Mitt Romney On 'Tonight Show' With Jay Leno: Talks 'Attractive' Sarah Palin (VIDEO)

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney declined to ignite any drama during his appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno Wednesday, instead choosing to praise potential 2012 presidential opponent Sarah Palin.

"She's a remarkable, energetic, powerful figure in my party -- and attractive too," Romney said. "She's a qualified, capable person."

While he had nothing but kind words to direct toward the former Alaska governor, he did earlier appear to make a clear distinction between the two of them regarding recent deprecating comments made by Palin toward former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, as well as Michelle Obama.

"They're remarkable people, wonderful people, you know we've been blessed with great presidents but also great First Ladies. That Barbara Bush, she is one of a long line of terrific first ladies -- and Michelle Obama also, wonderful First Lady," Romney said.

The clear display of respect by Romney toward both Bush and Obama stands in contrast to the criticism that Palin has recently fielded for supposedly showing a lack of respect for first families, both past and present.

After Barbara Bush jabbed Palin last month by announcing her hopes that the former Alaska governor "stays in Alaska" in 2012, the "mama grizzly" flashed her claws and scratched back, calling the Bushes "blue bloods."

Palin has also repeatedly attacked current First Lady Michelle Obama for her allegedly belief-defining connection to Reverend Jeremiah Wright, as well as her anti-obesity campaign.

WATCH:

Comments

[LMKay66]

11:09 AM on 12/04/2010

"Do you think Sarah Palin is qualified to be president?"
 
Has that question yet broken the record of the most asked question in the history of this universe or what?
 
The media's obsession with Palin is pathetic, and it's sad that they can't seem to go one day without asking some Republican if they think she's qualified to be president.  It's obvious by now that none of them are going to diss her because they fear the backl.a.s.h of Fox and Rush and Palin herself, and any of them who are thinking of running in 2012 don't want to alienate her base.  It is also obvious that when they mention her "looks" or her "attractiveness" (which I don't see/never have seen), it is another way of saying, "Well, NO, she's not qualified to be president, but she's pretty!"  As if her looks are the only thing she's got going for her.  Let's face it, she's gotten as far as she has today on her looks.  McCain wanted a woman VP running mate.  He picked her for her looks.  She was elected mayor and governor of Alaska because of her looks (c'mon, this is Alaska--you don't think they hold intellect in high regard up there, do you?).  If she runs in 2012, I guarantee she'll use the fact that she is a woman to her advantage.  She knows she can get away with disrespecting and harshly attacking her male opponents because they (as gentlemen) won't attack her or disrespect her back.  Men don't do that to women or it reflects very poorly on them.  She got away with it during her debate with Biden.  Everybody knows Biden could have (and should have) been a lot tougher with her, but he was afraid to attack a woman. 
 
Does Palin think she can wink, tweet and facebook her way into the White House?  You betcha.

[YLS2007]

09:33 AM on 12/04/2010

Are there any repugnant republicans left that Chinbagger hasn't had on his lame show?

[Gnostic Priest]

11:12 AM on 12/04/2010

Did Bill Clinton get his own show?

[thankgodimanatheist8]

07:49 PM on 12/03/2010

Am I the guy who finds her so unattractive that if we were the last two humans on earth I would rather let the whole species die out...

[triggPalin]

02:05 PM on 12/03/2010

Did my mom bang Marcus Lamb?

http://abcn.ws/gEjojk

[Terypat]

01:32 PM on 12/03/2010

I'm not a Palin fan, but how "Mormon-ly sexist" of him where woman can only attain to be "attractive" to Serious People like Mitt Romney, but we all must remember "attractiveness" has its "place."

Did I get that about right, Mittster?

[MLK ConservativeSaint]

01:04 PM on 12/03/2010

http://www.nbra.info/
National Black Republican Association
Don't let someone rewrite history with lies.

[GUSTOV]

11:12 AM on 12/03/2010

he obviously wants her

as one of his wives

[MLK ConservativeSaint]

01:10 PM on 12/03/2010

How many wives does Malik Obama, O's brother, have at this time?

[Tails]

05:52 AM on 12/04/2010

Less than Brigham Young and Joseph Smith.

[jackmack1875]

11:08 AM on 12/06/2010

How is Barack Obama responsible for Malik Obama?

[GUSTOV]

11:07 AM on 12/03/2010

Ken and Barbie in their Malibu playhouse
'that's what this country

deserves

[Monk2001]

11:01 AM on 12/03/2010

Jay Leno's Tonight Show. Big pathetic PR stage for (R) fascist OR biggest PR stage for (R) fascists?

McCain, Palin, Romney, Limbaugh.... All on in the last 3 months. No wonder you get B Slapped in ratings by Letterman, O'Brien, The Daily Show etc.

[MLK ConservativeSaint]

10:31 AM on 12/03/2010

MLK wanted Mitt's father, Gov. George Romney, to be president.
Republican George Romney marched with MLK and was an early civil rights supporter.
George Romney lost the primary to Nixon because he also opposed the Vietnam War too early.

[TheWM]

12:46 PM on 12/03/2010

"MLK wanted Mitt's father, Gov. George Romney, to be president."

Suuuuure he did.

"Republican George Romney marched with MLK and was an early civil rights supporter."

That much is true. Goerge Romney was for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. But that was over 40 years ago. 137 years ago the Republican Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator. 105 years ago the Republican Theodore Roosevelt was the Trust-Buster, the arch-enemy of huge corporations. Things change, parties change.

[Tails]

05:53 AM on 12/04/2010

And nowadays, he'd be booted from the GOBP for even being in contact with a Civil Rights activist.

[1Troubles]

09:18 AM on 12/03/2010

Mitt and Sarah get their hair and make-up done at the same place

[forealdough]

09:14 AM on 12/03/2010

the only person dumber than an Obama supporter is a Palin supporter.

[Monk2001]

11:02 AM on 12/03/2010

I would say that the dumbest is the person who posted this.

[SaddieMcCall]

09:06 AM on 12/03/2010

"She's a remarkable, energetic, powerful figure in my party -- and attractive too," Romney said.


How would men like to have their "attractivenss" be considered one of the traits they are judged on for their employability?

[GUSTOV]

11:10 AM on 12/03/2010

oh

I'd do quite well

[Bonez1]

11:18 AM on 12/03/2010

It isn't about what you know...It's abut WHO you know and looks do help! and in Palin's case it helps her the most since knowledge seems not to be her strong point!

[SaddieMcCall]

09:02 AM on 12/03/2010

The Republicans keep saying how the top 2% need the tax cut extended so they can create jobs. Why haven't they been creating jobs during the past 10 years while they have enjoyed their tax discount?

Romney stated that he isn't worried about Leno or himself returning to their previous tax rate before the discount, but for those small businesses who create the jobs --- so wouldn't a better way to deal with this is to return the tax rate to the previous rate before the Bush tax discount for the wealthy - and then give tax incentives directly to the small businesses who are creating jobs (as they prove that they are hiring new people) - so you are actually giving the tax breaks to the individuals who are creating jobs and not subsidizing the mega wealthy who are not?

[mlp560]

11:45 AM on 12/03/2010

"return the tax rate to the previous rate before the Bush tax discount for the wealthy - and then give tax incentives directly to the small businesses who are creating jobs "

Exactly what I've been thinking and wondering why Congress didn't propose that? May be we are just too naive and too honest for politics.

[gsmp]

08:02 AM on 12/03/2010

No need . The repun/baggers and hummers..