NBC's Alexander to Romney Sons: 'Are You Out of Touch?'

NewsBusters.org ^ | July 20, 2012 | Kyle Drennen

[Kaslin]

Earlier in the segment, Alexander explained the role of the sons: "For a candidate who at times has struggled to connect, the campaign hopes the sons can also help explain some of their father's more idiosyncratic moments." In a preview of the interview on Thursday's Today, Alexander proclaimed: "For a candidate who's been called aloof, even awkward, the Romney boys help highlight their father's human side."

NBC's Alexander to Romney Sons: 'Are You Out of Touch?'

In one line of questioning in the wide-ranging interview, Alexander bizarrely jumped from asking about their missionary work to grilling them on why they didn't serve in the military: "...they all went overseas on a two-year mission to spread their Mormon beliefs. All of you served your church going on missions. Did you ever consider serving your country by putting on a uniform, by serving in the military?"

After Matt Romney described how they "look at those guys [in the military] with a tremendous amount of respect" Alexander turned to Ben Romney and pressed: "Ben, do you regret you never served? Do you?" Ben, a doctor, replied: "I'm in residency and I spend a lot of my time at the VA hospital. I get to work with vets who have made great sacrifices for this country and I look at their lives and hopefully I get to serve them a little bit, too."

Near the end of the segment, Alexander tried to get the sons to react to attacks against their father: "They've called your dad a flip-flopper. They have said that he was aloof. Newt Gingrich called him a liar. Does any of that stuff sting at any point?...What got under your skin?"

Matt Romney dismissed such attacks: "...we know what a great father he is, we know how much he loves the country, we know how much he loves our kids, you know, his grandkids. It's not ambition that's driving him, it is really a desire to give back. And this is how he thinks he can give back and we agree."

Following the interview, host Brian Williams wondered: "The nice way of putting it is they don't make kids like that anymore. And the cynical way of putting it is they don't make kids like this anymore. So can they be that earnest? What are they really like?"

Alexander observed:

I think it's fair to say that they are guarded, they know they're role in this campaign, there's only so many places that they will go in the course of the conversation, and talking policy is not one of them. Talking Mormonism is another one that they're not as comfortable talking about....as the scrutiny gets a little bit more intense, you can see those moments where they start to realize this is the big leagues and the family has definitely put up its guard.

Here are portions of the July 19 interview:

10:23PM ET

(...)

PETER ALEXANDER: For a candidate who at times has struggled to connect, the campaign hopes the sons can also help explain some of their father's more idiosyncratic moments.

MITT ROMNEY: This feels good being back in Michigan. You know, the trees are the right height, the streets are just right.

TAG ROMNEY: He's a little goofy and that's just, you know, that's part of – part of his charm I think.

ALEXANDER: We were with him recently and he said, "I was guffawing when I looked at this old picture."

MITT ROMNEY: I'd lost it. I was completely guffawing.

ALEXANDER: Like when you hear him say some of those things, or at one point he was with you guys recently where he said, "I love them like they're my own sons, and they are my own sons."

CRAIG ROMNEY: It's the same corny jokes we grew up with, I mean, we're used to it. It's just kind of part of his personality.

ALEXANDER: We read that there was scripture in mornings – that each morning you started the morning with scripture. Tell me about, Craig, tell me about that, if you would.

CRAIG ROMNEY: You know, the scriptures every morning, I think, is a stretch.

[LAUGHTER]

ALEXANDER: But like their father, they all went overseas on a two-year mission to spread their Mormon beliefs. All of you served your church going on missions. Did you ever consider serving your country by putting on a uniform, by serving in the military?

MATT ROMNEY: You know, I think we can look at the guys that serve in the military, the men and women, and just say that's the biggest sacrifice you can make for your country. It's just, it's nothing any of us did, but we look at those guys with a tremendous amount of respect.

ALEXANDER: Ben, do you regret you never served? Do you?

BEN ROMNEY: You know, I look at my life that I'm leading right now, and I'm in residency and I spend a lot of my time at the VA hospital. I get to work with vets who have made great sacrifices for this country and I look at their lives and hopefully I get to serve them a little bit, too.

(...)

ALEXANDER: Politically, the image of this attractive, well-to-do family cuts both ways. Their life of privilege, plus a reported $100 million trust fund, continues to draw harsh scrutiny in a campaign season focused on the economy. The criticism is that a family like yours, the Romneys, can't really understand what the average American family is dealing with right now. I guess the question, very simply put, Matt, is, are you out of touch?

MATT ROMNEY: I mean, it's hard for us to obviously tell you that we're very much in touch, but we are. I mean, you know, we have problems just like everybody else. Health challenges, there's challenges with your kids.

CRAIG ROMNEY: You know, we've obviously been very blessed, and because of that, we feel a responsibility to make sure we can do everything we can to, you know, make this country as great as it can be.

ALEXANDER: The press and politics can be a tough place. They've called your dad a flip-flopper. They have said that he was aloof. Newt Gingrich called him a liar. Does any of that stuff sting at any point?

MATT ROMNEY: It's funny, we know our Dad so well that when you hear that stuff you just, you kind of shrug it off because we know who he really is.

ALEXANDER: No one ever said anything that you said, "Alright, alright, enough already." That you felt some obligation to shake the screen or to yell at somebody?

ROMNEY: Of course, of course, things that people say, I mean, you can't...

ALEXANDER: What got under your skin?

ROMNEY: ...you take certain things personally at times.

ALEXANDER: What got under your skin?

