During an appearance on CNN Wednesday night, Democratic commentator Hilary Rosen questioned whether Ann Romney was qualified to be talking about women’s economic issues since she’s “never worked a day in her life.” The Romney campaign responded quickly with a series of tweets attacking the Obama campaign and Democrats for not respecting Ann Romney’s decision to be a stay-at-home mother.
Romney spokesperson Eric Fehrnstrom took exception to Rosen’s comments and cast her as an Obama campaign advisor, tweeting:
Obama adviser Hilary Rosen goes on
#CNN to debut their new “kill Ann” strategy, and in the process insults hard-working moms.
Rosen has no formal role with the Obama campaign. She is a CNN contributor, a partner in the public relations and consulting firm SKDKnickerbocker, and earlier in her career was the top executive at the Recording Industry Association of America.
Watch Rosen on CNN:
Obama campaign manager Jim Messina entered the fray on Twitter, quickly distancing himself and by extension the campaign from Rosen’s comments:
I could not disagree with Hilary Rosen any more strongly. Her comments were wrong and family should be off limits. She should apologize.
Obama strategist David Axelrod also disagreed with Rosen’s comments on Twitter:
Also Disappointed in Hilary Rosen’s comments about Ann Romney. They were inappropriate and offensive.
