A new documentary airs Friday, August 24, 10 p.m. ET on MSNBC on the presumptive presidential candidate.
“Mitt Romney: The Making of a Candidate,” follows the former Massachusetts governor through the prolonged 2012 presidential primary season as he eventually emerges as the presumptive Republican nominee for President of the United States.
“Daily Rundown” host and veteran campaign reporter Chuck Todd hosts the program and features a special one-on-one interview with the candidate while on the campaign trail.
The documentary also looks into the role of the Mormon religion in Mitt Romney's life, his rise as a successful businessman and politician, as well as his relationships with his family and staff. Interviewees include a high school classmate, Sidney Barthwell; a close campaign advisor from his 1994 run against Ted Kennedy, Rick Reed; a Bain partner, Geoffrey Rehnert; Governors Tom Kean (R-NJ) and Bill Weld (R-Mass.) and Romney advisors Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and Dan Senor.
More video:
- Excerpts from the Todd interview on NBC Nightly News, August 9: Video— Romney seeks 'strength of character' in running mate
- More web-extra video from the documentary
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This man is a disgrace to America. I for one will not watch this scum bag.
HelloDock, Why did you say this man is a disgrace to America and call him a scum bag? I know one thing, if Obama wins again he will destroy our country.
Obama will not destroy our country. Obama will save our country. America must have a vital middle class in order for this country to prosper. Obama, came into a situation that was extremely horrible from the Bush Administration.
The Republican Party will do their best to strip vital social program that many Americans depend on and give the rich a tax break. It is very disingenuous to say medicare will be bankrupt and at the same time you give the rich a tax break.
It is Obama that has kept this country from a deep depression worst than 1929. There are many that do not want to recognize that fact but that is the truth. Obama is steadily bringing this country back even with the Republican resistance. When you have Republicans in office, such as, Mitch McConnell stating that his job is to make sure Obama is a one time President that is not good for the American people.
I say that Romney is a disgrace to the America and he is a scum bag because of the statement made to indirectly question President Obama's birth.
Romney, it is no doubt in my mind that the statement was calculated. It saddens me that Romney; Republican presidential candidate would stoop this low. President is the highest position one could hold in our country. The tactics used to win the presidential office is so very shameful. Any person should be respectful in always to that position in running for president of the United States. It is my belief that Romney would like the Obama campaign to engage in such behavior to split votes. This is wrong because if you truly love this country it is better than those type of tactics. Romney should be excited about the RNC convention instead of casting this cloud. However, maybe this is a way for him to stop the talk about his taxes and the extremely aggressive tax deduction of Bain Capital.
A President represents a higher professionalism and ethics code in order to govern all people and not some of the people. In addition, this person presents an international persona to address foreign leaders on all fronts. There is no room in our society to ignite racism intentionally or not intentionally, especially in a time when Americans needs vital solutions to progress.
Romney methods used to campaign for the election by in adversely accepting the tone of racism or engaging with individuals that clearly denies a person citizenship, religion, ethnic background, patriotic responsibility to the United States of America is not fit to be President of the United States. It is not the type of leadership for the American people. The presidency is to bring all people together for the common goal of a prosper America. Ezra Klein and Chris Hayes got it right. It is no doubt in mind this tactic will backfire on Romney.
This man is a disgrace to America. I for one will not watch this scum bag.
Many can just as easily say the same thing about our current Pres. Still your argument represents typical liberal rhetoric. They pretend they're a party of tolerance and love, but when they're losing an argument (or an election) they immediately turn violent and hurl insults and derogatory comments. i.e. their true colors appear when they're backed against a wall.
BTW hello duck TL;DR.
I'll watch, but only because, and I hate to admit this, I rather enjoy watching the mind of Chuck Todd at work, creating questions, that might actually get an intelligent response.
Sorry not this time.....
I would watch only to figure out a better way to defeat the Republicans. Know the enemy and you can find his weaknesses better, and Mitt has a lot.
I watched and now they are showing it again. Was it a campaign film for Romney? I saw Rock Center's piece on the Mormon Church which was unrelentingly positive. I was shocked. Now this was also almost entirely positive. Begining to think I switched to Fox. Wanted news, show me the positive and negative. I don't need to watch NBC and MSNBC to see a snow job.
I noticed that also and feel the same
Unbelievable. This is an hour-long ad for Romney's campaign. Not one single balancing negative bit of information. NOT ONE! MSNBC probably wants to make sure they look fair and balanced. In the process, they have presented pure propaganda (not shocked that right-wing Chuck Todd is at the wheel on this one, though). Shameful. I can't get over this. Not one balancing piece of info. Not ONE FLIP-FLOP reference. A similar treatment for Obama should not be given either when his piece runs -- because this is a news channel. MSNBC really is Fox News for a day on this one.
