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<div class="timestamp">May 11, 2012</div>
<h1>Mean Boys</h1>
<span><h6 class="byline">By CHARLES M. BLOW</h6></span>
<div id="articleBody">
<p>
Mitt the menace. </p>
<p>
That’s the image that emerged of a high-school-aged Mitt Romney from <a title="Read the complete article here" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-prep-school-classmates-recall-pranks-but-also-troubling-incidents/2012/05/10/gIQA3WOKFU_story.html">a Washington Post article this week</a> that recounted allegations of his mean and even violent behavior as a prep school student in Michigan. </p>
<p>
The allegations include shouting “atta girl!” when a “closeted gay
student” spoke out in class and walking a blind teacher into a closed
door after which Romney is reported to have “giggled hysterically.”
</p>
<p>
But nothing is more disturbing than an alleged attack on John Lauber, “a
soft-spoken new student one year behind Romney” who “was perpetually
teased for his nonconformity and presumed homosexuality.” </p>
<p>
Lauber bleached his hair, which apparently “incensed” Romney. </p>
<p>
So one day Romney reportedly led a “posse” of other boys “shouting about
their plan to cut Lauber’s hair.” According to the article, the boys
came upon Lauber, “tackled him and pinned him to the ground. As Lauber,
his eyes filling with tears, screamed for help, Romney repeatedly
clipped his hair with a pair of scissors.” </p>
<p>
One of the boys involved described Lauber as “terrified.” Another
schoolmate said that Lauber was “just easy pickin’s.” Another called the
incident “vicious.” </p>
<p>
In <a href="http://radio.foxnews.com/fox-news-talk/kilmeade-and-friends">an interview with Fox Radio</a>
on Thursday, Romney laughed as he said that he didn’t remember the
incident, although he acknowledged that “back in high school, you know,
I, I did some dumb things. And if anybody was hurt by that or offended,
obviously I apologize.” He continued, “I participated in a lot of
hijinks and pranks during high school, and some might have gone too far.
And, for that, I apologize.” </p>
<p>
There is so much wrong with Romney’s response that I hardly know where to start. </p>
<p>
But let’s start here: If the haircutting incident happened as described,
it’s not a prank or hijinks or even simple bullying. It’s an assault.
</p>
<p>
Second, honorable men don’t chuckle at cruelty. </p>
<p>
Third, if it happened, Romney’s explanation that he doesn’t remember it
doesn’t ring true. It is a searing account in the telling and would have
been even more so in the doing. How could such a thing simply melt into
the milieu of other misbehavior? How could the screams of his classmate
not echo even now? </p>
<p>
Fourth, “if someone was hurt or offended, I apologize” isn’t a real
apology. Even if no one felt hurt or offended, if you feel that you have
done something wrong, you can apologize on that basis alone. Remorse is
a sufficient motivator. Absolution is a sufficient objective. Whether
the person who was wronged requests it is separate. </p>
<p>
Lastly, this would have been an amazing teaching moment about the impact
of bullying if Romney had seized it. That is what a real leader would
have done. That is what we would expect any adult to do. </p>
<p>
A 2010 CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll found that 77 percent of
Americans believed that bullying is a “serious problem that adults
should try and stop whenever possible.” Romney passed on that chance.
</p>
<p>
While I have real reservations about holding senior citizens to account
for what they did as seniors in high school, I have no reservations
about expecting presidential candidates to know how to properly address
the mistakes they once made. </p>
<p>
This is where Romney falls short, once again. </p>
<p>
There was a malicious streak at the core of the high-school boy in these
accounts. Romney’s muddled and confusing explanation and half-apologies
only reinforce concerns that there is also something missing from the
core of the man: sincerity and sensitivity. </p>
<p>
Targeting the vulnerable is an act of cowardice. The only way to
vanquish cowardice is to brandish courage. Romney refused to do so. This
is an amazing missed opportunity to exhibit a needed bit of humanity by
a man who seems to lack it. </p>
<p>
People understand regret. Romney may have been applauded if he had
chosen to express some to redeem himself, but he didn’t. He chose
obfuscation and obliviousness. Romney has an uncanny ability to turn a
bad thing into a worse thing by failing to be forthright. </p>
<p>
Americans want to know that the boy from that prep school grew up in
knowledge and wisdom and grew deep in compassion and empathy. We want to
know that his shoulders are now wide enough to bear blame and his heart
is big enough to seek contrition. </p>
<p>
Americans want a president who doesn’t target the weak, but valiantly seeks to protect them. </p>
<p>
That is what courage looks like. </p>
<div class="authorIdentification">
<p style="text-align:center">•</p>
<p>I invite you to join me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CharlesMBlow">Facebook</a> and follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/CharlesMBlow">Twitter</a>, or e-mail me at <a href="mailto:chblow@nytimes.com">chblow@nytimes.com</a>.</p>
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<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)<br><a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com" target="_blank">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a><br>