liberals out to vote, by diverting the conversation and taking a lead on some issue that matters to them as an ideology but not as a mainstream, citizen-caring theme.

Mitt Romney successfully defeated his primary rivals largely by running a disciplined campaign centering around a dominating issue – the state of the economy. Romney’s strength against Obama is his ability to draw a sharp contrast with the President’s experience on job creation, the economy, and operating the federal government. Americans are mostly concerned with jobs and the economy.

Obama ain’t dumb; he’s at least as clever as me. Obama and his campaign observed over the past month the President’s eroding support among key elements and voting blocs (which contributed to his 2008 victory). The only way out was to avoid defending his record and go on offense – to portray his opponent as out of touch and energize the Obama base by giving them the needed red meat.

As brilliant as they might be, for every trap Messina and Axelrod set for Romney, he avoided them. And the only spin that seems to work or at least pick up traction is the same sex marriage issue. (Social issues handed Bush a second term.)

Romney and we Republicans must not fall into same-sex marriage trap. (Obama tried to rally his supporters by spiking the Osama Bin Laden football and it didn’t work.) Why help Obama unite his base, which in my eyes is more fractured than the GOP base? Look at what happened with Judd’s 42% in West Virginia’s primary and the 200K votes against the President in North Carolina.

We must continue to examine and hammer Obama’s record, not his evolving positions or fresh baked promises. Obama is the incumbent who must pay the price for not leading this country in the right direction. And only if we draw that sharp contrast on fiscal issues and appeal to the broader suffering base will we be able to carry that message through to November and replace the Obama administration for good.

We should not debate Obama’s every whim.

Last night, the crew at Entertainment Tonight caught up with busy Ann Romney. Nancy O’Dell asked the former First Lady of Massachusetts a variety of questions, including queries about Saturday Night Live skits that skewer her and Governor Romney. Ann’s good humor won the evening: “Over the weekend we heard about it — our kids e-mailed us about it and we laughed about it.”

Mrs. Romney was also asked if she would ever appear on SNL (answer in video below).

Ms. O’Dell inquired about Ann’s health – her battle with cancer and ongoing challenges with multiple sclerosis. Opening up about the debilitating way M.S. affects her, Ann revealed a scare she had just before Super Tuesday. Here’s the interview:

“I had such a nice time talking to her [Ann Romney]. She is such a strong woman.” ~ Nancy O’Dell

On Monday (April 23rd), the night before mini Super Tuesday elections, the former Massachusetts First Lady was in Stamford, Connecticut where she was the keynote speaker at the Prescott Bush Awards Dinner.

If you’re unfamiliar with the event, it’s named after United States Senator Prescott Sheldon Bush who represented Connecticut from 1952 until January 1963. He was the father of President George H. W. Bush (41), and grandfather to President George W. Bush (43) and 43rd Governor of Florida – Jeb Bush. The event sold out; it’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for the state GOP. This year, Tom Foley, who ran for governor in 2010, received the Prescott Bush Award. Foley was narrowly defeated by Democrat Dan Malloy.

Mrs. Romney regaled the crowd relating stories of the hard work and rewards of motherhood and shared the some of the challenges of her health. In 2002, when Governor Romney committed to take on the scandal-ridden Winter Olympic Games, her M.S. was so bad she could barely walk, but, with Mitt’s encouragement, she was able to carry the Olympic torch. She related how her husband and five boys cheered and got teary-eyed with love and pride when she completed the taxing accomplishment.

Ann spoke of the juggling act of motherhood:

“I know what it’s like to finish the laundry and to look in the basket five minutes later and it’s full again,” Romney said. “I know what it’s like to pull all the groceries in and see the teenagers run through and then all of sudden all of the groceries you just bought a few hours ago are gone. I know what it’s like to get up early in the morning and get them off to school. I know what it’s like get up in the middle of the night when they’re sick And I know what it’s like to struggle and to have those concerns that all mothers have.”
[...]
“Some people think that I didn’t work,” Romney said. “I didn’t have help for many, many years.”

