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.
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if u ask me hes just plain stupid
I agree, but the Liberals were too infatuated to look into his past of ZERO accomplishments.
I have just two things to say: OBAMA 2012!!!!!!!!!
Yeah! W was goofy and look where that got us! Just what this country needs to finish us off - another charming goofy Republican President.
agreed...Goofy is not very statesman like and Lord knows we need a man with stature and grit...
5 sons...They are all married and have a combined total of 18 children. That's 23 more people which were created by only 2 people. Just think if everyone in the world did this. These people and many, many others are blinded by religion. Over-population is a real problem and will only get worse. Religion is the root of all the worlds problems...
Unlike certain other people...they actually SUPPORT their kids and don't look to government to do it.
Yes we have population problem but I am not going to complain about families that have the money having large families when I look out my window and see large families in an area where I know they are not making enough to support them. As well as watching them run around the area with out being watched. Also I am the oldest of 5, about the same age as his kids. Back then having five was not an issue.
westbury...Romney supports his kids by outsourcing jobs and destroying lives of families. Literally taking homes away, food, and their families being split apart because of his actions. Not to mention hiding money all over the world avoiding paying his fair share of taxes, causing the middle class and poor to pick up the tab. Romney supports the Ryan Plan which makes the middle class and poor pay for even bigger tax breaks for the Romney rich.
Oh yeah, goofy is a family man, a family destroyer man.
Stars,
You are a fool and the perfect uninformed person that Dems are counting on. The bus will be there to pick you up on election day. Don't forget your ID
Ruth-2148288---Really...There is still an issue here...His 5 kids have already spit out 18 more. That's almost 4 kids per person. If those 18 kids produce just 3 a piece that will be 54 more people. I definately still see a problem.
To what population problem are you referring?? One you made up?
Well, Lis, they have money and can support their families. However, earth cannot support them. Will the very rich be the only ones to get food on their table because it costs so much.
No, the earth cannot support the ultra large families anymore.
Romney is the greatest flip-flopper of them all. He also was the father of the Affordable Care Act, or should we say "Romneycare". But he even tries to deny that!! BTW--where's your tax returns Mr. Mitt...we sure would like to see those!! And also since they want to see the President's college grades, we might as well see yours as well (do you have any???) I bet I know whose will BE BETTER!!! Sure not the "retroactive" President of Bain, lol!
So you agree we should see the President's college records? What could possibly be in them that he would go through the trouble of an Executive Order to seal them????
So you agree we should see the President's college records? What could possibly be in them that he would go through the trouble of an Executive Order to seal them????
Westbury....show me proof that Bush ever finished "my Pet Goat", you know the book Bush kept reading while nation was under attack. You know the book Bush was reading and froze when America was being attacked.
I just asked Bin Laden if he thinks Obama needs to show his college records, he answered..."gurgle gurgle blub blub."
Oh yeah Bin Laden....nothing else matters now.
I asked a simple question. Are you curious wahat Obama's thesis was about...what his grades were...why he got accepted at Columbia after he said he was a goof off in school?
How could Romney be any worse than the last 3.5 years? I'll take 'goofy' over socialist any day.
Of course, I prefer my president to make an appearance with Jerry Springer and make references to his pot-smoking "choom" gang. Because that is certainly not goofy and is actually kind of cool.
But let's mock Romneys' hair (because you have lost yours), lets mock his sons (because yours are troublemaking losers or skinny-jeans wearing hipsters), lets make false attacks on Bain (because the DNC controls your every thought), and lets simply forget about the dismal economy (because its not Obama's job to fix it...its all Bush's fault).
Correct me if I'm wrong, didn't read the whole article, but, neither of these elite, golden boys have spent one day in our active Military, or Reserves? I wonder why.
Let me help a a few of you before you get started, Malia (born 1998) and Sasha (born 2001), are not of Military age, and personally I didn't want either of my 3 daughters in the Military either. Rape against females in our Military is horrendous.
OBAMA/BIDEN/HOLDER....2012
Of course they haven't served anything but the Mormon church. It just doesn't quite count for most of us.
How long did Obama serve???
What I desired when George W. was in office was for his two daughters to walk into the oval office and say, "Dad, we've joined the Army."
I didn't know that serving in the military was a requirement. And please, as another has mentioned, tell us about Obama's military service.
No bigger goof than Obama. Demanding Romneys records but show none of his own.
I think Mitt Romney is a nice guy. I also think it is nice NONE of his kids had to choose the National Guard or Selective Service as a way out. I also think it is nice to have ENOUGH money not to worry about health insurance, retirement benefits, housing, food, and other stuff like that. I think it would be nice IF any of those pompous a##$#$ we call senators and congressman (woman) had a CLUE about how most people have to live, EVEN my sister, who makes a good 6 figure salary UNDERSTANDS how tough immigrants have it and how tough it was for women and minorities to get where they are. I think Mitt, UNLIKE most of the Tea Party Repbulicans, really is a nice guy. IF I had a billion dollars, I'd be the nicest guy on the planet, aw shucks, EVEN nicer than I am now, living week to week.
It would be nice to "have" a billion dollars?? You do realize he EARNED his money. It doesn't just appear and he suddenly "has" it. Try working a little harder instead of festering in your bitter jealousies.
So, westbury64, let me get this straight...you're voting for Obama in November?
??????????????
and not one son will join the miliatry even though thier dad is a war-monger. Only poor people have to fight the rich man's wars.
Didn't we already have a goofy president "W". Look where that got us.
Romney is a war monger? Hmm.
About 0.1% of our population serve in the military. That means that 0.1% are taking care of the privliged 99.9%. Shame on us!!
