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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Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are in divorce court. Mickey says to the judge "Your honor, I didn't say she was acting a little crazy, I said she was F$#%'ing Goofy!"
romney will show his tax returns he already said he will but only if obama would show his collage trancrpits but obama wont agree on that deal.
your so stupid...where did you get this lie? please, enlighten me? give me a specific source, website, newspaper with page number that your heard about this...and pawlease....don't quote "not the facts" news you loser...
Josh.... why should he show his college transcripts? Has old woody showed his... and he refuses to show his tax returns because he has something to hide. The duh one here is old wooden Rompey and his cohorts! LOL
Go figure. He raises his children as nice, clean cut young men, who are very well educated and the liberals are hate them. Libs are nothing more than a bunch of hypocrital whack jobs.
well, when daddy is a job decreator and invented outsourcing, and closes factories down for his own gains, and profits from other peoples misery, it is easy to take care of the kids..like a mob boss..
and another thing, all of you rightie plants from the RNC need to get out of this forum, we like to slam Willard here w/o being contested..ya' all hear?
Wow you are a liberals wet dream. Try educating yourself and reading your own information on Bain. EVERY private equity group or venture capitalist buys and sells entity's. The ones Obama keeps cramming down your throats are the companies that are ALREADY in dire financial straights and are going to close anyway or liquidate under a chapter 7. Bain and numerous other, (quite a few are owned by liberals by the way and donate significantly to Obama) buy them at rock bottom and sell off what they can. Try focusing on the many companies they saved and turned around, thus creating jobs. Outsourcing, what major companies don't? I bet you love your Dell, IBM and Microsoft products. If I can increase my profits by 15% by outsourcing, guess what, it's done. Our government needs to incentivize companies to stay here and penalize those who don't. Don't blame a smart, well educated businessman for being smart and well educated.
they can't get it done because of all the righties you moron....
Mitt Romney is probably a great dad. He certainly has provided his family with all they could ever want. The dedication of his sons is admirable.
But for the nation, Mitt Romney isn't the best choice we can make. Since the Republicans have failed to provide a real contender for the presidential election, the choice is easy for me.
Mitt has brought 5 sons and through them 18 grandchildren into a world that is coming to grips with limited resources. Parentage of large families because you can afford it is not the sort of ethos I want in my president. I think he should spend more time with his family and not at the White House.
Agreed - having more than two children is environmentally irresponsible. Are you concerned about poverty? Healthcare? Clean water? The economy? The ecology? Most of these issues would be much easier to solve if we could substantially reduce our global population.
Sir Nikon and The Lunatic
Are you saying we should have a law now stating how many children we can have? Are you now going to start talking about a system used in China and have a law that states one child per household? You are now talking about infringing on personal and private freedoms.
The Lunatic - When referring to the Global Environment and Population, When did the US become the center of the World! There are so many other countries out there that don't care about either and you can't stop them. I believe you need to re-evaluate our importance, you make the US sound like we are the only ones on this planet that can do anything. We do not need Socialism/Marxism/Communism in this country. I prefer Freedom (and it doesn't come FREE)
With freedom comes responsibility. Yes, American's are "free" compared to most of the rest of the world but we are horribly irresponsible when it comes to resource utilization. I believe we need to be global leaders in this area and set a good example.
The Lunatic
With Freedom comes Freedom. You can set an example if you want to, and I am not saying we shouldn't, but I shouldn't have to due to my freedom. I do all I can personally for the environment, however, I don't agree with a tax for it. I already pay just to have the recycle people come to take it away the recycling. (I am referring to the "Al Gore Tax." It won't help, we will just be poorer and other countries would love to pick up where we leave off.
I know some other countries have stricter laws, however, you don't see others that don't racing to do the same. It is just a fact! I hope we come to utilize our natural resources better, stop relying on foreign oil and become more responsible. But I don't believe in taxing everyone to make it that way in the US...We already have a Tax just to keep breathing...Obamacare! And it is costing our family a fortune in new insurance premiums (that we now cannot afford!)
Who the heck said anything in this thread about extra taxes? Emilymdare seems to be responding to a different discussion.
Do you want a guy leading the country that believes a man by the name of Joe Smith found some gold tablets in a hole (that no one has ever seen) and has leaders that speak to God daily (personally have conversations wit him).
They area cult..just take the tour in Salt Lake City sometime and at the end of the tour, they ask you for name, address, telephone number etc etc etc...then get mad when you don;t give it to them...cult...not as good as Blue Oyster Cult, but a cult none the less...
On the other hand, you have to admire any religion who's motto is "I don't care how many you bring, just Bring 'em Young!"
Mussolini was goofy, too.
Your dad is not charming. The worst president for this country is one who is dishonest. We do not need a millionare president. Or another spoiled brat who thinks that being a president gives them the right to be the ultimate decider.
