Mitt Keeps it Classy on Leno
EmailTakes the high road in describing the confrontation with AP reporter Glen Johnson, a tough and excellent reporter.
JAY LENO: I’ve got to ask you something. You had a run-in with an aggressive reporter yesterday. Tell us about that. Tell us what happened. We’ll show the tape.
MITT ROMNEY: Well, you know, it’s kind of a normal thing. These guys have a responsibility to be adversarial, and, you know, we don’t treat them real well. The guys that follow us in the Presidential race come in a whole group. We put them in the back of the aircraft. We feed them lousy food. We wake them up early in the morning to go to events, and then as you’ll see in this clip, I think, we don’t give them chairs to sit on either. So they have a tough go of it, but they’re doing their job.
JAY LENO: It’s interesting because, you know, the report said, "Romney loses his cool." Well, I like it because it’s a real moment. Take a look.
(Clip shown — you can watch it HERE).
JAY LENO: You know what I like about it? I like it because it’s real. I like the fact that the guy confronted you, and rather than just tell him to take a hike, you actually said you wanted to meet him later.
MITT ROMNEY: Yeah.
JAY LENO: Because losing it — see, my dad would deck people.
(Laughter.)
My dad was a prizefighter. He bought a Wellpoint once at Sears, and it broke, and the guy yelled at my dad, and "Come here," and knocked the guy out.
(Laughter.)
That’s losing your cool. Have you ever lost your cool? Have you ever just exploded at a guy?
MITT ROMNEY: Absolutely, but not a reporter. That’s sort of the end of the campaign when that happenw — or a voter. You don’t do that — either one. Sometimes the kids push me to the edge, but I learned not to lose my cool with the kids.
JAY LENO: But is that the type of thing where advisors go, "Oh, my God, this tape is ugly. You look like…"? I think it helps because it shows — because everybody goes to the baby and the wave thing. I like under pressure.
MITT ROMNEY: I don’t know if it helps or it hurts. You know, after a year of being out on the campaign trail, you just sort of do what you’ve got to do, and these guys have a tough job to do. I respect the fact they’ve got to ask me tough questions and get in my face, but if I don’t agree, I’m going to come back hard as well. That’s just the nature of the way it ought to be.
*
What do you think, vox populi?
- jpt
Can Mitt Romney Win Conservatives Back? 
Possible Contraception Compromise in D.C.
Romney is many things, but he isn’t arrogant or close-minded. That’s part of the MBA personality. Surround yourself with people who challenge your position, and let your position evolve. And he doesn’t antagonize his adversaries, perhaps another trait that distinguishes him from other pure political animals.
Posted by: cordelia525 | January 19, 2008, 8:46 am 8:46 am
Romney took the high road. And he didn’t even defend his position, which could have been that he has no paid lobbyists working for his campaign. Lobbyists as volunteer fundraisers and advisors are very different than those that are employed by the campaign.
If you want a ton of “you owe me something” lobbyists, check out the Obama and Clinton campaigns.
Romney is a classy guy — and the only republican that could beat the Dems in the generals.
Posted by: cpnyc | January 19, 2008, 9:03 am 9:03 am
Romney has excellent character and is quick on his feet. He’d make a great president.
Posted by: Larry | January 19, 2008, 9:26 am 9:26 am
Romney will be the best President we have seen in 50 years. Republicans: please nominate this guy. If we nominate anyone else, it will be 4 years of Hillary. THIS IS A FACT!
Posted by: nate | January 19, 2008, 9:46 am 9:46 am
Regarding the encounter with the reporter, the only thing Mitt Romney could have done differently is telling the reporter, “The fact that a lobbyist was at a debate is no different than you being here at this press conference. I don’t have reporters running my campaign either.”
Posted by: James Danley | January 19, 2008, 10:11 am 10:11 am
It would be nice to have a President with a CEO mentallity for a change. Romney has a cool head, nice appearance and knows how to think outside the box, he’d probably do wonders for our country!
Posted by: Dana Lake | January 19, 2008, 10:23 am 10:23 am
I hope the folks in Nevada and SC pick Romney. I really think he would trash Clinton or Obama in an election. The man is smooth and, like it or not, honest.
Posted by: Deseretian | January 19, 2008, 10:52 am 10:52 am
Mitt not only keeps it classy on Leno, he’s kept it classy this whole campaign, despite pervasive unfair media coverage. He’s had plenty of chances to blow his fuse over hypocrisy by his opponents, but he often compliments them instead.
Posted by: CoachNY | January 19, 2008, 11:13 am 11:13 am
I can not understand why in the media Romney cannot get a break. It feels as though everyone wants to see the chink in his armor. It feels like he could spend an hour discussing his qualifications and experience and the report on the news the next day would be that his fly was open. Everything that I have read about him tells me that he is the real deal. He does very little touting of many qualifications I have read about. His track record is amazing. Truly get the story on the Olympics of 2002 and you will be floored at what he accomplished. When will America get to see how talented this man is?
