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Mitt Romney faces more questions on gay marriage - US politics live Mitt Romney faces more questions on gay marriage - US politics live
(about 2 hours later)
2.49pm: By chance, it appears, Mitt Romney was campaigning in North Carolina today, just three days after the state voted to ban same-sex marriage by amending its constitution, and two day after Barack Obama announced he disagreed.
So did Romney mention gay marriage at all? He did not, reports the Washington Post:
Instead, Romney tried to shift the spotlight to his core economic message in his 15-minute speech Friday to hundreds of supporters inside a pipe and foundry business near downtown Charlotte.
And what else did Romney not mention?
Romney did not mention the $2bn trading loss disclosed Thursday by JP Morgan, the nation's largest bank, that may have broad implications for the financial sector. He declined to comment when reporters asked him questions about it at the ropeline following the event.
Obviously these things are not important. He did however mention how his niece had a new garden made for her by her neighbours.
2pm: Mitt Romney speaks tomorrow at Liberty University, the college founded by Jerry Fallwell to educate evangelical leaders. Mackay Coppins of BuzzFeed Politics – himself a Mormon – quizzes a few of the students on their thoughts regarding Mormonism.
He notes that Liberty includes a graduate course that covers:
The history, doctrines, and present state of the major cults such as Mormonism, Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventism. The course will also include a study of the Occult Movement. Emphasis is placed on the errors of these groups and on methods and materials for confronting them effectively.
But the students that Coppins talks to don't seem to mind.
1.39pm: Now why didn't the Obama campaign make a fundraiser out of this?
Guessed right. Pres Obama played basketball this morning with Batman & Spider-Man: George Clooney & Tobey Maguire. No report on who won.
Apparently it was closed to the media. For shame.
12.49pm: The Washington Post has made a change to its reporting of the Mitt Romney bullying story – but it's not a correction, says the Post, via Poynter's Andrew Beaujon.12.49pm: The Washington Post has made a change to its reporting of the Mitt Romney bullying story – but it's not a correction, says the Post, via Poynter's Andrew Beaujon.
Beaujon also runs through the attempted push-back from the right:Beaujon also runs through the attempted push-back from the right:
The non-correction correction is ridiculous, but it doesn't dent the story much. And I haven't heard anyone objecting to the portrait of Romney, the thoughtful and altruistic natural leader.The non-correction correction is ridiculous, but it doesn't dent the story much. And I haven't heard anyone objecting to the portrait of Romney, the thoughtful and altruistic natural leader.
12.17pm: NPR wonders if Barack Obama's change in favour of gay marriage will help him win the crucial suburban vote in November:12.17pm: NPR wonders if Barack Obama's change in favour of gay marriage will help him win the crucial suburban vote in November:
For several election cycles now, the presidency has been won or loss based on the vote among suburbanites in a few key states. That's likely to be true again this November.For several election cycles now, the presidency has been won or loss based on the vote among suburbanites in a few key states. That's likely to be true again this November.
And some political observers believe that President Obama took the calculated risk that his newfound support for gay marriage rights will boost his campaign in these all-important counties.And some political observers believe that President Obama took the calculated risk that his newfound support for gay marriage rights will boost his campaign in these all-important counties.
Suburbanites tend to be liberal to moderate on social issues. Obama's stance in favor of same-sex marriage, combined with Republican attacks on birth control and abortion, could hurt all-but-official GOP nominee Mitt Romney among suburbanites, some observers say.Suburbanites tend to be liberal to moderate on social issues. Obama's stance in favor of same-sex marriage, combined with Republican attacks on birth control and abortion, could hurt all-but-official GOP nominee Mitt Romney among suburbanites, some observers say.
11.46am: Barack Obama raised a cool $15m from his event at George Clooney's house in California last night. Obama's speech is online here – but here are the jokes at Clooney's expense:11.46am: Barack Obama raised a cool $15m from his event at George Clooney's house in California last night. Obama's speech is online here – but here are the jokes at Clooney's expense:
It was wonderful, walking through the house, and the famous "Hope" poster from the 2008 campaign – people don't realize that the photograph of me is actually me sitting next to George. Because George had come into DC to advocate on behalf of Darfur and to make sure that we were doing the right thing for so many people who were going through such horrific events, and we struck up a friendship. And this is the first time that George Clooney has ever been photo-shopped out of a picture. Never happened before. Never happened before, will never happen again.It was wonderful, walking through the house, and the famous "Hope" poster from the 2008 campaign – people don't realize that the photograph of me is actually me sitting next to George. Because George had come into DC to advocate on behalf of Darfur and to make sure that we were doing the right thing for so many people who were going through such horrific events, and we struck up a friendship. And this is the first time that George Clooney has ever been photo-shopped out of a picture. Never happened before. Never happened before, will never happen again.