However we do need someone who has the brains to fix the economy. Obama the brainless wonder has no clue.
Romney 2012 We need his ability.
Need his ability to do what??? Outsource jobs??? Any fool can do that and Rompey did. LOL Need him for nothing!!! If it were up to him banks would be gone, car industry would be gone, and we'd all be living in the streets, while he lives on the beach with his car elevator.
Obama/Biden 2012!!! FOR SURE!!
did anyone notice that all 5 of Romney’s sons appear to be the same age?
On the planet Mormon, you're born that age
Romney is goofy. Pinned down & assaulted a terrified teenager,
walked a blind man into a closed door,
strapped the family dog to the roof of the car.
Businessman who has laid off thousands of people.
Cancelled their health insurance.
Took their pensions.
Paid himself millions.
He laughed and laughed. Yeah Goofy.
Meanwhile Obama was getting money to pay for his college from where? He was busy blowing cocaine and traveling around the world without ever having a job. Of course he did enjoy eating a dog now and then when growing up as child in Indonesia.
Lurch: Please document who's pensions Romney took. You liberal nuts need to start providing facts for your diatribe. It's getting old. And your President has not touted ONE accomplishment that the majority of tax payers are happy with. Hmmm, see you Barry. I guess you would be happier if we elected a welfare recipient who is really in touch with those that don't contribute $hit to society and their kids could run around the White House like a zoo. We finally have a smart, well educated person who has done a great job raising and educating his children and you people still find a way to bit$h.
GST Steel, Bain leveraged up debt and took that money out in the form of immediate profits and management fees leaving the company floundering in debt. Pensions were strip mined away, then they were fired. There is nothing laudable about this type of capitalism. It's predatory and corrosive to the fabric of society.
CEO Mitt Romney acquired AMPAD for 5 million dollars. The Chronicle-Tribune newspaper of Marion Indiana reported that Romney fired ALL, that's right, every single AMPAD employee and took the workers' pension money; Then Romney paid creditors .002 on the dollar, and sold the company's assets for 100 MILLION dollars.
Pensions that had to be paid back by the government pension guarantee corporation. <<<<That's us, our tax dollars.
My link won't show but Google
Romney's steel skeleton in the Bain closet
@ Larry
Nice innuendo, Larry. Got any links to credible stories to support your wet dreams?
If you want to compare brainpower of Obama and Romney, look no further than how they react to people less fortunate than they are. Romney suggests making the rich richer will help the poor - maybe in a closed Mormon community. Obama cut his political teeth on helping the poor (http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-02-20-3608179635_x.htm ). Wise folks help the less fortunate, greedy folks side with the wealthy.
Now listen closely, Larry. Obama paid for college with grants, scholarships, jobs and loans, much like any other smart college student (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/behind-obamas-definition-of-wealth-and-paying-off-student-loans-2/ ).
Come on, Larry, when are YOU going to get an education?
How many of the 5 son's serve in the military? I have always understood, a one and only son not serving, but not 1 out of 5. Just find it odd. Also, I had to show 3 years of tax returns to get a mortgage, so I think a candidate should show theirs. It is a big deal.
excellent point..I had to show 3 years also....
I paid cash for my home; therefore i didn't have to show any.
@Jack
What are we to make of that comment, Jack?
I read: "Because I am rich enough to pay for my home without needing a mortgage I can avoid scrutiny by another entity."
By extension, Romney doesn't have to come clean since he is wealthy.
Correct me if I read the subtext incorrectly.
Your ignorant comment was directly attributable to having to provide proof of income in order to qualify for a mortgage. I did pay $675,000 for my home and did not need a mortgage; therefore, I did not need to provide tax returns. Romney has provided what is legally mandated. You liberals are such hypocrites. Remember your BIRTHER term for those that wanted to see President Zippie's birth certificate. Which by the way has never been produced; just a certified statement saying he was born in Hawaii. Not the same thing, but I digress. Romney provided what is called for, so let it go.
"YOU LIBERALS" ? Come on Jack, get real. Getting a home without financial scrutiny because you are fortunate enough to pay for it with cash is NOTHING like running for president and failing to trust the voters with knowledge of how you made your fortune.
"PRESIDENT ZIPPIE"? Well now we know your real issue. You can't get past the FACT that reasonable and reputable people have stated that Obama IS a qualified citizen. What is it you really hate about this man?
As for Mitt Romney ( I won't debase myself by giving him a cute nick-name), either he will release a significant set of tax returns, as common practice has essentially dictated, or he will be discredited by many of his own base who have already gone public with calls for transparency - and that means he will go down to defeat in good part due to his own hubris.
Romney has released what is required to be released. Why is that not enough? And I don't "hate the man"; I dislike his philosophies and policies. He's probably a great guy to sit around having a beer and watching sports with.
Transparency? come on. Obama only had some type of certificate issued after too much pressure was placed on him about his birth origin and his college transcripts have never been released.