What about his 37% approval rate when he left the governor's mansion. What about his major flip flops on abortion? What about interviews with Bain employees who didn't think he was the greatest thing since sliced bread (there are plenty).
This should never have run on a news channel. It's not news. It's propaganda. A balanced documentary could have been done without it being overly negative.
agreed
If you thought it was an unrelenting puff piece then you clearly don't know much about the subject matter. There were countless jabs and digs made on Mormonism, private equity, and for that matter the Kennedy's. Talk about sweeping things under the rug?
It's amazing to me that when a media piece does not agree with one's particular view of the world that the media or in this case Chuck Todd is immediately viewed with suspicion. Perhaps we could be more open in our approach to those whose opinions differ and not just condemn them for some supposed bias or as mentioned by some, "stupidity".
What have we become when we do not accept diversity from our own position? Biased and prejudiced!
Rather than attack the messenger - in this case Chuck Todd and MSNBC - perhaps we should further open and honest dialog. Otherwise, we are guilty of blind partisanship - never a good quality.
Thank you. You are spot on. Chuck Todd is showing his true colors. MSNBC needs to fire this jerk. I bet you Go over to FOX where you belong!!!
Are you serious? This 'documentary' was a joke! How many different positions on Abortion, Gay Rights, the Economy, Medicare...what about companies like Stericycle that he bought and from which he profited greatly...and still does! What about the 'off-shore' accounts...Shame on you Chuck...and i had a crush on you...yuk!
Mitt Romney is strong , good, articulate, and will save this country from all the division and lack of objectivity. where was the united states on religion? Many black voters and officials will not vote for obama. they cannot have the wool put over their eyes!This is the most slanted new available and the voters are tired of you.
What planet have you been living on? There is not now nor have there ever been a objective country. The US like all countries look after their own interests. Wake up smell the coffee.
Polls show Obama gets 94% of the black vote, and Ramenie gets 0%. Now what is this about blacks not voting for Obama?
This was not a documentary, but rather a long Romney ad. Very disappointing. I was looking foraward it all week, and was badly disappointed that there was no real new information, but a rehash of the same old stuff. I will, like a friend of mine in MA work against Mr Romney. He has done nothing to deserve to be president, except last longer than the others in the primaries. He will return women to the 1950's. Actually he is a scary. Very disappointed in Chuck Todd, never thought he would have allowed himself to be used in this way.
I watched it and it seemed to me that I was watching an infomercial for the Romney Campaign. I'm really disappointed with both NBC and Chuck Todd. Absolutely not one hard question about anything! Just how wonderful Romney is! Well I guess it's time for NBC to become like FOX NEWS. I could say more but instead I'll start watching your competitors.
You have to first understand that Chuck Todd isn't a hard nose reporter, secondly his so-called claim to fame is his after the facts political predictions. Chuck Todd isn't someone the public should take as a serious journalist.
Todd is a jerk and a right wing piece of...., you know the rest! Unbelieveable! And he is MSNBC's Political Director. Go figure, never knew what Russet saw in him anyway.
I am so disappointed in Chuck Todd. I expected a balanced documentary from him and instead got an hour of how wonderful Mitt R. is. Really--Has the Republican Party bought NBC? Especially after the doc on Rock Center about how wonderful the Mormon church is and how extraordinary Mormons are.
Both Chuck Todd and Brian Williams have been tarnished by these puff pieces.
So right with your comments. I fully expected to see programs that showed both sides. NBC/MSNBC shame on you. I usually skip these sort of programs but since I had seen so many promos for them that I thought I should watch. Wasted 2 hours.
Mr Todd. watched your "documentary" an only thing missing was at the end. I am Mitt Rommney and i approved this message. What a fluff piece. Had hoped for better from you, maybe former Gov mystery mitt would only allow you to interview him if you only talked fluff with him. You blew your chance to really help this country as a journalist.
The Vietnam War was the defining political, cultural, moral event for anyone Mitt's age. (I know because I'm his age.) There was plenty of info in Todd's report on how Mitt's time as a missionary formed his worldview. No mention that his role as a missionary gave him a draft deferment, which allowed him to avoid the draft and service in the war altogether. After the 31 month deferment, the war was winding down and he wasn't called. Not only did Mitt avoid the draft through the use of 4 separate deferments, he was hypocritical enough to at the same time actively support the war. That this important info was left out of Todd's report shows just how much of a puff piece it was.
posting twice by mistake. sorry.
