In what was billed as a profile of Ann Romney set to air on Thursday's
NBC Rock Center, a portion of the interview played on Thursday's Today
featured news anchor Natalie Morales grilling the Republican candidate's
spouse on taxes: "...she fiercely defended the Romneys' decision not to
release tax returns from before 2010. A lot of people still are asking why not be transparent and release more than the 2010 and the estimates for 2011." [Listen to the audio [1]]
Romney responded forcefully: "Have you seen how we're attacked? Have
you seen what's happened?" Morales continued to press the issue: "It's
been in the press quite a bit. Now are you angry that it's been in the
press? I mean, should you not be questioned about your finances?"
Romney pushed back: "We have been very transparent to what's legally
required of us. But, the more we release, the more we get attacked. The
more we get questioned, the more we get pushed."
Concluding her response, Romney reiterated: "The only reason we don't
disclose anymore is, you know, we'd just become a bigger target."
Morales replied: "So it's because you'll just continue to face more
questions?" Romney added: "It'll just give them more ammunition."
Morales completely ignored Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's sleazy
and baseless accusation on the Senate floor that Mitt Romney didn't pay
taxes.
In the next part of the exchange, Morales urged Romney to compliment
the Obama family: "Clearly the campaign has gotten to be so negative on
both sides. Is there a positive that you see in President Obama and the
First Lady?" Romney described how she admired Michelle Obama for taking
on the obesity issue and the First Family being a "role model" for
others.
Apparently that wasn't enough Obama praise for Morales, who requested
more: "What about President Obama? What can you say, a positive that we
don't often hear?"
Here is a full transcript of the August 16 Today segment:
7:17AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We've heard a lot this week about Mitt Romney's new
running mate Paul Ryan, but of course his real running mate is his wife,
Ann. Natalie sat down with her for a wide-ranging interview as she
traced her roots to the Welsh village where her father was born.
NATALIE MORALES: Like the hard-scrabble coal country of southern Wales,
shrouded in low clouds and mist, I found how Ann Romney's well-to-do
image has obscured her inner toughness, a grit that might rival her
coal-mining forebears.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: "No More Tax Releases"; Rock Center: Ann Romney Defends Controversial Decision]
And in our interview at an 800-year-old Welsh inn, she fiercely
defended the Romneys' decision not to release tax returns from before
2010. A lot of people still are asking why not be transparent and
release more than the 2010 and the estimates for 2011.
ANN ROMNEY: Have you seen how we're attacked? Have you seen what's happened?
MORALES: It's been in the press quite a bit. Now are you angry that
it's been in the press? I mean, should you not be questioned about your
finances?
ROMNEY:
We have been very transparent to what's legally required of us. But,
the more we release, the more we get attacked. The more we get
questioned, the more we get pushed. And so we have done what's legally
required and there's going to be no more – there's going to be no more
tax releases given. And there's a reason for that, and that's because of
how – what happens as soon as we release anything. Mitt's financial
disclosures when he was governor are huge, if people want to really look
and see any question they have. The other thing they have to understand
is that Mitt is honest, his integrity is just golden. We pay our taxes,
we're absolutely – beyond paying our taxes, we also give 10% of our
income to charity. So, you know, we have no issues that way. And the
only reason we don't disclose anymore is, you know, we'd just become a
bigger target.
MORALES: So it's because you'll just continue to face more questions?
ROMNEY: That – well, just – it'll just give them more ammunition.
ROMNEY [PETTING A PONY]: You're so pretty, Magic.
MORALES: Yet I also saw a surprisingly playful side to the 63-year-old
would-be first lady. Her affinity for animals, well actually, animals'
affinity for her, was obvious when we happened upon a Welsh pony. She
feels it too.
ROMNEY: Hi, sweetheart.
MORALES: And it was also a bit of a surprise to hear some rare kind
words between the rival camps of campaign 2012. Clearly the campaign has
gotten to be so negative on both sides. Is there a positive that you
see in President Obama and the First Lady?
ROMNEY: You know, I love how family-oriented they are. I think her
initiative is wonderful. I think obesity is a huge, you know, problem in
this country and it's great to see her caring about that. But to also
see the role model of a strong mom and a dad and two darling little
girls. You know, I love seeing that.
MORALES: What about President Obama? What can you say, a positive that we don't often hear?
ROMNEY: Well, you know, I think all of us are so proud that America
backed him and I think that piece of it is never going to go away, that
America is a place where anything is possible and anyone can dream
whatever they want and anyone can accomplish anything they want. And he
is the embodiment of that. And I think it's a thrill for all of us to
have him as a president.
MORALES: Mrs. Romney also talked very candidly to Natalie about her own
diagnosis with MS. You can see the full interview on Rock Center with
Brian Williams, tonight at 10/9 Central, right here on NBC.