Romney said it was only after the birth of her youngest son, Craig, when she had to have emergency surgery, that she enlisted help with running the household.

Ann also spoke of the outpouring of encouragement she is receiving along the campaign trail and of the many women who have revealed they are praying for her:

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that because the days are long, the road is hard, the trials are there and I never know when I have this little gray cloud over my head when it’s going to start raining again,” Romney said. “And I do need everyone’s prayers.”

C-Span aired Ann’s excellent speech:

Ann Romney: “There is something going on out there in America. Traveling all over the United States has been amazing and I have met the most amazing people, especially women. These women are speaking to me about the economy, about the budget deficit, about their future. I have learned that people are ready for a change and for someone to come out and fix it.”

Readers have asked about the birthday party/fundraiser Melania Trump hosted for Ann Romney back on April 17th. In a nutshell, it was a great success!

Read more…

Have you heard the story about when Mitt Romney closed his company for a few days so he along with his fellow co-workers and employees could go search for a co-worker’s missing daughter in New York? What about the one where Romney (while Governor) and his boys saved a family of six and their dog from a sinking boat? Those are a couple of the character defining anecdotes that you don’t hear much of in the media that continually tries to portray him as a plastic automatron devoid of emotion and personality. Those who have studied Romney and his life know that such is not the case.

The CBS videos below touch on what is perhaps my favorite of these “personalizing” anecdotes: Mitt digging up a tree stump at a home after the San Diego fires of October 2007. Why is this one my favorite? Perhaps it’s because Mitt performed this act of service without any heraldry while he was in the midst of a presidential campaign. Or perhaps because it’s the only one we have pictures and video of the events as they unfolded, and we have the homeowner to thanks for that. Wouldn’t you take pictures if a potential future president showed up on your lawn to help out?

The reason for the CBS segment about Romney is due to a new chapter about Mitt Romney being added to a book published in 2007 called The Mormon Way of Doing Business. (The videos below are much more about Romney than Mormons.)

Video highlighting Romney digging up the stump:

Video discussion with book author Jeff Benedict (and others) discussing “stories about Mitt Romney”:

Did you get a good look at Mitt vigorously swinging that axe in the first video? I’ve been to more than a few Scout Camps and have seen both men and boys swinging an axe to chop wood. You can tell instantly if they have experience at it, and to me it’s obvious that Mitt has done this more than a few times.

For more info (and pictures) on the tree stump story check out our older posts where we have highlighted it:
MUST SEE: Mitt Romney Doing Bad Hair and Blue Jeans… in 2007!
VIDEO: Mitt Romney on the The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno
Mitt Romney has Literally Defined the Meaning of “Service” by Example
Mitt Romney’s Best Stump Speech — Examples of Servant Leadership

~Nate Gunderson

Addendum: Another good read–> The Mitt Romney You Don’t Know

For being…

Warm and witty,
selfless and spirited,
devoted and determined,
generous and genuine,
wise and well-spoken,
courageous and compassionate…

We thank you.

Birthday greetings are sent
most affectionately your way,
You truly deserve
an extra special day.

Happy birthday, Ann!

From everyone at Mitt Romney Central

Because Ann’s birthday is on the 16th and she has 16 grandchildren, and in honor of Moms everywhere, we’re asking for a $16 Happy Birthday donation to help elect Ann’s sweetheart, Mitt.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

To preserve a record for Ann, please share your birthday wishes in the comments section of this article.

UPDATE - Birthday wishes for Ann may also be sent here.

Tweet from Mitt:

From all six boys, Happy Birthday @AnnDRomney. A remarkable woman and the love of my life mi.tt/HMwWGr

The link in Mitt’s tweet is for this wonderful new video from the Romney campaign for Ann: Happy Birthday, Mom

UPDATES below the fold! Click on link below.

Read more…

Day 2…

When I first heard Democrat adviser Hilary’ Rosen’s comments about Ann Romney, I felt the same as FOX News’ Dana Perino when she heard the news: “Holy cow! This is going to explode!”

It was full-time work yesterday posting updates on the “Ann Romney never worked a day in her life” tempest (and, what I posted was a fraction of the day’s news). With such a hot potato, I also knew political cartoonists would be sketching into the night.

They didn’t disappoint.

Samples of their creativity are interspersed amongst food for thought…

Townhall -The Left’s War on Women is Actually a War on Families
By Demetrius Minor
April 13, 2012

Thanks to liberal Democrat Hilary Rosen’s vicious attack on Ann Romney claiming that she has never had a “real job”, the conservative base of the GOP is now united in one front, to call out liberalism. Ann Romney, mother of 5 boys and a survivor of multiple sclerosis and breast cancer, is a testament to the many mothers who made the selfless service of putting their families first.

This goes beyond attacking the wife of a presidential candidate. This is a vile attack on conservative women nationwide. …
[...]
President Obama wants to vocalize his support for women, but the facts say otherwise. Women employees at the White House make 18 percent less of the median salary as do male employees. According to Amy Sullivan of TIME Magazine, the Obama administration is described as a “boy’s club” and suggested that the president has a woman problem. It is reported that senior women staffers are seen and not heard during policy meetings.

It is an outrage that lefties attack women instead of having a constructive dialogue about the core issues affecting Americans today. The REAL war on women is the economic plight that they are experiencing due to big government spending, high unemployment rate, a raking deficit and a President who is opposed to job creation that will benefit many women in the U.S. today.

By Bob Gorrell - April 13, 2012

USA TODAY - Hilary Rosen says Ann Romney never worked ‘day in her life’
By Jackie Kucinich and Martha T. Moore
April 12, 2012

To Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which supports candidates who oppose abortion and endorsed Romney on Thursday, Rosen’s comment is one of “a thousand cuts” that will alienate women. “Each cut doesn’t necessarily draw blood, but over a long period of time” it will hurt Democratic candidates with female voters, she said.

By Glenn Foden - April 13, 2012

Would Hilary Rosen Have Criticized Stay-at-Home Dads as Never Having Worked?
By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
April 13, 2012

A 2008 US Census publication puts the number of married fathers who work in the home as their children’s primary caregivers at approximately 140,000. Now, would Rosen have said the same thing about these men, that they never worked a single day in their lives, or would she, as have so many others, praised them for their maternal role in putting their children first? Would she have lauded their ability to get beyond the traditional macho-man role and prioritizing their family even before their careers? So if Rosen is going to rail against a war against women, then let’s agree that a gender bias that praises men who put their kids first but punishes women for the same is an unfair assault in that battle.

By Glenn Foden - April 9, 2012

Christian Science Monitor – Ann Romney and Hilary Rosen flap …
By Linda Feldmann
April 13, 2012

According to the latest census data, about 1 in 4 women with children under 15 is not working outside the home. That is a significant voting bloc – and most aren’t wealthy like Ann Romney. Mrs. Romney herself noted on Thursday that she has had struggles of her own, particularly with her health.

In addition, Mrs. Romney has carved out an image as an appealing surrogate for her husband, complete with stories about how exhausting it was to raise five boys. Polls show her favorability rating far exceeds her negatives.

So for Obama, the Rosen comment created a PR emergency on multiple levels: She had disrespected a big voting bloc and had gone after a candidate’s wife. Team Obama pushed the panic button.

“I don’t have a lot of patience for commentary about the spouses of political candidates,” the president said.

… [S]he [Rosen] has sparked a “mommy wars” discussion that continued to rage Friday.

By Chuck Asay - April 13, 2012

Another Left-Wing Hilary Mouths Off
By Monica Crowley (FOX News contributor, Washington Times columnist)
April 12, 2012

… Ann Romney, by the way, managed to raise 5 well-adjusted sons, none of whom have been in jail or rehab. Now if that’s not a job, I don’t know what is. And she raised these 5 normal, high-achieving sons while battling MS and breast cancer. She is superwoman. But to Rosen and Team Obama, she’s someone to be targeted, polarized, mocked and humiliated. Or so they thought.

