By NBC's Peter Alexander and Ronnie Polidoro
Rock Center
The Romney brothers could soon become America’s first sons. Ranging in age from 31 to 42, their names are Craig, Ben, Josh, Matt, and Tagg – but you may have seen them spoofed on Saturday Night Live as Taggart, Tanner, Tigit, Targalac, and Tic-Tac. Which one of them is the biggest mama’s boy? NBC’s Peter Alexander found out during an interview for an upcoming Rock Center story airing Thursday, July 19 at 10pm/9c.
Just like any group of brothers, they like to pick on each other, even during their first sit-down interview of the 2012 campaign. They say Josh, the middle son, is the mama’s boy.
“Thanks guys. Let’s take it easy here,” replied Josh, one of three Romney sons who works in real estate. Another son is a doctor. The eldest runs a private equity firm like their father once did.
They are all married and have a combined total of 18 children. If Romney wins, he’ll have more grandkids than any sitting president in U.S. history.
The Romney sons grew up in Belmont, Mass., an affluent suburb outside of Boston. All of the brothers attended the same private school and later the same college, Brigham Young University. Three of them went on and received their MBA’s from Harvard, just like their father.
The boys were raised in a Mormon household where Saturdays were devoted to service. And all five followed their father’s footsteps by going overseas on two-year missions to spread their Mormon beliefs.
They are campaign veterans, on the trail stumping for their father since he first ran for Senate 18 years ago. But when it came to Romney’s second run for the White House, four of his five boys didn’t want him to run.
“I didn’t want him to run again. I really didn’t,” Matt said, “I thought you know, you gave it your best shot in 2008, you felt like you had to do it, you had to go and give back to the country and you tried, and they didn’t take you, so let’s move on.”
Matt and the others eventually came around. And again the Romney 5 have joined in Mitt Romney’s march to the White House.
Along the way, they have heard about how their father has struggled at times to connect with the public. The campaign hopes the sons can help explain some of their father’s more idiosyncratic moments, for example, when Romney told an audience, “It just feels good being back in Michigan. You know, the trees are the right height.”
“He’s a little goofy,” said Tagg, “That’s part of his charm, I think.”
But the biggest criticism is that the wealthy Romney family can’t understand the economic challenges facing the average American family. The sons insist their family and their father are not out of touch.
“We've obviously been very blessed,” Craig said, “And because of that we feel a responsibility to make sure we can do everything we can to make this country as great as it can be.”
They say they are not put off by the accusations, even within the Republican Party, that their father is aloof and a flip-flopper.
“His true identity will come out and we know what a great father he is, we know how much he loves the country, we know how much he loves our kids,” Matt said, “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.”
Editor’s Note: NBC’s Peter Alexander’s full report ‘The Romney 5’ will air Thursday, July 19 at 10pm/9c on NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams.
Leave a Comment:
some comments remind me...
you can't reason with a serial romney supporter.
What "reasoning" do you use to justify your support for Obama?
What about in 2008? What was your "reasoning" then?
oooo.... CLEVER usage of the word "serial" when referring to a Romney supporter.
It completely shuts down any further discussion as to the merits of capitalism versus socialism. I mean, what can a person say to THAT?
Actually, Here's a comment in favor of capitalism and against democrats (socialists) ... No real man would ever consider voting for a democrat, especially not a marxist democrat like barack hussein obama. Helpless, hopeless, can't work to provide for yourself - must rely on other people to do everything FOR you. C'mon dude. Use yer thinker now. The entire platform of the democrat/socialist party is a philosophy of wusses and helpless do-nothing leeches. If I were a democrat merely by family tradition, I would SERIOUSLY rethink my stance. And if I were black or some other "minority", I would RUN from the democratic philosophy. It reflects VERY BADLY on all who support that kind of moocher mentality.
Most of the time they change their user name ... but not always. If you keep files .. you will notice some of the same people defending Romney are the same ones that when their flavour of the week was on top .. were attacking Romney for the same things we are now.
Somewhere in the last couple of months .. they have decided what they dislike about Romney is really OK now.
They could care less about America and the people. It's to them just a team sport.
librals have no facts and when they have no facts to back up their arguments they just say hatefull things. just like most of the people on here do. Obama is looking out for us poor folk by raising our taxes to the highest point they have been in american history.
romney creates jobs no matter what the libral media spoon feeds you he has the proof to back it up and its still not good enough for you people. im starting to figure out that its not jobs that you people want its the government handouts.
