Heated Exchange At Romney Press Conference

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- There was an ice storm in South Carolina this morning, but it was even colder inside a Staples store where a Mitt Romney press conference suddenly went sour.

Romney was in the middle of answering a routine question when he said something that caused Associated Press reporter Glen Johnson to lose his temper.

"I don't have lobbyists running my campaign," Romney said. "I don't have lobbyists that are tied to my … "

"That's not true, governor!" Johnson suddenly interjected. "That is not true. Ron Kaufman is a lobbyist."

Kaufman is a well-known lobbyist, former adviser to President H.W. Bush and Romney campaign adviser who is often seen by the governor's side while on the road.

Click on the video below to watch as the exchange between Johnson and Romney as it grew increasingly hostile.

[macpipkin]

Fine, ask the question, but he should have waited until the statement is done.

This so called reporter became the story with his childish antics. Democrat or Republican, you do not interrupt the candidate in the middle of his or her statement.

[Scott_Conroy_Sucks]

Guys like Scott Conroy aren't fit to carry Glen Johnson's laptop. According to Conroy, Johnson, "lost his temper" when Romney said that he did not have have lobbyists running his campaign. The whole world knows that's false and Glen Johnson was the only reporter there that had the stones to call him on it. For Scott Conroy to categorize this as "losing his temper" is sad commentary. What Conroy is really saying is that he doesn't have the balls to challenge anyone on the facts...even a self-absored and entitled jerk like Romney.

[moodydog2]

JEESE !!!! SINCE WHEN IS CALLENGE AND DEBATE NOT ALLOWED ? ROMNEY IS AT THE STAPLES STORE TO WITH THE PEOPLE. AND YOU NUTS HAVE THE NERVE TO CHASTISE THIS AMERICAN BECAUSE HE CHALLENGES THE CANDIDATE? I THOUGHT THIS WAS AMERICA, YOU KNOW, WITH FREE SPEECH AND ALL?? GET A GRIP ON LIFE!!

[Total_Texan]

I mostly agree with your point, but can you please find a way to make it without using all caps? It makes you look crazy and makes no one want to talk to you. It is the internet equivalent of yelling, and is taken as such.

[jcalex2]

I don`t see "Ron Paul`s" name under -BROWSE TOPICS -.We know what you useless NAZI`S are up to.We are starting a drive to make sure you family and love ones know what you do for a living and how you are helping to destroy their country,including our children.
You people are the lowest of low life`s ever known to man.

[Total_Texan]

What the heck is this referring to?

[forthright-2009]

Glen Johnson did something I haven''t heard in a long time and that''s, he asked the tough question, he attempted to force Romney to be forthright. However, Romney clearly thinks the American public is unable to see through his semantics, for this he should Romney should make another homage to the alter and Glen should continue doing that which so many in the news agency has forgotten and that''s to ferret out the truth.

[Total_Texan]

Please begin proofreading your comments.

[loopist]

I think he handled it quite well. I would have told that lazy SOB he could at least get off his fat A$$ before he tries to call me a lier!!!

[trpt8]

PROOF!!! that "GLEN" is a ********* ... agree or disagree with Romney ... but that was totally unprofessional for a "journalist"

[farrider387]

The AP reporter made one mistake-he interjected his remark too soon, If you watch the clip,Romney is saying ''I have no lobbyists managing my campaign,I have no lobbyists working for ....;And by the way,''great guy'' Mit made his fortune buying up companies,selling off all the assets and laying off all the workers.Just what America needs more of.

[JuarezTraveller]

You want proof? Here''s an article from March, 2006, entitled "Ron Kaufman may be Mitt''s new main man"

http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/CapePolitics/2006/03/11/ron_kaufman_may_be_mitt_s_new_main_man

Romney is just another two-bit Republican liar who will do anything to enhance his personal power. Get with it Repubs. It''s time we did to the Republican Party what they did to the Whigs: Scrap it and start over. The Whigs were then as the Republicans are now: corrupt, greedy, and self-rightiously hipocritical, not to mention idiots when it came to managing the economy and our foreign relations.

http://www.zianet.com/bwd/

[vaman2]

Um, excuse me, but Mitt doesn''t need lobbyists to run his campaign like McCain does. Mitt''s already spent $17 million of his personal fortune and he''s willing to spend another $60 million. Ron Kaufman is an honorable man and so is Mitt. It is a rather cynical view of the world to presume that something evil is occuring just because Ron Kaufman is a Romney advisor. There are few people in this race who are willing to sacrifice their own fortunes for the opportunity of serving this country. Romney doesn''t need to the job for money and he certainly won''t enrich himself when he''s done, like the Clinton''s and so many other former presidents have. Mitt could even serve in the presidency without accepting a salary. Waddya think of that? I highly doubt any of the other schmos could give of themselves in such a way. Mitt is a true leader-servant. This country needs more people like him.

[irock1969]

I don''t understand some of the comments that defend Romney and condem the reporter. Liberal bias?Catching people in deceptions are what reporters do or at least should do. How is that bias in any way? Keep it up Mr. Johnson.