This comment and the ensuing backlash may have reversed all of the gains the Dems made with their phony “Republican war on women,” as more and more women realize that it’s the Democrats ACTUALLY waging that war.

…This IS the Left. They run on identity politics: class, race, gender. They clump us in groups, because groups are more easily controllable and because individuals are so unwieldy with those silly minds of their own. The Left is also a bunch of elitist, arrogant, dismissive, power-hungry snobs who believe that they need ever-more power and ever-more of your money because you can’t manage either. And oh yeah: they have utter contempt for traditional America and the values we hold dear.

Ladies—and gentlemen—start your engines. As of today: game on.

Before addressing the NRA today, Governor Romney introduced Ann: “I happen to believe that all moms are working moms…”

Check out another good cartoon here.

UPDATE - Wonderful commentary from Neil Cavuto: Ann Romney hasn’t had it easy

(emphasis added to articles)

► Jayde Wyatt

► This incident has caused a media and Twittersphere firestorm! Click on link at the bottom of this article for updates.

They don’t waste any time, do they?

A few months ago, a rancid Democrat plan to “kill Romney” reared its repulsive head. Now, after Governor Romney’s first full day of getting into general campaigning, we’re getting a stinky whiff of their plans for Ann Romney.

On Wednesday evening, Democrat operative/CNN political contributor Hilary Rosen spoke with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. She mockingly snarked about Ann Romney:

“Guess what? His wife [Ann Romney] has never actually worked a day in her life.”

Did you catch Rosen’s accusation that Mitt Romney is “old-fashioned when it comes to women. He just doesn’t see us as equals.” Did you also notice Paul Begala’s nod of approval and big grin when his cohort delivered the talking points? Really, I’m laughing so hard as I type this. What a sorry, ridiculous duo – spouting off ridiculous rhetoric to hide Obama’s sorry economy and ridiculous federal debt. See Vic’s article.

Setting her work record straight, Ann Romney, mother of FIVE boys, grandmother to 16 grandchildren, church, charity, and community volunteer, former Massachusetts First Lady, breast-cancer survivor, and valiant handler of Multiple Sclerosis, fired off her first campaign tweet:

I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.

— Ann Romney (@AnnDRomney) April 12, 2012

Good natured Ann is garnering high praise for her down-to-earth ability to connect with voters. Because he was losing ground with female voters, Obama operatives have been taking notes. Regarding Ann, think about it: Obama is leading a class war on successful Americans, combine that with a leftist faction that dislikes political Republican women, throw into the mix some Democrats’ disdain for working-at-home mothers and they see fresh meat to attack – on three fronts. Ann is a triple-threat.

Byron York, Chief Political Corespondent (Washington Examiner) and FOX News Contributor jumped on it:

After insult, Romney hits back with lightning speed

. . . Within seconds, Rosen’s statement that Ann Romney has “never worked a day in her life” began to burn up Twitter. Mrs. Romney, after all, had raised five children, as well as dealt with MS and cancer. That was work, no matter how much money her husband made.

The Romney campaign jumped on Rosen’s remarks with a speed that no Republican campaign has shown in the past. First, campaign staffers sent out tweets hitting Rosen. “Obama adviser Hilary Rosen goes on CNN to debut their new ‘kill Ann’ strategy, and in the process insults hard-working moms,” said top Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom. The campaign then sent out word that Rosen, who has worked for the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic organizations, is now part of the same firm, SKDKnickerbocker, as Anita Dunn, a prominent member of the Obama circle. And then came word that Rosen had visited the White House at least 35 times, according to publicly-available White House visitors logs. And then that Rosen attended last month’s state dinner at the White House.

Sensing an opportunity, the Romney campaign rolled out the big guns and had Ann Romney, who had never sent out a message on Twitter before, send out her first: “I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.” Mrs. Romney quickly had thousands of followers.

