Romney’s Retroactive Retirement, Weiner Mulls Political Comeback, and More

Romney Campaign’s Latest Bain Spin:

Mitt Romney “retroactively retired” from Bain Capital, according to senior campaign adviser Ed Gillespie. He explains: “He took a leave of absence and in fact he ended up not going back at all, and retired retroactively to 1999 as a result.” Sure. And Bill Clinton did not have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky. (Read more)

Bain Capital Outsourcing — Fact or Fiction? The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent pointed out a little-noticed nugget from the fact-checking site Politifact, which analyzed Friday whether Mitt Romney’s companies were “pioneers” in outsourcing jobs. The short answer: “half true.” The longer answer: Politifact gave the “half true” rating because of the Obama campaign’s claim that the companies Romney ran “pioneered” the outsourcing practice. As Sargent noted: “The larger point here is that Romney’s business background was about creating wealth — regardless of the impact it had on American jobs — and that in so doing, his company invested in firms that outsourced and ultimately moved jobs overseas, even as Romney remained listed as CEO and sole shareholder.” (Read more)

Romney’s New Tax Return Defense: Mitt Romney has made it crystal clear that he will not be releasing any more tax returns. And why should he? After all, according to Romney, Teresa Heinz Kerry, wealthy wife of former Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, didn’t release her tax returns either. Two things: First, Sen. Kerry released 20 years of tax returns when he ran in 2004; and second — and perhaps the bigger of the two points — Heinz Kerry was not running for president. (Read more)

Weiner Making a Political Comeback? With a campaign war chest of $4.5 million, disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner may be mulling a return to politics — and as soon as 2013. The Democrat is “seriously” considering a mayoral run or some other citywide office in New York. The big question: How will voters respond after the 2011 sexting scandal known as Weinergate, which ultimately cost the congressman his seat? Said one consultant: “The general feeling is that you can’t text pictures of your penis to a girl, then lie about it, then get kicked out of the House and then run for mayor right after. But people believe there is a way for him to run for a lesser office.” (Read more)

Silly PAC Names Are a Thing: It was bound to happen after Stephen Colbert started his own super PAC, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, especially when you consider that the Comedy Central host even provided a DIY guide so anyone could start their own super PAC. Silly PAC names seem to be springing up left and right and, in the process, making a mockery of the entire super PAC system. The better ones include: Just Drink the Koolaid, Joe Six PAC, My Cat Xavier for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow and the ever-popular Raptors for Jesus. It goes without saying that all of these super PACs are aiming for better tomorrows, tomorrow. (Read more)

Video of the Day: Pat Robertson offers up some dating advice for a Christian whose only problem with his girlfiend is that she’s a Muslim: Dump her. After all, Robertson said on “The 700 Club,” it is the “Christlike” thing to do.

— Posted by Tracy Bloom