Why are you creating a phony strawman? Let's go to the transcript.
GREGORY: …and to talk about your husband. And to talk about how he's connected to people in your lives and in-- in your family. There was something that caught my attention, I'm sure it caught yours from the keynote speaker of the Democratic convention, which is-- sort of went to this charge that somehow neither one of you are as empathetic about what's going on in the country to people who are out of work. And the line was from-- from Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio, “You just don't know how good you've had it.” How did that sit with you?
MS. ROMNEY: Well, I think the-- the thing that I want to communicate to people, and that it's so important that people understand, is that Mitt and I do recognize that we have not had a financial struggle in our lives. But I want people to believe in their hearts that we know what it is like to struggle. And our struggles have not been financial, but they've been with health and with difficulties in-- in different things in life. And one thing that I-- that I again like to remind people is that multiple sclerosis has been my teacher. It has been at times a cruel teacher. But it has also been a great gift in my life because what it has done it has taught me to be more compassionate and caring for others that are suffering. And I know that people are suffering right now. And for people to think that we don't have empathy just because we're not suffering like they're suffering is-- is ridiculous. It’s-- it’s ridiculous to think that you can’t have empathy for somebody that’s struggling.
Our life has always been devoted to those that are struggling more than we are and I was grateful for the opportunity that we had at the convention for others to speak up and talk about the kind of lives we’ve led-- we’ve led. And in particular for Mitt who really has been demonized in many ways as being heartless. And for people to stand up and say, excuse me, he was there when my son was dying of leukemia. He came to my son’s bedside. He did all of these things for my son. And then another woman saying how Mitt was there for her. So there’re hundreds of those stories that haven’t been told. And it was refreshing to me for the American people to finally be able to see the lens through which I see my husband and the perspective in which I understand how he operates.
GREGORY: As a candidate now when was the last time you really got to spend some-- some quality time with somebody who is out of work and what did you get from them?
MR. ROMNEY: Well, actually, just last night it was I was with a person who is facing some challenge. We spent some time together and shared our personal experiences in an effort on my part to point out that we can make it through tough times. Look, that’s part of everyday life for mo-- most people. You have friends and you have acquaintances that have challenges and you talk about them. And-- and I can tell you this, my-- my life has been greatly enriched by my relationship with this young lady here and I know how well I’ve got it because I was able to marry Ann. But the reason I’m in this race is to help people. I’m not in this race to slow the rise of the oceans or to heal the planet. I’m in this race to help the American people. And this is a commitment on my part, on Ann’s part, on our family’s part, because we care very deeply about this country. And-- and I-- I really think that-- that those people that try and minimize the-- the feeling and the connection we have with the American people really miss the mark very badly and are trying to divide Americans based on who has money and who was able to achieve success and who does not have as much. And frankly Americans are not defined by whether they were successful financially or not. We’re a nation that has come together and a United America can solve that kind of challenges we have today.
Why are you making up the bvogus charge that I am offering up a strawamn?
I offered up NO strawman.
Ann Romney said that MS has been her teacher. You quoted it. Period. So that backs up what I said: She did proffer her personal struggles that she has faced as evidence that she can empathize with people.
And it then leads to Mitt: Can he personally empathize with people?
Why did they let themselves get into this?