Posted by: Kelly Warnick | January 19, 2008, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
I wasn’t expecting Romney on Jay Leno, thought he has enough money for his campaign. He in fact did very well on the show. That reporter surely looked like a true SOB, who did not do his job reporting, but went on confronting Romney.
John Edwards needs to get on some of the talk shows. This is the cheapest and one of the most effective ways to get his message out. The news media has been disgraceful in the presidential campaign thus far. They focus only on their favorite candidates, give them so much free ride, and in the meantime deliberately ignore other candidates.
Posted by: JL | January 19, 2008, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
Romney is a class act isn’t he! Might put a more moderate face on the presidency if elected. Oh yeah a little known fact that he does not want his conservative voting base to know about is he speaks French fluently. Look up the olympics on you tube and there is a video of him going off in French it is a trip how wicked smart that guy is. Competence written all over him.
Posted by: Cameron | January 19, 2008, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
Romney was really impressive last night. I think he’s slowly pulling me to his side. When it comes to the economy, I want a successful CEO running the country, not a congressman. He seemed more real last night.
Posted by: Patrick | January 19, 2008, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
Mitt Romney and his wife are both very classy. He has proven as a businessman he is very astute. But I would like to know more of how he relates to the problems of the poor. Can he understand the average American’s problems?
Posted by: AnnD52 | January 19, 2008, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
Romney is not perfect. But he is the best candidate running for president. He has been around the block a few times and has got the experience and character to be a great president.
Posted by: kyle | January 19, 2008, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Ten years ago, during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, parents had a tough time explaining to their children exactly what the President of the world’s greatest republic had been doing with an intern in the Oval Office. Now, we have a chance to elect a truly great man to take that office… someone of whom we will not have to be ashamed. Romney is the one.
Posted by: Seneca | January 19, 2008, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Romney is the real deal. He is honest and even Vanderbilt University has come out and said that the only reason he gets attacked so much by the Democratic owned media is because the real issue to many people is his mormonism-hence all the scape goat accusations. You know and I know that the national media does not want him to be president, they have their own agenda, and it’s a very democratic agenda. It frightens me that most of the largest news agencies in this country are owned by a man that is anti-american and lives in Australia. He is the voice behind much of the media brain washing that we read and hear. It is time that we as a people state clearly what we belive. If we believe in Romney and think that he would be the best President in 50 years, then everyone of us should be speaking out and make it happen. If we don’t, the media will have it’s say and millions of americans who believe everything that they read will elect Hillary- and that my friends is a truly frightening thought.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 19, 2008, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
I’ve been taking my sweet time on deciding who to support in this race, republican or democrat… and my mind was made up once and for all last night watching Romney showing his cool. I’m excited to see how this turns out.
Posted by: independent | January 19, 2008, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
Having read all the above comments, it’s great to see how many people agree that Mitt is an extraordinary opportunity for America to get it right, and he has been unfairly suppressed and trashed by the media. For a wake-up call everyone should read my new book “PIPM Ultimatum” by Brad Tew.
Posted by: Brad Tew | January 19, 2008, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
Unless you have another favorite candidate.
Posted by: Jed | January 19, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Now that Romney won Nevada, it has just demonstrated again the “power of the Jay Leno show”, as Leno himself claimed, considering that Huckabee won Iowa after appearing on the show. I know that all candidates have worked their tails off, but a little positive TV exposer certainly helps. Hopefully, news media will learn something from the Leno show and give candidates like Romney, Edwards and other media defined non-front runner more coverage.
Romney may very well beat the poll numbers in South Carolina too.
Posted by: JL | January 19, 2008, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
After watching Mitt last night on Jay Leno I decided I’d better take a closer look at this guy. I have to admit that I have been skeptical of him; (probably thanks to the media) but, what I have learned about him thus far, has really impressed me.
I guess when he was turning around the Olympics he didn’t accept his paychaeck, and as a Governor he didn’t accept it either.
How cool would it be to have a President who isn’t interested in that.
He is gonna get my vote this year.
Posted by: Michael | January 19, 2008, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
The guy was lying when the reporter asked about lobbists in his compaign and he is strill lying now. He actually has over a dozen lobbists onboard but still deny’s that fact. What a phoney. The Romney Fan Club comments appearing here show just how gullible can be. Can you folks say “LOSER”?
Posted by: JR | January 19, 2008, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Yes. Romney is the man we need for president. This country needs him. Even those who don’t agree with him, need him as the leader of our country. He would help our image world wide, and do more to help our economy than any of the other candidates, dem or republican. He has my vote!
Posted by: Nancy Henry | January 19, 2008, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
THANKS Mr. LENO FOR EXPOSING THIS GUY. TRUE COLORS ARE COMING OUT.