Obama machine scrambles:

The story really took off when Obama campaign officials scrambled to distance themselves from Rosen. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina tweeted: “I could not disagree with Hilary Rosen any more strongly. Her comments were wrong and family should be off limits. She should apologize.” Top Obama aide David Axelrod added, “Also disappointed in Hilary Rosen’s comments about Ann Romney. They were inappropriate and offensive.”

Rosen back-tracked but she didn’t back down. Of course not; she’s a messenger – with a dumb message.

York was impressed:

. . . Presented with an opening, Romney’s staff jumped on the controversy with impressive speed, forcing top Obama officials to respond before most people even knew there was a story. The fracas suggests that Team Romney is determined to aggressively — really aggressively — pursue any chance to press an advantage against Obama. If the president’s re-election team thought they were facing a slow-moving, not-up-to-the-task Republican rival, they learned differently Wednesday night.

See tweets here. Follow @AnnDRomney here. By the way, a new hashtag burning up twitter is #waronmoms.

Ann Responds on America’s Morning with FOX News’ Martha MacCallum – April 12, 2012:

Great interview!

VOTE in related polls posted here.

UPDATE - Since joining Twitter last night, around 10:19 AM PT Ann Romney reached 20,000 followers.

Excellent article from Townhall’s Carol Platt Liebau (hat tip to Hugh Hewitt):

Yes, yes, we know that the President is working hard to consolidate support among female voters — but Obama adviser Hilary Rosen’s remarks about Ann Romney “never work[ing] a day in her life” are cynical, shameful, appalling, divisive and above all . . . ignorant. They constitute the newest iteration of the long-running, ugly and gratuitous left-wing attack on women who have made the very important choice to stay home in order to raise their children themselves.

[article continues below fold]

Rosen has kicked off a political firestorm; click on link below for updates!

Read more…

UPDATE - Mitt Romney issued the following Easter statement:

“As we take time off of the campaign trail to gather with family and friends this Easter weekend, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the hope which he brought to all of mankind. We are thankful for our brave men and women in uniform who are serving our country in the armed forces and are away from their families on this special day and we pray for their safe return home. And may the hope and promise which we celebrate at Easter remain with all of us throughout the year.”

O, grave… Where is thy victory?

He is risen!

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,
came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake:
for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women,
Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead;
and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy;
and did run to bring his disciples word.

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail.

And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

~ Matthew 28: 1-9

Easter Song – Keith Green:

All Christianity today rejoices!

More celebration in song… To continue click on link below.

Read more…

Taking a quick hop away from the bunny trail to bring you the latest…

Here’s an intriguing look at a day with Mitt Romney through the eyes of the guy I call ‘Shadow Man’. In political speak he’s known as Mitt’s ‘Body Man’ – Garret Jackson:

Starting the Day, and Ending It, at Romney’s Side
By Ashley Parker
April 6, 2012

MILWAUKEE — Garrett Jackson and Mitt Romney are stuck together like the
peanut butter and honey sandwiches they both love.

Mr. Jackson, 25, is Mr. Romney’s “body man,” the personal assistant who spends more time with the candidate than even Mr. Romney’s wife, Ann, does. Mr. Jackson is often the first person to see Mr. Romney in the morning; the candidate is dressed and ready, waiting with his iPad, at least 15 minutes before Mr. Jackson arrives at his hotel room to fetch him. And Mr. Jackson is the last person to see Mr. Romney each night, before leaving him alone to call his wife and catch up with what Mr. Jackson calls “his fun books” — “The Hunger Games” trilogy most recently, he said.

Perhaps more than anyone else in the campaign, Mr. Jackson understands the likes and dislikes, the rhythms and moods, the quirks and habits of the famously reserved Mr. Romney. Mr. Jackson knows him so well that he recently began blogging about his days with Mr. Romney, an acknowledgment that a young, energetic and devoted aide might help voters connect to a candidate who has been called out of touch.