Did Chuck Todd have a special on tonight? Oh I forgot, reruns of Andy Griffin was on. So a choice between Barney Five and Mitt Romney, Barney Five wins hands down.
Beside I have decided I'm not watching Mitt "the birther" Romney till he release his tax returns.
Gonna be hard to ignore when hes sitting in the WH..
I allways felt Chuck Todd was a shill for the Neo-Con Right and to-nites glowing political infomercial on Willard was the smoking gun. This guy Mit by his own words is nothing more then a modern day Pharisee.
He himself has said many times, that he has not broken any law and we just have to believe him. This coming from someone who constantly has made false statements all his political life. He and his wife claim they have only used legal means to hide their financial worth and tax obligations.
Apparently the spirit of the law means nothing to these people. Every News reporter worth their salt should ask that question.
What are you, carrying water for these plastic people? Shame on you Todd!
I cant believe MSNBC fighting amongst yourselfs....hahahahahha...Desperate people do desperate things I guess.
I was watching for some explanation for Mitt's "transformation" in 1968, after his accident in France (when he was declared dead). It was presented as some sort of spiritual revelation that compelled him to be a more reverent and committed Mormon. I continue to believe it was more a result of traumatic brain injury, which also may explain many of his gaffes, eccentricities and failures today. (You'll find the story virtually nowhere online, except a DailyKos diary - search for "TBI Romney".)
Chuck Lieberman You should go work at Fox News where its Romney propaganda 24/7. You'll fit right in. There is nothing I hate more than someone that says they are neutral when their actions say otherwise. If i wanted to see this cra*# I would watch Fox news.
hahahahaha...NEUTRAL??? hahahahahhaha
No wonder he seems and appears so dumb,having a traumatic brain injury.His Great Grandfather was a Poligamist,therefore had to flee the United States.There were and still are many big issues about Mormonism,Jeffers etc. from Salt Lake City still practice Polygamy in that area,Canada and on the Utah and AZ border.They had Colonies there. We had many Mormon Pilgrims pounding on our day weekly ,some time less ,we had to shut door on them.The story of Mormon Polygamy was big in AZ at least when I lived there. Mormons were always in the news.Mormonism being a Cult. The Romney/Ryan Hatred Machine scare me. Racism has reared its Ugly had all by the GOP,it is very scary and threatening. The GOP want to take the Country back to the Bush Years. Obama/Biden want to take us back to the Clinton years.It took 8 years to fix that situation after the other Bush years..
Yea nuttin Racist about you Dems huh??? or the Black Panthers wanting to skin white Babies and Kill their Parents....Maybe its ok with you..but us Whites dont like it much!
Well said purplegenie. Gratified that I am not alone out here in my feelings about these shows.
I have to agree with all the other posters who watched that show and compared it to an infomercial.
I was totally disgusted after watching it!
I really expected IN DEPTH reporting on Romney and all we got was BLAND brown-nosing!
Why didn't Todd mention Romney's extremely LOW rating when he left the MA Governor's office?
Why did Todd blow up Romney's involvement with the Olympics? Why didn't he mention that the Olympic Committee had ALREADY SOLVED most of its problems BEFORE Romney got on the scene?
Why the Bain whitewash?
What was your price for this, Chuck Todd? Did MSNBC Corporate force you to do it or are you hoping for a job as Romney's press secretary?
MSNBC finally tell the TRUTH and you dumbos dont like it...hahahahahha
You Dems are sooo funny(Desperate). After 2010..You still don't realize that your irrelevant and nobody is listening to you spew your hatred. Were all laughing at you...and you dont even realize it....You'all stay happy here in your own little make-believe world .....until November.....then Bye!
People need to wake up! If Obama wins again our country will be worse off than it is now. Obama will destroy our country. I think a lot of people are choosing to vote for Obama again because he will give people the liscense to live any way they want to live. A big majority of people in our country today want this because they don't want any type of rules on things such as abortion, homosexuality, etc. As the saying goes people want their cake and they want to eat it too.
And you know this how? What have the republicans done positive for this country ?. List 10!
@news watcher, I thought you people were all about the personal responsibility and small government. Now you're talking about some more rules for abortion and homosexuality -- really? How about we all just follow the Constitution and leave the rule making to your religious leaders.