When do these boys enlist?
Is that a requirement now????
Not when you are rich and a Romney.
It's a requirement if they have an ounce of patriotism.
Obviously they don't.
Did Obama serve????
His sons all look about the same age???
Who cares about his kids ? Need to show the video footage of the used car salesman telling reporters that his sons were doing their patriotic duty by campaigning for him instead of joining the military. (while two wars were going on)
Just the fact he said that a person was or could be patriotic by helping a politician get nominated just seems insanely disrespectful.
(while two wars were going on)...or about to.
According to your reasoning, everyone elses kids joined the military during this same time period. What percentage of the U.S. actually serve? Lets esimate on the high side 800,000 service men divided by a population 5 bil, that's 0.1 % of the population that serve in the military. That means 99.9% of the country are not pulling our own weight.
Did Obama serve in the military? Doe this answer the qustion why Romney's sons never served. They are sons and not president.
No President Obama did not, and, I don't believe anyone, including me, said anything of Romney serving, we are questioning why none of his sons have EVER served. Read my post at #37 above.
OBAMA/BIDEN/HOLDER....2012!!!!
I think for the past 3 1/2 years he has served as CIC. The difference between Obama and Romney is there was no draft for the former and the latter received some kind of religious deferrment to serve in France. That just isn't somone I want leading the country. The Mormon church, okay, but not the country
Mittens said his sons can best serve America by serving him. Mittens dodged the Viet Nam war draft, just like "W" and Cheney.
During the time of the draft in the United States, Mormons were exempt from the military only while they were serving as missionaries. Therefore, Mr. Romney sons ages 31-42 chose the easy and safe way out. As a missionary, you can go to any country to preach the gospel.
If the American public will eventually see Mr. Romney's true identify -- then who have we seen all these years. Who is that person and why does Mr. Romney find it necessary to hid his true identify. Something is wrong with this picture.
I agree, goofy may be nice back at the family mansion, but not for the president of the USA. As for a nice story- wake up, this is pure election time propaganda designed obsure the fact that a romney white house ensures more hard times for American workers!
Yeah..because the good times have been rolling since Obama was elected.
I am sorry I would not vote for him, due to Bain. He is just as bad as Governor Scott here in Florida. promise jobs, but there are none.
What about Bain???? It's OK that Obama was in a racist anti-semetic church for 20 years but Bain is enough to lose your vote????
Well, that and he is a Mormon. Can't have a false prophet leading the country.
After reading for a few minutes, I'd say that westbury64 is earning that lil' paycheck/stipend as a paid Rmoney shill. Which is it, westie? Is the past fair game for both candidates, or only when it is convenient to drag out? What difference on earth does seeing the president's college transcripts make? He is clearly more intelligent and as well educated as anyone in his current position...what do you expect to see in his transcripts?
There is that "more intelligent" comment again. Based on what??? If he's so intelligent let's see his 4.0 GPA. If I ecall correctly, Romney received academic awards for his achievements. What academic awards did the "most intelligent" President ever receive?
As for the past being fair game...I'm all for it but unfortunately the media thinks Romney's investments are more important than the true political beliefs that might be in a young adult's college thesis.
As for being a paid shill....give me a break. You Libs just hate when someone challenges your ridiculous comments.
Sheila-846240 said:"Well, that and he is a Mormon. Can't have a false prophet leading the country."
Romney has never claimed to be a prophet. Your comment is totally lame and bigoted.
Lis, it was a bait for westbury. Got you too, huh?
Obama dominating amongst the Fiberals in the Empire State...Siena poll out today says he leads Romney 61%-34% in New York.
See, there's really no upside to going with a squishy moderate in 2012...it's not going to win him votes in these liberal states, they're always going to pick the Democrat or someone more radical.
The one chance is to run a real rightwinger like Reagan, who won New York twice, while running on tax cuts for all and defeating the Soviet Union, and convince the populace to come over to your side.
Well. At least Mitt is not the only Romney who makes stupid statements. I think we need Mrs. Romney to run and Mitt can be First goof.
It's funny how you people have such hatred for someone just because of their politics. How does that work for you?
Romney could be the 2nd coming of Mother Theresa and you would still bash him just because of his party affiliation.
I think you are all discriminating against him because of his religion. When do the liberals start preaching about open-mindedness and acceptance of all???
They only preach acceptance of the things they agree with.
Chris...no.....The story is about Romney being "Goofy" we agree...too goofy!
Sad that the negative posts on here about Romney have no substance. Basically just a bunch of people saying, "I don't like rich white men". "Obama is cool". Doesn't matter that Obama's policies' have failed and that he has cost us more than 5 trillion in debt in just 3 1/2 years. Doesn't matter that he invested billions of dollars of taxpayers money into companys that outsourced thousands of jobs. Doesn't matter that just about all of his promises have been lies. Yup, Obama's cool. I could hang with him, so I will vote for him again. Sad, sad people.
Goofy as a snake. Greg Marmalade from Animal House all grown up.
What "charm" are they speaking of?
We've had goofy..........remember George W. Bush? We do not need another one. It'll take us years to recover from him and the Republican party boys. We need exactly what we have in office right now - a President who cares about all Americans.......not just the rich.
Goofy does not even scratch the surface. Pay attention young, Mormon girls - here are 5 young millionaires looking for obedient, subserviant wives. Must have no minds or opinions of their own, however.
And this opinion is based on what? Angry member? Friend of an angry member? Your church teaches classes on the evils of the Mormon church (instead of how to live a more Christ like life)? You are anti-religion and any one that chooses to follow the dictates of thier convictions must be a fanatic? I would just like to know where you are coming from.