Mitt Romney and Donald Trump will appear together tonight at a fundraiser for the Republican candidate for president. While many have criticized Romney for associating with Trump due to his continued “birther” rhetoric questioning of President Obama’s place of birth (here and here, for example), one political flack disagrees.
Hogan Gidley, the former communications director for Rick Santorum’s campaign for the Republican nomination, called the “whole issue a little bit ridiculous,” and said Romney shouldn’t be held responsible for “things that Trump says,” while speaking with Thomas Roberts on msnbc Tuesday.
Then he tried to compare Trump’s patently false birther grumblings with the sometimes off-message Vice President Joe Biden, explaining that both presidential candidates will suffer from these liabilities.
“Earlier on msnbc one of your anchors said, ‘How can Mitt Romney stand next to a guy who can embarrass him at any moment?’ Well Barack Obama can be embarrassed at any moment by a guy he made vice president,” Gidley said. “These things happen.”
Roberts had to stop him there. "Hogan, are your really going to compare Joe Biden… to a Donald Trump? You really want to say that?"
“I’m not comparing him… Joe Biden has embarrassed the president on many occasions,” Gidely continued. “This is all very silly stuff. Let’s get focused on the issues.”
“It’s one thing not to be held accountable, it’s another thing to thrust yourself on the national stage with them and appear with them in what will be a millions-of-dollars cash grab in Vegas… I’m a little bit surprised that you would defend Donald Trump,” added Roberts.
The problem here is that it’s not a one-time gaffe, such as Biden’s “F” bomb into an open mic or his getting a "little bit over his skis,” on gay marriage. Trump has made such false claims repeatedly, and as recently as today. It's not a mistake. Nonetheless, Romney is standing by his money-maker, refusing to ditch him despite his continued offensive remarks, in an appeal for more votes.
“I don't agree with all the people who support me and my guess is they don't all agree with everything I believe in,” Romney told reporters. “But I need to get 50.1% or more, and I'm appreciative to have the help of a lot of good people.”
The Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign have hit back criticizing the Romney’s campaign’s close association with Trump.