In an interview with CBS News, Mitt Romney wouldn't comment on whether or not the U.S. Olympics team uniforms should be made in America, though a number of prominent politicians from both parties have criticized the fact that they're manufactured in China.
"I don't know the particulars of the circumstance so I really can't comment on that," Romney, who was the president and CEO of the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002, told CBS News' Jan Crawford on Friday.
The uniforms were designed by U.S.-based Ralph Lauren, but manufactured in China, despite a struggling textile industry and low job numbers domestically.
"I presume they have sponsors who are associated with uniforms and matters of that nature so I'm not going to weigh in to the decision," added Romney.
Other politicians have been far more vocal.
"They should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them, and start all over again," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters this week.
And House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, chastised the U.S. Olympic Committee saying it should "have known better."
Christine Delargy
Christine Delargy is a producer for CBSNews.com.
Romney on Olympics uniforms made in China: No comment
By Christine Delargy
/ CBS News
In an interview with CBS News, Mitt Romney wouldn't comment on whether or not the U.S. Olympics team uniforms should be made in America, though a number of prominent politicians from both parties have criticized the fact that they're manufactured in China.
"I don't know the particulars of the circumstance so I really can't comment on that," Romney, who was the president and CEO of the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002, told CBS News' Jan Crawford on Friday.
The uniforms were designed by U.S.-based Ralph Lauren, but manufactured in China, despite a struggling textile industry and low job numbers domestically.
"I presume they have sponsors who are associated with uniforms and matters of that nature so I'm not going to weigh in to the decision," added Romney.
Other politicians have been far more vocal.
"They should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them, and start all over again," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters this week.
And House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, chastised the U.S. Olympic Committee saying it should "have known better."
Christine Delargy is a producer for CBSNews.com.
More from CBS News