Man...Your just crazy...Obama will take every Freedom you have if he gets another 4 years....He is a hitler Wannabe
This was the worst piece of campaigning for Mitt Romney I've seen so far. Romney saved the Olympics but no mention whatsoever of the fact that he lobbied and got $1.3 billion from Congress. Just the fact that he turned a $100 million profit. Why didn't that profit go back to the Treasury? Where was the fact that Mitt took all the MA computer hard drives when he left office? Where was the connection between all the money he got when his deals with Bank of New England crashed the bank and the gov't. had to step in? I thought I was going to get a complete picture of the plastic man but this was nothing more than a suckup job. Is Chuck Todd hoping to replace Eric Fernstrom as Mitt's press secretary if he gets elected? That's sure what it looked like. Mitt is amazing, look what Mitt did. Not one single negative comment or a total picture of him. Just praise the Bishop. Disgusting, Chuck Todd. You should be ashamed to call yourself a journalist.
Really...Sounds like just the type of guy we need to run this broken country...Obama out!
Funny, that a fair report is a big disappointment to those who wanted a hatchet job. Could it be that the hate you're spewing is a reflection of your own self loathing? If Mitt runs the US economy half as well as the other public and private organizations he has, America is in for one of the largest economic booms in its history. Why is it so many people hate and distrust a winner, and are so tollerant of a president who is clearly in over his head? I don't care what religion Mitt is if he can help make America great again. Isn't that what we all want? Why are we willing to put up with President Obama when he is clearly failing and taking us and the world with him. America needs real world experience to save it. My experiement with Obama is over. I like the man's charisma, but his policies are a failure. Time to turn the controls over to an experienced pilot in Mitt Romney.
Romney wants to offer Obama a deal to not talk about his experience at Bain Capital or religion and only the issues is wrong. It is Romney that states his experience qualifies him to be president. However, when you are running for the highest position of the United states of America, all experience matters.
Bain Capital is a problem for Romney because they practices extreme vulturous activity to make a buck at the expense of the working class American. Bain Capital was not honest capitalism. Romney's main goals was to make a buck for himself and his stakeholders at the expense of the working class people. Bain Capital was the pioneer of outsourcing jobs to China and India that help to destroy the American economy for over a decade. I hope people can understand that this is what happened to many of the jobs and factory jobs in America. This is the feeling of Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich as well.
all experience matters"...You are the stupidect Lib I ever heard....What experience did Obammie have??? NONE,zilch,zero....NADA!
FOAD!
I watched it expecting an expose' and who knows what else, fully expecting this to part of the slanted vetting process by the most liberal of the media outlets. I was truly surprised, and can't disagree with some others here who called it a puff piece. Though the producers did take a few jabs at Mormonism and made sure we all know Mitt has always been a moderate, and drove home the individual mandate comparison, they kept it very civilized and basically reported on FACTUAL information. What a concept! That said, maybe MSNBC has figured out that it would be better to run a lighthearted topical documentary, dissapointing all you rabid leftist haters, than dive deeper into the cesspool of slanderous allegations and overall negativity that the left has resorted to. Take a clue folks. That kind of stuff has run it's course. He's not going to share his tax returns, appologise for being a Mormon, or stoop to the all time lows the left has. Every day I read angry posts from the extreme left and wonder if any of you have an IQ over 10.. Seriously, is that the best you can do? Hate, hate, and more hate? This man is in a position to save our county and our way of life as we know it. I believe he takes it seriously and I applaud him for doing so. If you can't understand that, buy a ticket for a comunist country and get the hell out of here. You are not Americans. You are parasites! God bless America!
Romney has said nothing specific to save our country. The American people has not heard any specific plans other than gut and lied about Medicare.
It is apparent that you would like to engage in hate instead of addressing the real truth. I will pray for you.
I bet MSNBC hated that they could not make Romney look like a loon even with all the editing done to make this. For sure they took some jabs at the Mormon religion, but what did you expect, Libs are extremely intolerant.
Now I understand why Chuck Todd last week said he felt the media was not fair at all times for those and to those not on the Left. All he was doing was setting up this interview up pre-televised to try and convince some that MSNBC is not as obviously slanted as people declare it to be.
Dont worry Chuck, you will not loose your most favorite status with Obama.
I just watched Chuck todd's piece on Romney. Easy to see why the very secretive candidate gave Chuck this interview. It is very shallow and could have been done by anyone. No useful info good or negative introduced here.
Well, I was going along watching, learning and basically enjoying this piece. But, near the end when you showed Romney introducing his running mate, Paul Ryan, I was taken aback. Did you edit the introduction to show Romney saying: "It's and honor to introduce my running mate and the next vice-president of the United States, Paul Ryan!" ? Yes, you did, I reran the video. In reality, Romney did not say next vice-president, we all know he said next president.
Why the edit? You could have showed what really happened and then made a comment about his humor in corrected his statement. This editing makes me wonder what other clips were edited and frankly makes me wonder if I will feel inclined to watch your "reporting" going forward.
Judy