Does Romney's school age bullying behavior disqualify him as president?

[SourCandy]

Is that horrible? Yes.

Did he actually do that? Well, We have to understand that in a campaign like this past events are often exaggerated. We have to understand that not everything is as told to us, and that while it may be true, It may not be the solid truth. Remember, this is fifty years ago, and based on the article Governor Romney doesn't even remember it. He could be lying, but so could they.

Does that disqualify him? No. Even if it was 100% true. It's just how it works.

Will I vote for him? Why would I vote for a guy no body wanted last time? Even if I was Republican... He's just a filler candidate.

Also, I think we all bully or hurt other people's feelings at a point, I wasn't a bully but I still remember a few times I could have been nicer to people. And while what is being mentioned is indeed not simple bullying, I tend to not be led easily. It's a story being told now that's 50 years old that Governor Romney "says" he has no memory of. I'll be honest, He probably wasn't there. It's not a new phenomenon of "past" events not being factual.

[~RoadToTrista~]

My dad and his friend did that to some kid, he said that's how they initiated freshman. Frankly I don't care because he's great now and that was a long ass time ago.

[Sephirah]

People can change, mature, grow as individuals.

What one did as a youth should not be a chain to bind them for the rest of their lives.

Having listened to the interview he gave, where he attempts to address these issues, I don't really know what to think. He claims to not remember them, which is entirely possible. Although I'm not fully convinced. However he does go on to apologise for anything he did which may have caused harm or offense during that period.

Not being from the US, and having no particular interest in this whole political saga, where digging for dirt seems to be a fairly common practice, I'm prepared to take that at face value. He also says that high school was a long time ago, and makes the fair point that people can change a lot in the interim. I'm prepared to accept that.

I think what matters more are his actions and attitudes now, and the way those are expressed, rather than what happened almost fifty years ago. And, while they can't be forgotten (unless you're Mitt himself, apparently) apologising and acknowledging that, to use his words, "I did some pretty dumb things in high school" show a measure of growth that can't be ignored either.

So, on the subject of whether these specific incidents should disqualify him from holding the office... no, I don't think they should. And I would say the same for anyone else in a similar situation. I have no particular interest in being political about it, since I'm not a US citizen. Whether he is a suitable candidate overall is a different issue, and one I have no real view on.

[Carbon]

I think I would have bullied people were I not the one myself being bullied. Espicially when I was really young, a lot of the time I just didn't realize how things would impact other people. When I was seven I remember a friend telling me to say something to the effect that I didn't like her because she was a girl and then I was really surprised when she actually got upset. I did manage to make it up to her and we stayed on good terms after that, but I can easily see getting pushed to do more things like that had I been more socially powerful, even within the tiny social subculture that is school. I'd like to think I'd never do what Mitt Romney is alleged to do have done, but I don't really know.

I don't mean to excuse it but I think the school environment is really very toxic and ends up encouraging that kind of behavior.

[Jamie D]

I had long hair i had people hold me down and cut my hair. Well they cut locks out of it.. I say noooo way.. he is an evil person for doing that. I then later joined the USMC with long hair during the vietnam war and Romney evaded the draft by going to Paris France. He is a terrible person who has bought his way everywhere. I am sure he bought his friends in school. They followed him because he was a big wig. Its time he gets cut down to size. Obama beat his butt all over the US map

I think the term "evaded" is used incorrectly here.  Romney had a lawful "ministerial deferment" when he went on his Mormon mission at the age of 18.  He also had a student deferment until he graduated.  When he was eligible for the draft, he ended up with a high draft number.

I would be much more worried about a presidential candidate who failed to register for the selective service, or who bragged about dealing dope at the same age.

[justmeinoz]

I find it difficult to believe that he would not have some recollection of the act in question, unless there were a lot worse things he recalls instead. 
Not coming out strongly against bullying shows he still has the same mentality.  And certainly not offering any real sort of apology.  Not the sort of person any country needs as a leader. 

Love the recipe Devlyn, you are defo well on the way to becoming an honourary Aussie.

Karen.

[Miniar]

Some people write in Santa Clause.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/54093-final-2008-tally-in-bill-clinton-edges-out-santa

... sounds a little like my family's tradition of writing "Gargamel" whenever we don't know the answer on an exam... even if it's in math!