But the wonderful thing is the artist actually sent George – some of you have seen this – a print with my picture and his picture right next to each other in the same format. Why he said at the bottom, "Dope and Hope" I don't know. I don't think that's fair. That's not fair. That's not right.But the wonderful thing is the artist actually sent George – some of you have seen this – a print with my picture and his picture right next to each other in the same format. Why he said at the bottom, "Dope and Hope" I don't know. I don't think that's fair. That's not fair. That's not right.
11.24am: Not long ago there was the "It gets better" anti-bullying LGBT campaign. In what may be a remarkably snide reference, the pro-Obama American Bridge super Pac has launched this compendium of Mitt Romney remarks on gay marriage entitled "It gets worse":11.24am: Not long ago there was the "It gets better" anti-bullying LGBT campaign. In what may be a remarkably snide reference, the pro-Obama American Bridge super Pac has launched this compendium of Mitt Romney remarks on gay marriage entitled "It gets worse":
What's left out is many other Romney remarks vaguely in favour of domestic partnerships and gay adoption, which makes Romney sound shifty but would undermine the premise of this hit job.What's left out is many other Romney remarks vaguely in favour of domestic partnerships and gay adoption, which makes Romney sound shifty but would undermine the premise of this hit job.
Here's what Romney said yesterday:Here's what Romney said yesterday:
Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition to gay marriage Thursday but said he's OK with gay couples' right to adopt.Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition to gay marriage Thursday but said he's OK with gay couples' right to adopt.
"Many gay couples are able to adopt children. That's fine," Mr Romney said in a television interview with Fox News's Neil Cavuto. Mr Romney's comments come a day after President Barack Obama announced he supports gay marriage."Many gay couples are able to adopt children. That's fine," Mr Romney said in a television interview with Fox News's Neil Cavuto. Mr Romney's comments come a day after President Barack Obama announced he supports gay marriage.
The presumptive GOP nominee said he knows there are gay couples who are in committed relationships and have the right to live together, receive domestic partnership benefits and can adopt children.The presumptive GOP nominee said he knows there are gay couples who are in committed relationships and have the right to live together, receive domestic partnership benefits and can adopt children.
11.09am: Polling guru Nate Silver ponders the impact of President Obama's gay marriage conversion:11.09am: Polling guru Nate Silver ponders the impact of President Obama's gay marriage conversion:
The truth is, I don't think we really know. That's not quite the same thing as saying that I don't think it will have any impact – although I do think that, in general, the news coverage you read in major coastal newspapers tends to overstate the degree to which social issues affect presidential voting behavior.The truth is, I don't think we really know. That's not quite the same thing as saying that I don't think it will have any impact – although I do think that, in general, the news coverage you read in major coastal newspapers tends to overstate the degree to which social issues affect presidential voting behavior.
Clear as mud, thank you Nate.Clear as mud, thank you Nate.
10.43am: There's a defence for Mitt Romney from the New York Times in its follow-up to yesterday's Washington Post:10.43am: There's a defence for Mitt Romney from the New York Times in its follow-up to yesterday's Washington Post:
Some friends and associates of Mr Romney, including several who are gay, said they had a hard time reconciling the seemingly insensitive younger man with the tolerant, considerate one they have known as an adult.Some friends and associates of Mr Romney, including several who are gay, said they had a hard time reconciling the seemingly insensitive younger man with the tolerant, considerate one they have known as an adult.
It quotes a former campaign director for Romney, Jonathan Spampinato, saying: "I have no idea what he was like as an 18-year-old, but that is not the Mitt Romney I worked for."It quotes a former campaign director for Romney, Jonathan Spampinato, saying: "I have no idea what he was like as an 18-year-old, but that is not the Mitt Romney I worked for."
10.35am: John Lauber – the student who was the subject of the alleged bullying by Mitt Romney and his friends – died in 2004, but members of his family have been speaking to ABC News.10.35am: John Lauber – the student who was the subject of the alleged bullying by Mitt Romney and his friends – died in 2004, but members of his family have been speaking to ABC News.
Lauber's elder sister says she has no memory of the event – but was away at college at the time, and that her brother would probably not have told her in any case:Lauber's elder sister says she has no memory of the event – but was away at college at the time, and that her brother would probably not have told her in any case:
Christine Lauber, who is a few years older than John Lauber, was at college when the alleged incident happened, and said the brother and sister were "doing our own thing" at the time.Christine Lauber, who is a few years older than John Lauber, was at college when the alleged incident happened, and said the brother and sister were "doing our own thing" at the time.
When ABC News showed her the story, Christine Lauber's eyes welled up with tears and she became agitated.When ABC News showed her the story, Christine Lauber's eyes welled up with tears and she became agitated.
She also corrected the story, saying her brother was a boarder, not a day student.She also corrected the story, saying her brother was a boarder, not a day student.
She described her brother as a "very unusual person."She described her brother as a "very unusual person."
"He didn't care about running with the peer group," Christine Lauber said. "What's wrong with that?""He didn't care about running with the peer group," Christine Lauber said. "What's wrong with that?"
Betsy Lauber, one of John Lauber's three sisters, spoke with ABC News Tuesday night regarding the accuracy of the story.Betsy Lauber, one of John Lauber's three sisters, spoke with ABC News Tuesday night regarding the accuracy of the story.
"The family of John Lauber is releasing a statement saying the portrayal of John is factually incorrect and we are aggrieved that he would be used to further a political agenda. There will be no more comments from the family," she said."The family of John Lauber is releasing a statement saying the portrayal of John is factually incorrect and we are aggrieved that he would be used to further a political agenda. There will be no more comments from the family," she said.
So far we haven't yet seen the Lauber family's statement.So far we haven't yet seen the Lauber family's statement.
10.09am: Today's teacup-sized storm comes via a remark that Barack Obama made at an event in Seattle on Thursday – fresh from the George Clooney event – in which he describes the financial and economic crisis that hit the US in 2008: 10.09am: Today's teacup-sized storm comes via a remark that Barack Obama made at an event in Seattle on Thursday – en route to the George Clooney event that evening – in which he describes the financial and economic crisis that hit the US in 2008:
So it was a house of cards, and it collapsed in the most destructive, worst crisis that we've seen since the Great Depression. And sometimes people forget the magnitude of it, you know? And you saw some of that I think in the video that was shown. Sometimes I forget. In the last six months of 2008, while we were campaigning, nearly 3 million of our neighbors lost their jobs; 800,000 lost their jobs in the month that I took office. And it was tough. But the American people proved they were tougher. So we didn't quit. We kept going. Together we fought back.So it was a house of cards, and it collapsed in the most destructive, worst crisis that we've seen since the Great Depression. And sometimes people forget the magnitude of it, you know? And you saw some of that I think in the video that was shown. Sometimes I forget. In the last six months of 2008, while we were campaigning, nearly 3 million of our neighbors lost their jobs; 800,000 lost their jobs in the month that I took office. And it was tough. But the American people proved they were tougher. So we didn't quit. We kept going. Together we fought back.
A BuzzFeed Politics reporter then boiled this down to:A BuzzFeed Politics reporter then boiled this down to:
Obama on recession: Sometime people forget the magnitude of it…sometimes I forget it.Obama on recession: Sometime people forget the magnitude of it…sometimes I forget it.
Republicans promptly picked it up and ran with it, to make a case that Obama has "forgotten" the recession.Republicans promptly picked it up and ran with it, to make a case that Obama has "forgotten" the recession.
In short order this relatively restrained video hit was out from the RNC. And all of this happened in less than 24 hours.In short order this relatively restrained video hit was out from the RNC. And all of this happened in less than 24 hours.
The full text of Obama's speech is here if you want to see for yourself.The full text of Obama's speech is here if you want to see for yourself.