Mr. Jackson knows, for instance, that Mr. Romney’s preferred breakfast is McDonald’s pancakes (“We eat in the car most of the time”) and that for snacks and drinks, he likes Cherry Coke Zero, chocolate milk, water and Peanut M&Ms. Often on hand are the supplies for their beloved peanut butter and honey sandwiches.

He knows that Mr. Romney always wants a plan, so first thing each morning he lays out that day’s itinerary — everything from political events (“two town halls”) to appropriate attire (“business casual”).

“He always goes, ‘What’s up, boss?’ Or, ‘What’s up, doc?’ ” Mr. Jackson said, referring to Mr. Romney’s prompt for a schedule update. “He’s a very good listener, and then if he’s confused by something, he’ll start quizzing me.”

Mr. Jackson also knows that, more than almost anything, Mr. Romney hates being late. He views it as the ultimate politician’s affront, one of the few things that can rile him. Before the campaign started, if Mr. Jackson was running a few minutes behind in picking up Mr. Romney at his townhouse in Belmont, Mass., Mr. Romney’s bags would be waiting in a tidy pile outside the front door. “I knew that was his little nudge, his way of saying, ‘I walked out and you weren’t here; you were a little late,’ ” Mr. Jackson said.

The two once hopped out of a traffic-snarled taxi in Midtown Manhattan and sprinted — in the heat of summer, in jacket and tie, both carrying briefcases — seven blocks to a luncheon to arrive on time.

Mr. Jackson’s job is to anticipate the candidate’s every need, and his black briefcase is stocked with Sharpies, batteries, granola bars, collar stays, flag pins, hand sanitizer, Advil, Tide pens, chargers, note cards and half-eaten meals wrapped in napkins. He has offered his back as a hard surface on which Mr. Romney can sign posters and, at an event in Mason City, Iowa, Mr. Jackson dived to the floor to steady a rickety chair that his boss stood on to address a large crowd. Mr. Romney teased that Mr. Jackson only had to catch him if he fell — but a photo of Mr. Jackson crouched awkwardly, holding the chair, flooded the Web.

“After the infamous chair photo came out, he was calling me Mr. Chairman or Chairman Jackson,” Mr. Jackson said.

Jackson continues:

“I talk about his underappreciated sense of humor, the fact he’s just a normal guy,” Mr. Jackson said. “I’m always, like, ‘Gov, let me take your laundry,’ but he’d rather wash his own shirt in the sink, using an iron to dry it.”

He added, eyes wide, “I did not know that was possible.”

Mr. Romney usually does laundry once a week — either by hand in the sink or in a hotel’s coin-operated washing machine — and refuses Mr. Jackson’s attempts to send it out. “He’s so cheap,” Mr. Jackson said. “It costs, like, $5 per shirt in the hotel laundry.”

This article is an enjoyable must-read; continue here. Hats off to Mr. Jackson for taking good care of The Gov!

UPDATE – VIDEO Life of the Body Man; check out the fantastic image @1:02!

The Boston Globe published an update today on what may be going through Santorum’s mind…

Santorum moves fuel predictions he will exit

… Santorum has scheduled no public events over the holiday weekend and has made no major media buys, fueling speculation that he might quit. Polling in Pennsylvania that shows him slipping against front-runner Mitt Romney raises the prospect of an embarrassing home-state loss that could hurt his chances if he were to make a run for the nomination in 2016.

A Santorum campaign spokesman said the candidate had a busy slate of events scheduled for next week and promised that a list would be released soon.
[...]
Romney is campaigning hard in Pennsylvania, and when Election Day rolls around Santorum’s home-field advantage may have evaporated.

“He’s already lost Pennsylvania once, why not twice?’’ said Tom Parsley, 64, a construction contractor who also thinks Santorum should quit the race. Parsley twice voted for Santorum for the Senate, but could not support his third run. “The way he presented himself was just way too extreme.’’

Haven’t heard an update today on little Bella Santorum; continued prayers for her recovery…

There’s a growing consensus from Republican National Committee members:

Read more…