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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums‘Bully’ Documentary Director: Romney Should Lead On This Issue
Mitt Romneys prep-school days have been under intense scrutiny this week after a report detailed an incident where he held down a classmate and cut his hair. But instead of dismissing the incident as long-ago hijinks, the former Massachusetts governor should use the attention as an opportunity to lead on the issue of bullying, said Lee Hirsch, the director of Bully, a new documentary that focuses on bullying in U.S. schools.
What I see is an opportunity for Mitt Romney to lead and really be an advocate for decreasing bullying, Hirsch told TPM in a phone interview Friday. Its sad to hear what occurred many years ago characterized as pranks and horsing around. Were no longer conformable with the notion of describing bullying as kids will be kids. This was a presidential moment, and this should be a teachable moment for him.
The Washington Posts report this week detailed Romneys behavior in high school. The likely Republican presidential nominee reportedly went after a boy his classmates suspected was gay and cut his hair as the boy screamed for help. Romney has said he doesnt remember the incident, but he doesnt deny the report.
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/mitt-romney-bully-lee-hirsch-documentary.php?ref=fpa
MADem
(135,425 posts)Personally, I don't think there's ANY way Romney can turn this bucket of shit into fertilizer. How can anyone "not remember" torturing a weaker classmate? He remembers it--he's full of shit (not that this is news to anyone).
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)I completely agree with Lee Hirsch, rMoney could definitely work this to his advantage if Mitt wanted to but he's so obviously deficient in empathy, his ability to come off as caring and concerned would probably set off peoples' bullshit meters even more.
exboyfil
(17,862 posts)guy and so is the Producer/Writer Cynthia Lowen of the film Bully. They gave my daughter extended inteviews for a High School video news story.
I really don't know how Romney could ever lead on this story. If he had come out immediately and said that it was something that he still feels great shame about (like Obama did in his book for a much milder incident), he might have had a chance. To not even remember it? Either it did not happen, he is a closet sociopath, or he is lying. That is your only three choices. How could you not remember something like that? I guess if he has something like Alzheimer's?
Even in the 1960s this is an extreme situation. What were they doing back then?