Just hours after DNC adviser Hilary Rosen attacked stay-at-home mother of five Ann Romney for having “never actually worked a day in her life” during an interview on CNN, the Democrats’ “war on women” narrative has been turned on its head. For months, abortion advocates have tried to characterize pro-life Republicans as waging a war on women.
Rosen’s comments infuriated mothers across the country, drawing repudiation from female Romney surrogates, officials at the RNC and even from several Obama loyalists. This afternoon, Rosen issued an apology to Romney and “anyone else who was offended.”
Shortly after the CNN interview aired, Ann Romney fired back by creating a Twitter account and tweeting, “I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.” Romney’s son Josh also responded via Twitter saying his mother “is one of the smartest, hardest working women I know. Could have done anything with her life, chose to raise me.” Ann Romney appeared on Fox News this morning where she told Martha MacCallum, “I know what it’s like to struggle.” Romney spoke to Jennifer Rubin at the Washington Post about her initial reaction to the statements. “I was a little bit stunned,” Romney said, “Does she think women at home don’t work?”
In addition to devoting her career to raising five boys, Ann Romney has battled both breast cancer and multiple sclerosis. This point was also raised on a Romney conference call today by Romney surrogate pro-life Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). Sen. Ayotte has repeatedly touted Ann Romney as an effective spokesperson for Mitt on the campaign trail, particularly in reaching women voters. “She really relates to people,” Ayotte said in the National Journal. “I think she’s terrific.” Ayotte continued, saying that if Ann and his daughters-in-law are on the stump, Romney will pull ahead in the general.
The Republican National Committee called on DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to apologize for Rosen’s insulting comments. “Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz should immediately apologize for the insulting and insensitive comments of her adviser, Hilary Rosen. To suggest that any mother has ‘never worked a day in her life’ is an affront to mothers everywhere. Democrats continue to attack Republicans for a ‘war on women’ even as they attack women with devastating economic policies and offensive rhetoric. The hypocrisy is appalling. Four years ago, President Obama and his fellow Democrats ran on ‘hope and change.’ Now, to distract from the fact that the Obama economy has failed women, they have resorted to cynical and desperate tactics,” said Kirsten Kukowski, RNC Press Secretary.
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Ranking House Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) also weighed in on Rosen’s comments saying on Twitter, “Toughest job I have is being a mom to 2 young kids. But it’s also the most rewarding. #MomsDoWork” David Axelrod, Senior Adviser to President Obama, tweeted, “Also Disappointed in Hilary Rosen’s comments about Ann Romney. They were inappropriate and offensive.” Even First Lady Michelle Obama entered into the controversy tweeting, “Every mother works hard, and every woman deserves to be respected- mo.” Although, Mrs. Obama did not call on Rosen, the DNC or her husband to apologize for the comments made about Romney.
Pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL have incessantly described Republicans as waging “war on women,” including presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney. Yet neither group has come to Ann Romney’s defense after her very motherhood was attacked. Both groups worked overtime to repudiate inappropriate comments made by radio host Rush Limbaugh regarding birth control advocate Sandra Fluke. Unlike Limbaugh who is merely a commentator, Rosen is a chief Democratic adviser who has visited the Obama White House more times than even General George Petraeus, who leads the United States efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rosen’s political consulting firm also boasts numerous Democratic Congressional and Senatorial candidates running in the 2012 elections.
With Rosen’s attack on Ann Romney last evening and today’s endorsement of Mitt Romney by both the National Right to Life Committee and the Susan B. Anthony List, the choice for American women in 2012 is clear. President Obama stands with the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, the group that has yet to issue a defense of Ann Romney, a hard-working mother and breast cancer survivor. The Obama-supporting abortion industry opposes informed consent for women and works tirelessly to undermine the work of pro-life pregnancy resource centers across the country. Rosen’s comments compound the anti-woman record of the Obama Administration, revealing a deep contempt of stay-at-home mothers.
If Obama disagrees with Rosen’s comments, he should personally call Ann Romney to apologize. After all, didn’t he do that for Sandra Fluke?
