Mitt Romney's campaign on Thursday remained quiet under heightened
criticism over his appearance on a cable news show earlier in the
week.
Bret Baier, host of Fox News's "Special Report," told fellow Fox News
host Bill O'Reilly on Wednesday night that Romney told him he was
"irritated by the interview."
Romney told Baier the interview was "overly aggressive," according to
Baier, that he did not like the interview and considered questions
"uncalled for."
Romney's performance in the interview was already under fire by the
Democratic National Committee (DNC). The DNC jumped on the interview
Wednesday, mocking Romney for what they called a "disastrous"
interview in a web video that included clips of cable news hosts and
pundits describing Romney performance as "irritable" and
"uncomfortable." DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse also
taunted Romney campaign aides for not promoting the interview in an
email blind copied to multiple reporters.
Baier had asked Romney questions about the healthcare legislation
implemented in Massachusetts while he was governor and about being
pinned with the label "flip-flopper" by the DNC and fellow Republican
presidential contenders.
Romney pushed back on the label during the interview, saying if he
were "willing to say anything to get elected," he would back away from
his Massachusetts healthcare legislation, calling it a "mistake" as
other candidates have done when past policies become a problem in
their campaigns.
Romney objected during the interview that aired Tuesday night that he
had answered several of Baier's questions before. At one point, he
said, "This is an unusual interview."
Jon Huntsman, Romney's fellow contender for the GOP nomination, gave
the DNC a hand on Thursday, releasing a new video titled "Mittstant
Replay" that offered a compilation of apparent contradictions in
Romney's interview clips and included footage of Baier describing
Romney's complaint.
On Thursday, Woodhouse also promoted the Twitter hashtag #QuestionsMittLikes.
Romney's campaign did not immediately respond for comment.