Posted by: BOBSTER II | January 19, 2008, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
The video clip of Romney responding to the reporter didn’t even come close to qualifying as losing his cool. Romney is a class act while still reponding to the tough questions. Romney is the president we need for the future particularly to address the economic issues. Romney in 08!!!!
Posted by: jdmannsurf5 | January 19, 2008, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
Romney is just what this country needs to bring us back to the great country we can be.
He is honest, sincere, and SMART! He would be great for our economy and renewed hope.
Posted by: Linda Anderson | January 19, 2008, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
Its interesting to me how CNN, and Google and ABC only showed Clintons victory in Navada not Mitts overwhelming win by numbers , not 39 votes here and there from voters( who are poor and need to be educated and helped) by right of their poverty are often ignorant of the big picture.As with the other states so far the numbers want a decent man like Mitt, the minority rabble-rowsers are loud and special interest supported.
Posted by: des | January 19, 2008, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
Yeah, this Romney character is starting to win me over. I’m an independent, and for me, when it comes down to it, for me, it’s going to be which of these guys/gals would I trust my family to? Cuz that what we’re voting for- these people have the power to make decisions that affect our families for generations in very direct ways. One thing I like about Romney is that he hasn’t given up on or abandoned his family. I think he’d treat the country the same way- he’d put us ahead of himself. That’s all we have to go on- he didn’t leave his family for his ego- maybe he won’t leave our country for his ego. I guess I say this because I recently read that McCain and Giuliani both dumped their first wives soon after they become “heroes” in their own minds. Romney became a hero in his own right (his career was turning around bankrupt businesses- interesting- isn’t that what Washington is?) but he’s stuck by his family, including his wife during a serious illness she had. Power almost always corrupts, but so far, I’m starting to believe that Romney isn’t more genuine than the media and his opponents have tried to paint him as. Don’t get me wrong, I do think marriages break up sometimes and I do have respect for Giuliani and McCain. It’s just that I’m not going to NOT vote for someone who I think is too perfect. Good grief, if we could ever use a perfect presidential candidate, this is the time. Mitt Romney isn’t perfect, but his weaknesses seem to be stronger than some of his opponent’s strengths! I mean, the only thing they can dig up on the guy is that he put his dog on top of his car for a few hours! I’ve done worse than that and almost everyone else has (especially if we consider adultery worse than that). Mitt Romney is starting to win me over.
Posted by: Shaun Hansen | January 19, 2008, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm
Romney = Huxley’s Brave New World
See the political/business pro at work.
Could be the the slickest, opportunistic crafter of speech and shifting policy talk since Ronnie. If you loved Reagan and Bush (spend our money and call me conservative) you’ll love this monster.
Posted by: Billybob | January 20, 2008, 12:16 am 12:16 am
Romney was a mediocre governor of Massachusetts and has exaggerated his accomplishments there. He was unable to work effectively with the Democratic Houses and his vetoes were overturned 200 times. Bush has made a fine mess of things and I am not convinced Romney could make the big changes that are needed. Mitt is a venture capitalist. He has made a lot of money by laying off workers. None of his opponents like him which suggests he has some serious flaws.
Posted by: E. Elder | January 20, 2008, 12:34 am 12:34 am
The one thing that I can see out of this whole incident is that Mitt Romney is no different than you and me except he finds a higher pride in pretending. Ya on the outside he is all spiffy but get him aside and you realise he does have special interest and he is just another dirty politician. This is the kind of person that got us in the position were in in the first place. Dont let a wolf in sheeps clothing snake his way to the White House again, we already have black and blue eyes from our last vote. Lets did deep and find a man or woman that can really do the job and bring respect back to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
Posted by: Baseline | January 20, 2008, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
Glen Johnson is a Hillary fan that has been assigned to Mitt Romney. He rarely writes anything unbiased about him.
So when Mitt stands up, to what is essentially a Clinton surrogate, with such class, calm and strength, it’s a real sign that he has what it takes to take on the Clinton machine.
Posted by: sheryl | January 20, 2008, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
I heard Romney on Fox this morning and the media was calling him to task on his record in Massachusetts. If you look at what he DID in the short term he was Governor, it is quite impressive. He inherited a huge mess and got Massachusetts back on track in the area of spending and education. Mitt was a champion of family values in a very liberal state. The media so wants McCain or Huckabee to win as they know they cannot compete against the Democrats. Don’t believe everything you hear on the media. Look at the guy’s voting record to see what a person will do when in the White House.
Posted by: jdmkun | January 20, 2008, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Mitt is one class act! The media continues to portray him as a medicore candidate by discrediting his landslide wins in Michigan and Nevada. I included a link in which I thought is very interesting. Glen Johnson, shame on you!
Posted by: Samuel | January 21, 2008, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Beautifully said CPNYC! THAT is what I am looking for in the next president. UNITE the state of America.
Posted by: Adam | January 21, 2008, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
is still School what effect I even sour, about just their It is the wild
Posted by: appleyahoo | March 25, 2008, 4:43 am 4:43 am