You're dumber than a box of rocks, Lad. You need to get out of the auto parts store and go to school. If you can't afford that, then get into the military like a 'conservative' really would and then Uncle Sam will send you to college for free.
"Together, all federal taxes equaled 14.4 percent of the nation’s economic output last year, the lowest level since 1950. Add state and local taxes, and the share nearly doubles, to about 27 percent, according to the Tax Policy Center in Washington — still lower than at almost any other point in the last 40 years."
i wouldnt join the millitary just to get something free from it. i know thats how you libs mind work but not mine. the taxes will go into effect at the end of the year and someone thats as dumb as rocks can get that and not you, i wonder what that makes you?
I guess you don't work .. or you work under the table and don't pay tax.
For the people making under $250k the tax has gone DOWN.
I'll have to think that rank and file republican suports do NOT work .. or you would have noticed this on your pay check.
We had a President with "goofy charm". That would be George W. Bush. It didn't turn out very well.
Wow, all these boys?! Selective breeding? Ever heard of birth control? Just what we needed another goofball in the White House! I think George did enough damage! Obama had to show his birth certificate. The least we can expect from Romney is to reveal where he hides his money and how he made it. He might be involved in money laundering, who knows. Americans are a racist bunch, willing to give their country to a corrupt egotist, but unwilling to accept a black president, one of the most intelligent and best presidents ever!
Obama didn't show his birth certificate until AFTER he was elected.
The "most intelligent" President should be proud to show us those grades.
Please, please, please educate me on how many Presidents of the United States of America have revealed to the american public their birth certificates or their overall GPA while in college. I want to know how many did this before they were sworn in as President of the United States. Kindly also provides the names of the President.
Many thanks.
Do these FAG BAG BOYS work for a living!@#$%^. They should ask their POP HEAD to get a real JOB. Something that the WHOLE FAMILY CAN GET INVOLVE AND ENJOY McDONALDS !!!!!
Nice coherent comment
Wow!!!
Whad he say?????????????????????
Okay, I'm reading a lot about Romney's sons, serving or not serving for that matter...questions and rude comments about that, so my question to all of you criticizing Romney's boys is this...have you served, have your kids served???? We have VOLUNTARY SERVICE in this country...there has not been a draft for a long time. And before you ask the answer is YES, I HAVE SERVED, my husband has also served, our oldest daughter is now married to a Marine, our son-in-law's father is a Marine, my brother was a Marine, as was my-brother-in-law, I have uncles who served as well as grandparents who served...most of us by choice, but you can also choose not to serve, I don't believe that is something to hold against anyone regardless of who they are. If you have something against Romney...fine, but his boys serving or not serving has NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING.
It has plenty to do with everything.
Honor, commitment, and patriotism. But we see that they were not taught these things.
You may not like/approve the data, and that’s OK, but at least they are
available.
A refreshing concept.
Personal Information:
His full Name is: Willard Mitt Romney
He was Born: March 12, 1947 and is 65 years old.
His Father: George W. Romney, former Governor of the State of Michigan
He was raised in Bloomfield Hills , Michigan
He is Married to Ann Romney since 1969; they five children.
Education:
B.A. from Brigham Young University ,
J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard University
Religion:
Mormon - The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints
Working Background:
After high school, he spent 30 months in France as a Mormon missionary.
After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School
simultaneously, he passed the Michigan bar exam, but never worked as an
attorney.
In 1984, he co-founded Bain Capital a private equity investment firm,
one of the largest such firms in the United States .
In 1994, he ran for Senator of Massachusetts and lost to Ted Kennedy.
He was President and CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
In 2002, he was elected Governor of the State of Massachusetts where he
eliminated a 1.5 billion deficit.
Some Interesting Facts about Romney:
Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in
Massachusetts, turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores employing
90,000 people.
Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business miracles
again and again, with companies like Domino's, Sealy, Brookstone,
Weather Channel Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot
Supply, and many others.
He was an unpaid volunteer campaign worker for his dad's gubernatorial
campaign 1 year.
He was an unpaid intern in his dad's governor's office for eight years.
He was an unpaid bishop and stake president of his church for ten years.
He was an unpaid President of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for three
years.
He took no salary and was the unpaid Governor of Massachusetts for four
years.
He gave his entire inheritance from his father to charity.
Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest self-made men in our country but
has given more back to its citizens in terms of money, service and time
than most men.
And in 2011 Mitt Romney gave over $4 million to charity, almost 19% of
his income....
Just for comparison purposes, Obama gave 1% and Joe Biden gave $300 or
.0013%.
Mitt Romney is Trustworthy:
He will show us his birth certificate
He will show us his high school and college transcripts.
He will show us his social security card.
He will show us his law degree.
He will show us his draft notice.
He will show us his medical records.
He will show us his income tax records.
He will show us he has nothing to hide.
Mitt Romney's background, experience and trustworthiness show him to be
a
great leader and an excellent citizen for President of the United
States .
You may think that Romney may not be the best representative the Republicans could have selected. At least I know what religion he is, and that he won't desecrate the flag, bow down to foreign powers, or practice fiscal irresponsibility. I know he has the ability to turn this financial debacle that the current regime has gotten us into. We won't like all the things necessary to recover from this debt, but someone with Romney's background can do it. But, on the minus side, He never was a "Community Organizer", never took drugs or smoked pot, never got drunk, did not associate with communists or terrorists, nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for God to damn the US .
You should know the difference between the men running for America 's top office. There is nothing "goofy" about this man. NBC does a nice job campaigning for Obama.
You won't get many responses to this great piece. The Libs like to hit and run without having to defend their position.
It is mind numbimg that anyone would vote for Obama and his shady past over this great man.
So are you his side kick Dumbo? He will not show his tax returns. He spent his time hiding in a castle in France being waited on by servants. You don't know if he never got drunk or smoked pot or hiding another wife or two. He has sent good paying jobs to other countries and he does not pay his fair share of taxes. Someone who claims to want to put this country back on track should bring all his money back to this country and do his part by paying taxes on it like the middle class does. He will continue to give oil companies their tax breaks and subsidies while cutting social security and medicare. He will abolish planned parenthood and affordable health care for women. One thing I will say about him is out of the cast of clowns the republican party put forth for this election he is the goofiest even his sons think so. Yeah he'll make a great president and get plenty of laughs well we already had a president like that that used up all the reserves the country had and stole all our hard earned social security money to fund a war he started on lies and put this country so far in the hole it will take a decade to try to climb out we don't need another clown to tickle our funny bone one was enough.
gramgigi- WHAT are you talking about??? I couldn't even get past the first 3 lines.
the libs dont care if the facts are right in front of their eyes, their pride is far greater than the truth.
Show us his tax returns.
Tell us how much he has in Switzerland banks and Cayman Islands ... WE need to see how he supports America and Americans.
Pointing fingers at Obamma does NOT answer our questions.
Sorry enough goofy charming presidents already - Americas been there and done that -- and does not need it again. Goofy and charming are no excuse for ignorance and lying. I will take serious and intelligent any day !!!
REALLY???? And right about now, the USA needs GOOFY????.....Romney needs to apply for a job at Disney World....International...Maybe.....Give Us a Break.....Keep the United States of American jobs in United States of America....Keep Goofy in and at Disney!
Rick the Dick Sanitarium. The king of the Taliban Catholics and Christians. The true Allah of America. Together with Mohammed Mitt they will try to pass a law to have biblical fairy tale Creationism forced on all people as being a true science. I wonder how many of these toothless, backwoods evangelical Children of the Corn nuts still believe the earth is flat?
These freaks should be out making crop circles for the rain god.
george w bush didnt cause the housing bubble it was clintons affordable housing bill that did. it allows people even with bad credit to get a house even though the banks know they wouldnt afford it. the baks were forced by this bill to give everyone a house. goes to show how uninformed most of you are.
Oh remember when people had to protest the war to get an exemption now just let some poor boy go off to die
Giving back is appropriate, when thieves are caught they are required to make restitution for what they stole from their victims...same thing here. Unfortunate thing is that he can never replace all that he has stolen from so many people, especially their jobs, homes and when you add all the suffering he is responsible for as he attained his wealth, there is just no way he could ever "give back" enough to ever make up the difference.
Remember when you had to protest the war to get a deferment now just let some poor kid die for you
What is your deal, you act like kids are getting forced into the military...that is simply not true, you volunteer to serve...
Pathetic, psychotic, radical repukenoid dopes never listen to their leaders who warned them about the GOOF.