ROMNEY: But ultimately-

[LAUGHTER]

TAG ROMNEY: But ultimately-

ALEXANDER: Nice, nice, appreciate it.

MATT ROMNEY: But ultimately, you just kind of go, you know, it's okay because you know his true identity will come out and we, we know what a great father he is, we know how much he loves the country, we know how much he loves our kids, you know, his grandkids. It's not ambition that's driving him, it is really a desire to give back. And this is how he thinks he can give back and we agree.

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Peter Alexander, in off the campaign trail, with us for just one night. The nice way of putting it is they don't make kids like that anymore. And the cynical way of putting it is they don't make kids like this anymore. So can they be that earnest? What are they really like?

ALEXANDER: I think it's fair to say that they are guarded, they know they're role in this campaign, there's only so many places that they will go in the course of the conversation, and talking policy is not one of them. Talking Mormonism is another one that they're not as comfortable talking about. But the truth is, they seem to be a pretty good group of guys, they enjoy themselves, they've been nice to us, to the reporters that follow them throughout the course of this campaign trail. But as the scrutiny gets a little bit more intense, you can see those moments where they start to realize this is the big leagues and the family has definitely put up its guard.

WILLIAMS: Fascinating conversation. Back on the campaign with you, thank you for stopping in with us. Peter Alexander.

[ClearCase_guy]

“Excuse me, Mr. Alexander, I was just wondering ... I’m picking up a certain vibe — have to ask: are you a child molester? Because you just seem like one.”

[SatinDoll]

They’re like any other wealthy, close knit family.

Notice, however, that we never hear anything about Mitt from his sisters?

[DesertRhino]

Out of touch with regular Americans? You mean like being raised by an assortment of actual communists in Hawaii, before moving to Indonesia for several years, studying in a massadra, and setting foot on mainland USA for the first time at age 18, having the Saudis bribe your way into Harvard, and then have a deep personal friendship with weather underground terrorists?

That kind of “out of touch” what you mean?

PS,,,i forgot about Kobe steak every night.

[FlingWingFlyer]

If anyone is “out of touch” with America it’s the MSM.

[DesertRhino]

And i missed the story about Peter Alexander’s military service? Surely he must have served, to dare ask them why they havent. And i missed the story about Chelsea Clinton, or the Gore kids being interrogated about their lack of military service. Pelosis kids? Any Kennedy AFTER JFK?

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

How much do YOU make, Mr. Alexander? Are we allowed to ask that question?

[Mount Athos]

I’m sure this journalist will have an equally tough line of questioning for the Obama kids. NOT!!!

[cricket]

Liberals, so rooted in the 'inauthentic'; are definitely confounded; when they meet, the 'genuine'; and totally authentic. . .

Cannot know; what you have never had. . .Liberals are their 'own' lesson. . .They can only assume and ascribe the worst of motives to others. It is not only 'what they know'; it is all they know. . .

[MrChips]

"Before joining NBC News, Alexander worked as the lead reporter and substitute evening anchor at KCPQ-TV in Seattle, Wash. During the 2000 presidential campaign and election, Alexander interviewed President George W. Bush, former Vice President Al Gore and Sen. John McCain. Alexander’s celebrity interviews include actress Angelina Jolie, Olympic Gold Medalist Apolo Ohno and author Stephen King. Prior to KCPQ-TV, Alexander worked at KHQ-TV in Spokane, Wash. and WKYT-TV in Lexington, Kentucky."

Mmmmm. No mention of military service there!

[The_Media_never_lie]

"They've called your dad a flip-flopper. They have said that he was aloof. Newt Gingrich called him a liar. Does any of that stuff sting at any point?...What got under your skin?"

Who is this "they"? If you are going to attack Romney, just go out and attack him. Why the need for the strawman? Why not give "they" a face and name?

And the cynical way of putting it is they don't make kids like this anymore. So can they be that earnest? What are they really like?"

My gosh, I can't believe this crap! What is Obama really like?

Alexander observed: I think it's fair to say that they are guarded,

And why shouldn't they be guarded when dealing with the media? They are on Obama's side.

[Humbug]

Exactly, was thinking the same thing. Off the top of my head i can’t think of too many groups of people that are as unrepresentative of mainstream America as the MSM.

[Nifster]

Oh I don’t know. My guess is that the Romney’s aren’t veru much like the Kennedys. Whatever else is true about mittens, he sure is no drunkard or druggie

[goodnesswins]

Frankly, Peter...I can call you Peter, right?....I don’t give a damn

[IrishPennant]

Oh good...let's make it fair game and open season on candidate's children.

I have salvos of crap I would love to put out on the current child occupants in the White Hut...like who is their real daddy, seeing how the purple lipped bastard preferred tube steak over seafood.

[SatinDoll]

You don’t have to be a drunkard or druggie to be hated by your relatives.

Former employees at Bain have described him as mean and spiteful.

Granted, that may be sour grapes, but look at how he treats Gov.Sarah Palin and her family.

If Gov.Romney had true political sense, he would offer her the VP slot. He treats her as an enemy; well, you keep your enemies close and he is being stupid by not doing so. Making her his VP for the next four years would be an excellent way to attract conservative support, yet at the same time neutralize her influence for that period of time.

He is missing a great political opportunity by not drawing her into his inner circle. By not doing so he looks as though afraid of her, and thus weak.

[pistolpackinpapa]

Your Post #2: ROFLMAO....

[pistolpackinpapa]

Notice, however, that we never hear anything about Mitt from his sisters?
________________________________________________________________________________________

And your point is.............

[Kaslin]

What exactly is your point?

[Kaslin]

Great minds think alike :)