How about quid pro quo?
All the sons are hard workers just their dad. Not sitting on their buckets collecting welfare. All you Obama supporters are stupid. He says we did not do anything to better ourselves (business) the govt said Obama is a martist He will not win aagain
A vote for Obama is a vote for nothing.
Why do you assume a person is a Democrat because they question the actions or lack of actions of a candidate? No matter the outcome of the election,somone will be the President. I just think the more we know, the better informed we can be in November.
When was the last time we had a great president who did what was right for the people? Not in my life time, and i'm 63 yrs. of age. They all say this and that and then when they get in office they do just the opposite and want more tax money from you and i. So don't think for one minute things will CHANGE any time soon with the current system in place. The only solution is to Change the whole political process, and give the people more say on what goes on with our tax money spending.
What is your view of "what is right for the people?" For some it is free handouts, for others it is protection of our freedoms. Too many people want something for nothing. I believe there are people in this country we really do need to help; those who cannot truly help themselves. Not those who figured out how to get more from those who earn it.
I will take Romney's off beat humor to Obama's Jimmy Carter type smile and Obama's Jimmy Carter styled presidency.
oh, and why do republicans like sarah palin and Willard M. Romney get stupid names for their kids anyways? I thought that was only for actors and such..
Barack Hussein Obama is not a stupid name? LOL
trig, track, willow, piper, tag, willard...those are stupid, I mean really stupid names..
pardon the spelling typed too fast Obama is a marxist. Do you Obama supporters get it Obama thinks you are stupid! His counting on you being stupid enough to vote him in again.
It looks like this question is going to be buried at the bottom of the pile when I actually think it's very important. Romney's father was born in Mexico so how could he run for President of the United States? Are we so stupid we don't care?
Obama's daddy was born in Kenya as was he. Still got elected.
Romney's father isn't running for president, Romney is. He was born in Michigan, I believe.
Larry, please tell me you are not a birther? Do you believe in Big Foot also? Or the tooth fairy maybe?
bigdog... Larry's not a birther... he's a bigot!
@ confussed
Confussed, you are confused. Let me Google that for you. From Wikipedia:
A 2011 Congressional Research Service report stated
Some of us are not stupid and some of us do care.
If you can use Newsvine you can Google.
Mickey Mouse had goofy, but does America need a goofy? hmmmmmm
The thing is, Obama never had any connections of any kind when he became president, and all of the presidents of the US, have always been puppets of the very rich. These presidents, have very little power to do anything for the middle class or any class of people. That is why a president only can serve for 4 years. We may get a new face for president but we will only get the same old BS. Like the young politician going to Washington to change it for the better, but Washington changed him. So sad.
How many of the Romney sons served in the military? I just find it odd that not one of them would have wanted to join. Just my thought.
good thought
Romney was on the board of directors of a Bain managed company that was fined $100 million for Medicare fraud committed during Romney's tenure...........That's goofy right?
President ROMNEY will help keep Americans employed and keep companies here in America.... while Obama will give free food stamps and Medicaid, also offers to pay electric bills LOL
If you want America to live on food stamps until we go broke, vote for Obama
If you want a better America, vote Romney!!!!
If Romney was a real American, Instead of offshoring his money & outsourcing American jobs, he'd invest in America. Instead of a foreign controlled corporation in Bermuda or investing millions in a Chinese company who's profit was made by taking away jobs from Americans.
Why comment when you dont know what you are talking about? he already stated that almost all his investments are American based and only a fraction of his money are in offshore accounts
Americans were the pioneers of Big business and Investing, we invented Capitalism, you should envy Americans like Romney who worked hard in this country and got the American dream
Dont complain like the other Obama supporters (food stamp lovers, gimme more money, how much can I rip off government)
Steve Jobs started in the USA, got rich, learned to be smart and now produces Apple iPods in China
Micheal Dell started in the USA, got rich, learned to be smart and now produces Dell computer parts in China
Almost every American brand is made in China nowadays because of taxes and corrupt unions making manufacturing impossible in this country
Romney understands how to bring businesses back, Obama doesn't have a clue LOL
Romeny and his company Bain invested $75 million dollars in a Medical-Waste Firm That Disposed of Aborted Fetuses.
That's very goofy!
He claims to be prolife and made millions off of aborted fetus disposal... how sick is that? Greed is what it is... and hypocricy.
What I can't understand is why Obama is running for another term. I mean, the next president is going to have a HUGE mess to clean up.
GOOFY why cant the US do any better than GOOFY
Also, don't forget about the SOLYNDRA fiasco which Obama was personally responsible for losing BILLIONS of dollars in American taxpayer money
His insistence on OBAMACARE which will add billions and billions of new taxes to fund it
Obama's plan of taxing of way out of everything will NOT work and will lead America down the toilet
Do some homework you A$$.... Bush made the deal with Solyndra! LOL