All braindead pathetic right wing radical cracked teanuts should listen to your leaders.
Rick the Dick Santarium has brainwashed his followers, the evangelical Children of the Corn zombies and the gay rapist, pedophile catholic priests that lyin Willardo is a member of an evil cult and is the anti-christ. He also told them that lyin Willardo is the worst person in history to ever run for the presidency, can't be trusted and will destroy our country. Groper Nutquist, the boss of the right wing cracked teanuts and Nut Gingerhead, trhe criminal lobbyist, totally agreed with the last three assessments.
So most of the evangelical sheep will probably stay home on election day or some may even vote for Obama. They are totally scared to death of lyin Willardo, the Mexican Mormon Moron tax evader, bankrupter, job outsourcer, draft dodger and Etch A Sketch champion.
Keep Goofy in Disney.....Give the USA the work and jobs back!!!!! NO other answer!!!!
Our current "commander say's cheese" is as "goofy" as they come. Check out his practiced toothy grin, his pandering stand-up comedy act, and his pin on clown ears....Oh wait.....
Talk about silly......
The boys look like upstanding young men and I'm sure Mitt is a great father but we're not talking "Father of the Year" here. We're talking about the most powerful role in the world and the "goofiness" is not going to cut it. In fact the "goofiness" will only make him look even sillier than he does already.
Yeah...and Obama looks great with his goofy smile and bowing to foreign leaders.
I DID serve and I am a female, keep Goofy in Disney!!!!
Why won't any of Mitts sons serve in the military? Must be they are too good to serve. Might have something to do with the silver spoons they were born with and being sons of a draft dodger. They have such hard lives deciding which mansion to visit and what luxury car their chauffeurs will drive today.
Did Obama serve???
@FtBrgtrnd...WELL SAID!!! You took the words right out of my mouth.
Romney will make a good President. He will bring some class to the office. History will see George Bush as the great man he is. A man with the guts of conviction. Not no whiny hand wringing apologizing song and dance man. It's a good thing we had George to see us through 911. Your memories are short just like other parts of your anatomy!!
Jack on Pot. You have a short memory dunce, which is typical of a braindead repuke idiot. Bush Bin Lyin and his criminal gang-led by President Cheney outed 2 CIA agents who wanted to tell the truth that there no WMD in Iraq. These repuke criminals started the war to benefit their oil company and defense contractor masters.
Go see the dcoumentary "Fair Game" about the criminal repukes and how they helped to destroy the lives of Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson.
And you believe that drivel? "Fair Game" Is only tripe for the "believers" . Been to Roswell lately???
When the right wing radical cracked teanuts who got elected to congress to lower taxes and cut spending got in, the first two bills they tried to pass were to get more restrictions on abortion and have fairy tale Creationism taught in public schools. The congress had a 39% approval rating before they got in, now these repuke obstructionist dunces have led to the congress having a 14% approval rating, the worst in history.
Hopefully, the right wing dopes will wake up and vote out these criminals.
They've passed over 30 bills that are sitting on Harry Reid's desk. The Dem Senate hasn't passed a budget in 4 years EVEN WHEN THEY CONTROLLED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. Obama's budgets received ZERO votes, even Dems rejected them.
Who are the obstructionists???
Just wondering what the goof is hiding by not releasing his tax statements. I guess when you are rich you can afford to go through life being goofy. Well his 5 sons that have been born with a golden spoon in their mouths the middle class doesn't have time to play how goofy can we be, we are too busy trying to save the few jobs and decent pay that is left after the charmer sends many good ones to another country. We also are not out there trying to find a way to not pay our fair share of taxes. Your parents don't have a clue what it's like to watch good places close and friends and neighbors struggle to hang on to their homes so of course you will never understand either. Pops should continue to entertain his family with his antics and leave running the country to someone who is serious about trying to save whats left of the middle class.
Let's talk about goofy dad's magic underwear sometime.
Ooo. Yes, lets! What a loser you are. You're either a "former Mormon" or some kind of ultra-bigoted evangelical seeking attention by presenting Mitt Romney's underwear for discussion. How intelligent of you. Are you a Baptist perhaps? Your comment doesn't paint you as a pro-obama, pro-socialist person, but rather as an angry, bitter, loser evangelical who would rather see obama win a second term than for a Mormon to be voted into the White House. You are a bigot, you have no purpose, and you are fool.
You want to talk about underwear? What are you, 7?