9.45am: Reports of bullying from Mitt Romney's school days remain at the top of the news agenda, after yesterday's Washington Post article. Feverish activity on the part of Republicans and Romney supporters to unravel the story have yet to succeed. As ABC's Michael Falcone notes: "The story could leave a permanent stain on the former Massachusetts governor."9.45am: Reports of bullying from Mitt Romney's school days remain at the top of the news agenda, after yesterday's Washington Post article. Feverish activity on the part of Republicans and Romney supporters to unravel the story have yet to succeed. As ABC's Michael Falcone notes: "The story could leave a permanent stain on the former Massachusetts governor."
Meanwhile, here's a summary of the morning from Ryan Devereaux.Meanwhile, here's a summary of the morning from Ryan Devereaux.
• Mitt Romney is likely to face further awkward questions over gay marriage and a school bullying incident as he makes an ill-timed visit to North Carolina. The state voted in favor of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions this week; with Barack Obama's endorsement of gay marriage on Tuesday and the Washington Post story about how Romney led the harassment of an apparently gay student at high school, the issue is likely to dog him. Romney said yesterday he did not recall the Lauber incident but did not deny that it happened.• Mitt Romney is likely to face further awkward questions over gay marriage and a school bullying incident as he makes an ill-timed visit to North Carolina. The state voted in favor of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions this week; with Barack Obama's endorsement of gay marriage on Tuesday and the Washington Post story about how Romney led the harassment of an apparently gay student at high school, the issue is likely to dog him. Romney said yesterday he did not recall the Lauber incident but did not deny that it happened.
In other apology-related news, vice president Joe Biden said sorry to President Obama for expressing his support for same sex marriage publicly, bouncing the president into his announcement. Biden's apology was delivered in the Oval Office on Wednesday, shortly before the president took a historic stance on the issue, and said that he too believes same sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. President Obama reportedly accepted Biden's apology, saying he knew the vice president was speaking from his heart.In other apology-related news, vice president Joe Biden said sorry to President Obama for expressing his support for same sex marriage publicly, bouncing the president into his announcement. Biden's apology was delivered in the Oval Office on Wednesday, shortly before the president took a historic stance on the issue, and said that he too believes same sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. President Obama reportedly accepted Biden's apology, saying he knew the vice president was speaking from his heart.
• Romney will be in Virginia on Saturday where he will appear at Liberty University, the institution founded by the Reverend Jerry Falwell. The pastor was perhaps best known for his anti-homosexual, bigoted views, who argued that 9/11 was a punishment from God for society's embrace of homosexuals and once said: "Aids is not just God's punishment for homosexuals, it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals."• Romney will be in Virginia on Saturday where he will appear at Liberty University, the institution founded by the Reverend Jerry Falwell. The pastor was perhaps best known for his anti-homosexual, bigoted views, who argued that 9/11 was a punishment from God for society's embrace of homosexuals and once said: "Aids is not just God's punishment for homosexuals, it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals."
• Obama, meanwhile, has been riding high on his gay marriage announcement. Yesterday the president attended a fundraiser at the home of Hollywood star George Clooney. While he didn't mention same sex marriage specifically, Obama said, "Obviously, yesterday we made some big news." Same sex marriage has been a key issue among wealthy Hollywood donors and the president was warmly greeted at Clooney's home and is said to have raised $15m from the appearance.• Obama, meanwhile, has been riding high on his gay marriage announcement. Yesterday the president attended a fundraiser at the home of Hollywood star George Clooney. While he didn't mention same sex marriage specifically, Obama said, "Obviously, yesterday we made some big news." Same sex marriage has been a key issue among wealthy Hollywood donors and the president was warmly greeted at Clooney's home and is said to have raised $15m from the appearance.
• Obama will be addressing potential supporters in Nevada today. The state ranks second in the nation for foreclosed homes and has the highest unemployment rate in the country. The president will be detailing his housing policies to help homeowners avoid foreclosure in Reno. Four years ago Obama carried Nevada but that state's persistent economic struggles has made a repeat of that success far from certain.• Obama will be addressing potential supporters in Nevada today. The state ranks second in the nation for foreclosed homes and has the highest unemployment rate in the country. The president will be detailing his housing policies to help homeowners avoid foreclosure in Reno. Four years ago Obama carried Nevada but that state's persistent economic struggles has made a repeat of that success far from certain.