The firestorm over Hilary Rosen’s Ann Romney comments spilled over into a conference call with Republican congresswomen this morning, as they shot back at the Democratic strategist and claimed the Obama campaign bears some responsibility for her remarks.
The Wall Street Journal reported in February Rosen was brought on as a consultant for Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. According to Romney-backer Rep. Cynthia Lummis, Rosen gave no indication that she was “freelancing” when she attacked Ann Romney’s work record on “Anderson Cooper 360″ last night.
“Clearly [the Obama campaign is] using surrogate women, including Hilary Rosen who is a paid spokesperson, to deliver messages about Republicans that the president does not want to deliver himself for fear of the backlash,” she said.
The DNC denied the two-month-old Wall Street Journal report today, saying it had no relationship with Rosen. Spokesperson Bob Woodhouse told the Miami Herald that the DNC’s contract “is exclusively with Anita Dunn.” Rosen works at Dunn’s firm, SKDKnickerbocker, so that elucidation doesn’t really mean much (fun fact: SKDKnickerbocker is also the firm that represents Sandra Fluke).
This is a critical moment for the Obama campaign as it attempts to publicly define Mitt Romney as uncaring, out-of-touch, weird, awkward, and far right-wing. Ann Romney helps counter all of that. She’s widely liked, charming, and down-to-earth, and she’s been playing a major role in softening her husband’s image and reaching out to women voters. In other words, she’s a threat to Obama’s reelection chances. While the Obama campaign can’t chip away at her image directly, it can have ostensible outsiders do it for them. Whether that’s what happened in this case is yet to be determined, but judging from DWS’s apologetic tweet today, the DNC is trying to untangle itself from this damaging controversy as quickly as possible.
The Democrats accuse Republicans of waging a “war on women.” I suggest that this is nothing more than projection on their part, and the Dems are waging their own war on women who have the temerity to be stay-at-home moms. n nLiberals claim to be all about “choice.” Unless, of course, a heterosexual woman chooses to have children and raise them by staying at home. n nOf course, the powers that be in the Obama campaign will deny that they are behind Rosen's rant. Sorry, but when they do, I'll be hearing the wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Call it a dog whistle if you like.
This may not be the home-run that Republicans think it is. How many nannies did Ann hire while she was raising her five boys? Since she drives several Cadillacs, I'm guessing she also has/had help around the house. Just saying…
How many has Michelle had! And her job for the Chicago Annenburg branch was a paying, non-working "job" – they "couldn't afford" for her NOT to have! $$$$$$$$$
Agreed. I'm just saying it's not a total home-run. Women who "work in the home" generally forgo nannies and cleaning ladies. Michelle Obama never claimed to be working in the home. For Ann to say that raising five kids is hard work begs the question — how hard was it for Ann? The answer, I'm guessing, isn't going to be anything that middle-class stay-at-home moms will relate to.
Comrade, your hatred for the kulaks is showing again. You Commies blasted Palin because she declined to stay home raising her five kids, now you are denouncing nAnn Romney because she never worked. The Romneys may or may not have employed nannies and cleaning ladies. HERE'S A CLUE– it is none of my business, and none of yours. this is still a free country for a while yet. you can open up the labor camps after you take the guns away from free Americans. All I have to say is, Molon Labe.
DWS is the main spokesman for the DNC, I can't imagine any statement they make is anything more that obfuscation or outright lie. n nIt seems clear that the Obama people are orchestrating their attempt at retaining power, and their methods appear remarkably similar to those of totalitarian regimes. Contempt for the people expressed by consistent inconsistency, blatant mockery of the opposition, and a media that actively supports their message. n nConservative intellectuals are starting to come around to see the depth of dishonesty and malice on the part of the Left but are still bound by honor to provide a benefit of doubt. Having spent over 10 years deeply involved with "intellectual" Leftists online, I have no more doubt … one thing is consistent: their trajectory goes from bad to worse.
Speaking at the Women's Economic Forum, Obama said that it's a luxury to be a stay-at-home mother – "Once I was in the state legislature, I was teaching, I was practicing law, I’d be traveling. And we didn’t have the luxury for her not to work.” Today on Huffington Post, Hilary Rosen said, "I admire women who can stay home and raise their kids full-time. It is a wonderful luxury to have the choice." Coincidence?
Would she have dared say it WITHOUT the approval of Odrama Queen? NO! Of course not!
It's a good gift to the Rs, something to wrap around D pieties. Plus Mrs. Romney is great political asset to Mitt Romney. Rosen's stupidity just made her an even better one.