George Will Speaks About Wife's Working For Rick Perry (VIDEO)

Columnist and ABC commentator George Will addressed a potential conflict of interest he has with Rick Perry's campaign on Sunday's "This Week."

Politico reported on Friday that Will's wife Mari Maseng had joined the Perry campaign as a messaging and debate adviser. Some eyebrows were raised because Will has written several critical columns about Mitt Romney, one of Perry's chief rivals in the campaign. Moreover, Maseng -- who was, among other things, communications director for Ronald Reagan-- had approached Romney about a similar role in his campaign before turning to Perry.

Will spoke about Maseng's new role on Sunday, and said that there is no ill will between himself and the Romney team -- though he did add that some "less mature" members of the Romney camp had been trying to make things personal.

"At the Michigan debate, after the debate, Mari waved to Ann and Mitt Romney," he said. "They came over and talked. They've been guests at our dinner table. And Romney gave her a kiss on the cheek. And they went their separate ways. They're both mature professionals."

Will also acknowledged that Perry had a "steep climb" in his race, but that his infamous debate gaffe was not necessarily fatal.

WATCH:

Comments

[hungryaardvark]

12:59 PM on 11/16/2011

a self-description of "conservative" obviously omits any connection to journalistic integrity.

For G. Will, the capitalistic profits and ideological boosts outweigh integrity issues every time.

[Timothy Thocher]

11:19 AM on 11/16/2011

Judging by his support for Perry, George Will only plays a smart guy on tv.

[HippieChick]

12:55 PM on 11/16/2011

Apparently it is more serious than that - George Will only THINKS he is playing "a smart guy on tv".

[Timothy Thocher]

05:13 PM on 11/16/2011

I stand corrected, thank you:)

[CASSIE60]

11:19 AM on 11/16/2011

George Wills wife is not a good adviser. Let her stay all she can do is help Perry sink faster.

Actually if George Wills had any sense he would ask his wife to resign just to not look as stupid as Perry does!

[hungryaardvark]

01:00 PM on 11/16/2011

The Wills are happy as long as the check clears. Toad-sucking fakers.

[Sinister Minister]

10:48 AM on 11/16/2011

Politics and the media has become one giant cluster f%@* a long time ago. Almost impossible to separate the two. Look at our SCOTUS judge's wife interviewing Cain. Apparently these people think they are just like the rest of us because their wives works. Like so many other Americans they have to have two jobs to make it in America today.

Or could it be that the rest of us have to have two jobs because of the job their wives are doing?

[They Call Me Mr Snark]

10:34 AM on 11/16/2011

All these republican'ts are starting to look the same.

[parlimentMike]

01:21 AM on 11/16/2011

The only thing I miss about "this week" is having Will's opinions to clearly delineate the wrong answer for me.

[floridem]

11:59 PM on 11/15/2011

Oops!

[chronic republican]

10:18 PM on 11/15/2011

Possible conflict - please. GWill's opinion is so biased it doesn't matter whether Rick Perry is actually his wife.

[Joseph Glackin]

10:07 PM on 11/15/2011

If Greta can interview her husband's boss(Palin), why shouldn't George's wife prep the Texas toast?

[chronic republican]

10:19 PM on 11/15/2011

Because Greta is not real news - This Week is supposed to be.

[Joseph Glackin]

11:21 PM on 11/15/2011

Will is a "commentator." His bias is expected. His ignorance on all things(baseball excepted) is legendary.

[TheCommons]

09:24 PM on 11/15/2011

George Will does not strike me as a man who would let mere ethical considerations stand in the way of his objectives.

[YOKEL13]

07:57 PM on 11/15/2011

Oh, these power couples and their tribulations!

[frankieshoes1]

06:13 PM on 11/15/2011

Just more proof that this whole GOP slate is a big dog and pony show.

[DrObvious]

04:24 PM on 11/15/2011

Will worried about conflict of interest, issues of integrity? He shouldn't have helped prep Nixon for presidential debate using the information stolen in the infamous Watergate burglary .... while working as an "independent" journalist and op-ed guy .... maybe as he approaches the grave, he has some Lee Atwater style regrets about his active role in conservative politics

[karenmmn]

02:49 PM on 11/15/2011

George Will's wife is a "debate advisor" for Rick "oops" Perry? hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheeheehee................................

[Dhammi]

03:37 PM on 11/15/2011

She's not very good at her job so I say - debate advise on Mrs. Will!

[DrObvious]

04:26 PM on 11/15/2011

I got a dollar against what you bet that Mrs. Will will NOT list her work prepping Perry for debates on her resume going forward .... any takers?

[Dosadi]

09:38 PM on 11/15/2011

Ha! Fat chance.

[Colmore]

02:30 PM on 11/15/2011

So, will he admit that they choose the losers?? How can someone who is as pompous and self agrandizing as Will is admit that his wife works for a dud like Perry? Maybe his toupee is too tight!