Ann Romney forcefully but cheerfully responded to Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen's comments about her being a stay-at-home mom Thursday on Fox News.
"She should have come to my house when those five boys were causing trouble," said Romney, laughing, "it wasn't so easy."
Rosen said in a discussion of the so-called war on women on CNN Wednesday, "his wife has actually never worked a day in her life. She's never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of the women in this country are facing." Rosen subsequently tried to clarify her comments in another appearance on CNN Thursday morning and in a HuffPost blog post.
Rosen is not employed by either the Obama campaign or the Democratic National Committee, but the Obama campaign quickly disavowed the comment.
Rosen clarified in an email to Fox Business news that she admired Ann Romney's choice. "I admire stay at home moms and Ann Romney. The person I criticized was Mitt Romney for not having a record that reflects his professed concern for women's economic struggles and using his wife as a surrogate on the issue."
The Romney campaign was quick to seize on the comments, given that it was already on the defensive over the candidate's stance on the Lilly Ledbetter Pay Act.
"My career choice was to be a mother, and I think all of us need to know that we need to respect the choices women make," said Ann Romney to Fox News.
"And by the way, let me give a shout-out to all the dads that are at home raising kids," she added.
When asked about whether her family's wealth prevented her from experiencing the struggles of women, she responded: "I know what it's like to struggle. Maybe I haven't struggled as much financially as some people have. I can tell you and promise you that I have had struggles in my life."
FULL DISCLOSURE: Rosen was once employed by The Huffington Post.
Below, Democrats who have reacted to Rosen's comments: